Orbits

This thought in large part comes from a portion of my talk that I gave in church about a month ago. It has been prevalent in my mind of late and is especially so now with all the new people I am meeting and having parted ways with so many great people for some period of time. It comes from a quote my friend shared with me from Elder Maxwell.


“At Christmastime, ...we celebrate a special star that announced Jesus' birth at Bethlehem.  … [The] so-called "little star of Bethlehem" was actually very large in its declaration of divine design! It had to have been placed in its precise orbit long, long before it shone so precisely! Persuasive divine design is underscored in what the Lord has said: "All things must come to pass in their time" (D&C 64:32).  His overseeing precision pertains not only to astrophysical orbits but to human orbits as well.  This is such a stunning thing for us to contemplate as to our obligations to , "shine as lights" within our own orbits and personal responsibilities! (See Philippians 2:15.)

Elder Maxwell continued this thought in a separate address in which he said:
“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that God, “before [the earth] rolled into existence, … contemplated the whole of the events connected with the earth. … [God] knew … the depth of iniquity that would be connected with the human family, their weakness and strength, … the situation of all nations and … their destiny, … and [He] has made ample provision [for mankind’s] redemption” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 220).Part of God’s “ample provision” consists of imperfect people like you and me, committed to shining and serving in our appointed orbits, knowing all the while that we are encircled “in the arms of [His] love” (D&C 6:20).”
So many people have blessed my life in innumerable ways. You never know what kind of influence you might have on someone else. Seek always to do your best and to "let your light so shine" as we have been commanded to do. As we do so we will always be blessed, and will someday be given the wonderful affirmation of people we have helped in both small and large ways, just as we have been blessed in similar ways by others.