All things testify

Tonight during FHE we read the verses in Alma 30:43-44 in the Book of Mormon. Korihot is an anti-Christ who refuses to believe Alma’s teachings, and leads many of the people away with false teachings, because there is no “sign” of truth that God exists. 

I asked the children how they know that there is a God.  

We received answers ranging from “because you teached me about Him”, to “I know through Faith and prayer” and “the Holy Ghost” tells me. 

Alma testifies that all things denote there is a God, and uses the examples of things on earth and in space.

43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, 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 witcness that there is a Supreme Creator.

I love Alma’s response. “Thou hast had signs enough.” 

Looking around at this beautiful Earth filled with beautiful creatures.  How smart God is to create ladybugs to eat the aphids on the tomatoes (that we will eat.) When I go out in my garden, there is order in everything! God directed and commanded Jesus Christ to create and organize a world, and organized it is.  

We gathered up a bunch of flowers, and I explained what a Fibonacci sequence is to the kids. (Blew their minds) 1,1,2,3,5,8,13, 21,34, 55, 89...

1+1=2

     1+2=3

         2+3=5

            3+5=8

                5+8=13

                    8+13=21

                        13+21=34

                              21+34=55

                                    34+55=89. And so on

It should be mentioned that according to the internet, the sequence was discovered and used by mathematicians in India 1300 years ago, but of course, credit and namesake goes to the dude who introduced it to the westerners. 

When drawn as an array on graph paper, the Fibonacci sequence forms a spiral with a ratio that be commonly found in nature. 

The children were eager to test “my” theory and call me out for spotting malarkey, but as they pulled petals from flowers or leaves from stems or uncovered the spiral of seeds in a giant sunflower, and counted each little bump on a raspberry, each had numbers consistent in the Fibonacci sequence every single time.  The creative work is seen in snail shells, fingerprints,  and in ratios on the human body. 

I showed a bunch of examples (thanks, google images) 

And we returned home from our walk with a bouquet of our own examples. 

Perfect order and organization in all of God’s beautiful creations.  Even finite math is glorious and beautiful. 

All things testify that there is a God.  

And if God puts this much power and detail into one little unique flower among the hundreds of varieties, consider how thoughtful and intentional He was when he created each of us. 

We are each a masterpiece and a living witness of our great creator. Alma did not have the math behind it, but he knew that all things set in motion bear record of  Our Supreme Creator. 

Fun lesson. The kids’ eyes were opened to notice more (the petals and number of flowers on the tomato vine?minds exploded.) and gain understanding. 

Next, I explained that the science was there a BEFORE they understood it. Alma testified without telescopes or ultrasounds or google image searches.  Let us live with greater faith that we don’t always NEED to see the sign or the proof for something to be true.