“And It Was Good”

Understand the Goodness of God’s Creation

And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.

~ Genesis 1:31 ~

First was the Creation of the earth as our dwelling place. Whatever the details of the creation process, we know that it was not accidental but that it was directed by God the Father and implemented by Jesus Christ— “all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

~ D. Todd Christopherson – Why Marriage, Why Family? – General Conference April 2015 ~

In Word: The process of creation captivates our minds. What we know from scripture and revelation is that through Jesus Christ, all things were created. The last of our Heavenly Father’s creation was humanity. Pure innocence, lacking any need, and placed in an idyllic Garden. After all that our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, have accomplished – they saw that it was good. This is something we are incapable of imagining. The sweet harmony, beauty, unity, and the way all things worked together in peace. Such beautiful perfection was very good. We also have a difficult time understanding the Holy Goodness of our Heavenly Father. The goodness in His creating each one of us after His own image and likeness. The goodness in His plan of happiness for each one of us through our Savior Jesus Christ. The goodness of revealing Himself through all of the natural beauty we experience today. And for us today – God creates within each one of us a new heart (Psalm 51:10) where we come to seek His good wisdom, counsel, and guidance as we journey through our wilderness of life.

In Deed: Our Heavenly Father is still actively creating good things in our lives. All we are asked to do is to humbly seek after Him and the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Worship in spirit and Truth (John 4:24). Take up our cross every day as our Savior’s disciples (Matthew 16:24-26). And endure faithfully to the end (3 Nephi 15:9). Through us God creates and works all things to His own goodness and glory (Romans 8:28). All it takes is our own personal sacrifice, willingness, and commitment to walk in obedience to His laws, ordinances, and teachings within the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 John 1:6-9). Through us – and the love we have for our Heavenly Father and the love we have for others – we are able to be used as ministers, teachers, and mentors. Creating hope and faith in the lives of others so that they too may experience the goodness of God.

Take a Moment and Ponder: Have you ever taken a moment to consider the lilies (Luke 12:27)? In our hectic and chaotic daily lives, we experience a variety of stressors. Yet, scripture calls our attention to bring ourselves to a place of calm, meditation, and reflection to know who God is (Psalm 46:10). Sometimes we allow ourselves to become consumed with worry, anxiety, and full of despair. These are the moments to step back and consider the lilies of the field. Reflect on the goodness and simplicity of who our Heavenly Father is. The goodness of all that He has created for us. Reflecting on the goodness of our own creation and existence. Finally, what does it mean for you when scripture says that God saw everything, and it was very good? How does this change your perspective?