BJay is reading the book “Mormon Scientist The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring.” That is Henry Eyring Sr., the father of President Eyring of the first presidency. This book was practically written for BJay. In fact, skimming it there are quite a few points that I know I’ve heard him state on several occasions. Ordinarily I’d be bored by such a book, but my interest was piqued when BJay quoted to me a passage where Eyring is quoting Brigham Young on the subject of creation. Its a brilliant quote, and again backs up just about everything BJay has ever said about creationism, which is why he was so excited about it. But the very end hit me over the head like a brick,

“…If we understood the process of creation there would be no mystery about it, it would all be reasonable and plain, for the is no mystery except to the ignorant.” (Journal of Discourses 14:116)

I guess this proves my ignorance because I am totally blown away. I mean, to take this out of a religious context, a good mystery is only good if the writer is able to disorganize the facts enough so that you are “ignorant” until the writer wants to clue you in. Now for some reason, although I’ve heard this hymn before I was really moved by this poetry just this past Sunday:

#285 God Moves in a Mysterious Way

1. God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.

He plants his footsteps on the sea And rides upon the storm.

2. Ye fearful saints fresh courage take; the clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.

3. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour;

The bud my have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.

4. Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan his works in vain;

God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.

I’m not up for a discussion about creation. I mean, that is so small potatoes. This concept is wide-open huge and also very, very obvious. If you are not a Mormon, I don’t imagine you will be reading my blog (unless you are my Grandma, who is practically Mormon by association) but in case there is the odd-straggler let me introduce to you a very important concept. Eternal progression. Very important–its the idea that our purpose in life is to actually progress spiritually, intellectually, emotionally. This means that this life, this world isn’t just a holding tank for prospective heavenly choir boys and girls. We’re here because God actually planned this thing out. Now if you were here before I even started, way to go you’re in the majority of people smarter and more intuitive than me. If not, here you go:

You know that feeling you get when you figure something out, the light bulb, the ah-ha moment? There is nothing under the sun (any sun in the vast expanse of space for that matter) that we don’t have the power or capacity to understand. There are no mysteries so deep and vast that we can’t grasp. Everything can be explained. And when these things are revealed, they will be as plain and logical as basic arithmetic. I normally don’t spell things out like this. Pointing out the obvious has always felt insulting to me. But I think that is why I’m learning, time and again this simple and beautiful message: The truth is plain. Sometimes you have to be made ignorant in order to feel the full effect of the mystery. We don’t have the benefit of remembering who and what we were before this life and the afterlife is pretty much a mystery. Between science and religion God has given us disorganized facts. Our job is to stumble along as best we can, find and piece as many of the pieces as we can and then be prepared to be completely amazed when the truth is made plain to us in the end.