The Sanctifying Blessings of the Earth

An exploration of how associating with the Earth can sanctify, improve, and transform us.

There’s a social media post going around that shows the relative size of the Earth, all the other planets in our solar system, and the sun in comparison to other stars across the universe. Our sun is miniscule in comparison to some of the stars. The post and photos also show where the Hubble telescope zoomed into a small patch of dark space about the size of the moon and found numerous galaxies.

After looking at all these photos, it struck me how small and insignificant I am in the grand scheme of things. How does a God who created all of that, know me? Much less take time to communicate with me? And why would He waste His time on me? Much less love me?

Yet, I feel in my heart that He does know, love, and care about me. I have had too many experiences to deny that He does know me and that He does communicate with me. This left me with one burning question:

How is it done?

I’ve pondered and prayed on this for a couple weeks. This morning, I had a visual come to mind. It was more than a visual. It was a flicker of an experience of what it might be like to embody and surround everything. Everything was connected in that instant – the farthest reaches of the universe, what is happening with my grandchildren thousands of miles away, and what is happening with the earthworms in the soil in my front yard. I saw how everything is connected through an immense intelligent light system, a communication web, a life-giving network.

An Aura as Big as the Universe

Think of your body. If I told you to move your big toe, you could do it in an instant, even though it’s a distance from your brain. You don’t think about how it’s done. You just do it.

Courtesy of special photography, we now see that people emit a colorful aura that can extend six feet out from their bodies, perhaps farther. We are more than our physical bodies. We are a complex system of energy centers and a spirit body, connected to our physical manifestation.

Our presence is often felt before our physical body arrives. The fact that we are emitting frequencies is now widely accepted. Brainwaves are graphed and measured by machines. Medical dogs are used to detect if their humans are suffering from strokes, high blood pressure, or some other physical malady.

What if Christ, a personage of flesh and bone, a resurrected being, has an aura as big as the universe? His massive aura is a light and life web that fills every atom of the universe and everything in between. He communicates, blesses, powers, loves, and illuminates everything. He sanctifies (makes sacred) everything.

What if He knows each of us intimately – each hair of our head – plus all the stars, and every miniscule spec of dirt on any world throughout the universe, BECAUSE it’s all encompassed within his immense aura of being?

This would explain not only ancient Celtic beliefs that “matter matters” and that everything is sacred, but also the teachings we find in the Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever.”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:41

And then there’s this beautiful explanation:

“The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.

“Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand? Behold, all these are kingdoms and any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power.”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:45-47

Everything is swimming “in the midst of the power of God!” Everything testifies that God is “moving in his majesty and power!”

This is not to say everything IS God, but everything IS INFUSED with God, powered by God, given life by God. Everything is given being and existence, and is held together by God and his radiating presence.

The Destiny of the Earth

One other teaching that stood out to me in my morning reading is the fact that our future resurrected state is determined by the laws by which we are willing to abide. While we don’t always abide God’s laws (thus the need for Christ’s forgiving Atonement for us), the Earth does obey, perfectly, 100% of the time.

“Therefore, it (the Earth) must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness that it may be prepared for the celestial glory; For after it hath filled the measure of its creation, it shall be crowned with glory, even with the presence of God the Father; That bodies who are of the celestial kingdom may possess it forever and ever; for, for this intent was it made and created, and for this intent are they sanctified. 

“And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom. For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory …

“And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law — Wherefore, it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it.”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:18-22, 25

Note the tense of these words. This means that the Earth is currently living a Celestial law. It completely obeys God and is filling the measure of its creation. It is abiding a celestial law, RIGHT NOW! Most humans do not choose to abide by all of God’s laws. We use our choices to do what we want to do most of the time. Many of us do not choose to fill the measure of our creation. We do not let the Holy Spirit sanctify us.

The Earth, on the other hand, abides and obeys God’s laws explicitly. It submits willingly to the sanctification of the Spirit. God’s power, light and Spirit flows through it unrestrained. Thus, its future is assured.

Choosing the Earth and God as Our Associates

It’s been said that “We are the five people we associate with the most.” The thought struck me today that if I’m being influenced by the people I’m around, why not the Creations I’m around? What if I spend a great deal of time getting to know the Earth, the plants, the animals, the trees, and all of Nature? What if they are my associates?

As I see God in all these things, am I not associating with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as well? As I feel God’s Spirit as I till the earth or sit with an oak tree or plant wildflowers, and witness God moving in them all, am I not sanctified little by little with each encounter?

If I go out and let these natural, Celestial Beings be my associates, might I learn to abide by Celestial laws as they do? Might I learn more and more each day, so I feel more and more comfortable in that Celestial realm, day by day? Isn’t Nature tutoring me about what being Celestial feels like? Ultimately, might that make me feel complete, connected and at home in the Celestial Kingdom?

It seems logical to say this is so.

Featured Image Copyright: dellm60 / BigStockPhoto.com