When I finished my service in Japan as a missionary, I came across an organization of tour guides that target Japanese clientele. I took this opportunity and have completed several tours when I'm not at school. As the guide, I pick up my passengers at their hotels in Las Vegas and then drive them to national parks, tourist attractions, gift shops, and other places of interest explaining what I know about these areas in Japanese. One of the places we go to is Sedona, Arizona. Sedona once was known for its apple and peach orchards, but has since developed a new reputation: one of supernatural influence. Per capita, there are probably more Psychics in Sedona than there are lawyers in Las Vegas. Many of the gift shops sell special crystals and help you obtain power from four places in the area that have been deemed power spots where you can feel the energy of the universe and be healed. On any given day, you can find someone meditating at the top of these vortexes. The view from these locations is truly beautiful, but when I heard about power spots, I thought, "Oh no, this place is just full of hippies!" I've been to Sedona for work multiple times, and I've had passengers that feel the power of the vortex and those who don't feel anything but muscle pain from the hike. However, this week was different. I had a group of 4, and at the first location, none of them felt anything. We went to the last location before our stop in uptown for shopping, and pieces started coming together. They asked me if I had ever felt anything at these places, but I told them that I didn't feel anything special because I always feel good when I'm in the outdoors or get to see an impressive landscape. Then, on our way down, they all came to the agreement that they did feel something. They felt like old, bad feelings were all gone and that they felt renewed. Perhaps a single word to summarize it would be, 'reborn'. Then I realized this whole thing was a little more serious than I was giving it credit.
Hiking and outdoor activities are physically strenuous. However, upon return from such an outing, I personally also feel renewed as my passengers did. Perhaps it's taking my lungs that are used to polluted air and escaping to the clean mountainous environment that gives the feeling of renewal. I look at landscapes and stand in wonder at the beauty.
So...what?
Having studied and taught the creation of the earth as much as I have, I can say with unwavering confidence that God created this Earth and that he created it for us. The things that exist are for our use, and certainly the mountains, valleys, rivers, oceans, and other terrain are meant for our enjoyment. As I came down from the vortex yesterday, not only did I feel renewed, but I realized that these views were arranged for our pleasure and edification. All these things work in such harmony together. Such incredible coincidences!
To clarify, by 'coincidence', I meant "not a coincidence." Many people defy Christians to prove that God exists, that Christ was resurrected, and that there is life after death. They present their argument in a manner that suggests they alone have struggled with this dilemma or that they represent a new perspective on this controversy. Excerpts from ancient prophets' records shows us that these concerns did not originate with this new, scientific mindset that sprouted in the recent decades. One of these prophets, Alma, is quoted in the Book of Mormon when he addressed a man named Korihor who presented this exact same argument, expecting to discourage everyone that couldn't provide solid evidence to the existence of God. To this, Alma said, "Thou hast had signs enough...yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (Alma 30:44) To those that feel like their situation is different, just try to climb a mountain, look across at all the things you see and remember that the trees you see are screaming their testimony of God's existence. The flow of the river, formation of the rocks, and sway of the reeds in the wind orchestrate a powerful testimony of a Supreme Creator's existence and presence.
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