How I know God lives- Nature (part 1)

Many times I have been asked the question, "How do you really know that God lives? What evidence do you have?"

 I have spent a lot of time thinking about that, how do I really know for myself that I have a Father in Heaven? I'd like to share one reason today how I know God lives.

One evidence of our Heavenly Father's existence is this beautiful world we live in.  “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psalms 19:1) I can remember distinct impressions from the Holy Spirit as I watched the sun set over the Potomac River, feeling so small in comparison to the great cliffs of Lake Powell, and feeling inspired as I walked through green grass. Surely these grand details that fill our lives were created by our Heavenly Father.  An ancient prophet declared: “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth... 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).

Elder Ballard has said, "To truly reverence the Creator, we must appreciate his creations. We need to plan to take time to observe the marvels of nature. Today, we can easily become surrounded by brick buildings and asphalt surfaces that shelter us from real life around us. Plan to share with your family the miracle of buds changing to fragrant blossoms. Take time to sit on a hillside and feel the tranquillity of the evening when the sun casts its last golden glow over the horizon. Take time to smell the roses."

  As I have seen these beautiful mountains, rivers, and sunsets the Holy Spirit has testified to of their divine origin. Something else that is evident to me is how close I feel to Heavenly Father when I am in His creations. I have had tender moments as I have kneeled to pray in a field of grass, and I received answers to the my prayers as I have hiked a mountain trail. The Spirit seems so present as I am in nature. This feeling has helped me to know that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration because I too know that spiritual experiences can take place in a grove of trees. 

I know an attribute of our Heavenly Father is love. Isn't it a tender thought to think that Heavenly Father created a beautiful world so that we might find joy in our surroundings? He wants to be happy, to experience beauty, and to find joy in our Earthly home. 

I know that God lives. I know that the Earth, and all the creations are evidence of his existence. I too know that how I feel in nature, and in His creations is an evidence of His power and existence. As I see the beauty of a setting sun, the details of petals, and ponder the complexity of all of His creations, I feel His love and know He is near. 




"When thru the woods and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!"

"I don't feel ready to be baptized quite yet."

Maybe you've found yourself in the situation where you feel impressed to be baptized or the missionaries have invited you to do so, but you don't feel quite ready yet. Maybe you don't feel worthy enough, or you're not quite sure you really have the desire. Maybe you haven't received all the answers you're searching for, or maybe you feel you will have another opportunity to be baptized.

I feel that maybe I have found your response in one of my favorite scriptures. In Moroni chapter 10: 32

"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

 When does Christ tell us to come unto Him? Now. Does he say we need to wait until we feel like we know everything about all church doctrine? No. Does he ask that we become perfect people? No. He asks us to come unto Him now, so that he can help us and help perfect us. I promise you that the blessings of baptism will always out way your doubts. Elder Holland  describes perfectly what we must do in them midst of doubt. 

"I wish to encourage every one of you today regarding opposition that so often comes after enlightened decisions have been made, after moments of revelation and conviction have given us a peace and an assurance we thought we would never lose. In his letter to the Hebrews, the Apostle Paul was trying to encourage new members who had just joined the Church, who undoubtedly had had spiritual experiences and had received the pure light of testimony, only to discover that not only had their troubles not ended, but that some of them had only begun.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. . . .
. . . If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. . . .
. . . We are not of them who draw back unto perdition. [Hebrews 10:35–36, 38–39; emphasis added]

In LDS talk that is to say, “Sure it is tough—before you join the Church, while you are trying to join, and after you have joined.” That is the way it has always been, Paul said, but don’t “draw back,” he warned. Don’t panic and retreat. Don’t lose your confidence. Don’t forget how you once felt. Don’t distrust the experience you had."  

Why is baptism worth it? What blessings are in store for you? Elder Robert D Hales, an apostle of the Lord said,

"The gift of the Holy Ghost, given to us when we are confirmed, gives us the ability to discern the difference between the giving ways of the kingdom of God and the taking practices of the world. The Holy Ghost gives us the strength and courage to conduct our lives in the ways of the kingdom of God and is the source of our testimony of the Father and the Son. As we obey the will of our Father in Heaven, this priceless gift of the Holy Ghost will be with us continually.

We will receive “a mighty change … in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” We will keep our “covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things … all the remainder of our days”" (Mosiah 5:2, 5).

We literally are given a member of the Godhead to lead and guide us. All of our sins are washed away. Every single one. We are allowed on the path to the Celestial Kingdom, the highest kingdom of Heaven where our Heavenly Father lives. We become members of Christ's church. And lastly, you will have the reassurance that you are doing what your Heavenly Father expects of you .



My baptism has shaped the course of my entire life. Has it been easy? No. But has it been worth it? Absolutely. I promise you that you will never regret making this covenant with our Heavenly Father. If you have felt your Heavenly Father's love as you have been taught about baptism, and if you have desires to follow Jesus Christ and become better. You are ready for baptism. "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him." The Savior is waiting for you and He will patiently  wait until you make your first step in the waters of baptism.