“Without Form and Void – Empty and Desolate”

Understand the Nature and Power of Creation in Our Own Lives

“And the earth, after it was formed, was empty and desolate…”

~ Abraham 4:2 ~

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.”

~ Genesis 1:2 ~

We are to be creators in our own right—builders of an individual faith in God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith in His Church. We are to build families and be sealed in holy temples. We are to build the Church and kingdom of God upon the earth. We are to prepare for our own divine destiny—glory, immortality, and eternal lives. These supernal blessings can all be ours, through our faithfulness.

~ Russell M. Nelson – The Creation – General Conference April 2000 ~

In Word: A writer looks at a blank piece of paper and envisions words strung together to create an imaginative and immersive story. Through words, the writer creates beautiful images of people, places, and events. An artist looks at a blank canvas and already envisions a painting complete, vibrant, and full of life. A sculpture looks at a block of rock and already envisions a statue ready to be chiseled out and formed into a beautiful piece to be admired. All of these have something in common. The blank page, the blank canvas, and the solid stone remain empty, desolate, without form, and void. Until a creator fills it with words, colors, and images, and chisels out the beautiful statue. The scriptures teach us that our earth was unassuming. It was without form, and void of any life. Empty and desolate. Dark.

Today, we may feel empty, without form and void – meaningless, unassuming, empty, and desolate. However, the power of creation reveals unto us the magnificent power our Heavenly Father has in taking something that is unorganized, unassuming, and creating something magnificent and beautiful. Through the plan of salvation, we are to become creators in building our own faith in God and in Jesus Christ. Build faith in our community and fellowship. Through our Heavenly Father, we are to build up the Kingdom of Heaven. The Gospel of Jesus Christ gives us an opportunity to create something beautiful out of our own lives. Something that brings admiration from others. Where they are intrigued by the beauty of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds as we become transformed into sons and daughters, kings, and queens, prepared for immortality and eternal life.

In Deed: Through daily scripture reading, prayer, fasting, meditating, and fellowshipping with others – we are following the Apostle Paul’s wise counsel to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (See, Romans 12:1). This also includes our willingness to walk in faithful obedience to all that our Heavenly Father has revealed, taught, and commanded of us. These spiritual disciplines help shape us into the image and likeness of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (See, Genesis 1:26-27 and 1 John 3:1-3). What we commit to doing in this life determines how we are molded and created for good or for destruction (See Romans 9:21).

Take a Moment and Ponder: Are you at a point in your own life where you feel empty and desolate? Find that there appears to be no meaning or sense of purpose? Have you felt lost, disoriented, and believed to be unassuming and without any sense of significance? Our Heavenly Father created each one of us for a purpose. There is a sense of divine meaning to our own existence. All we are asked to do is to create a life that is spiritually attuned to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Here, we find guidance, wisdom, and comfort. What appears to be empty, void, desolate, and without form will begin to take shape and become a beautiful creation in God’s own image and likeness.