IS THERE ANYTHING cuter than the baby deer we see this time of year? The white-spotted fawns are darling.
With the Olympic National Park in our backyard, we can easily see some of God’s most stunning creations.
Hurricane Ridge has breathtaking panoramic views of majestic mountains and meadows dotted with wildflowers.
The blue-green waters of the Elwha river and striking clear-blue waters of Lake Crescent are soul-soothing.
Hiking to Marymere Falls, surrounded by giant trees as the sun beams through the branches high above, is exhilarating.
Then as you reach the end of the hike, cool mists of refreshing water welcome you as the water drops from the 90-foot waterfall.
I could go on and on about the herds of elk, the bald eagles, the flowering rhododendrons, the moss-covered trees in the Hoh Rainforest, the serene coastal beaches or the magnificent views at Cape Flattery — and so much more.
Suffice it to say, we live in a special place. God’s fingerprints are everywhere we look.
I grew up in Utah. It also has incredible beauty.
In southern Utah, there are the red rocks of Zion National Park, Arches National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.
In Northern Utah, there are the 11,000-foot peaks of the Wasatch Mountains, with its world famous ski resorts. As in the Olympic National Park, individuals travel from around the globe to see it all.
The views in Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park are worlds apart from the views at La Push or Salt Creek, but they are equally awe-inspiring.
Just as one who visits Kalaloch or Storm King would have a difficult time describing what it is really like to be there in person, it’s difficult to convey with a camera, or even a drone, just how majestic these places in Utah really are to experience physically with your own eyes and senses.
I once took some friends from France around Utah to see some of the sites and they commented how people travel from afar to France to see the architecture or works of art, whereas people come to Utah to see God’s architecture and handiwork.
In the Book of Mormon, we read about an antagonist named Korihor, who claimed it was foolish to believe in Jesus Christ and argued with the prophet Alma, saying that there was no God and that he would need to see a sign to believe there was a God.
Alma responded saying, “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 witness that there is a Supreme Creator.”
In other words, look around you, the signs of God are everywhere!
As I look at the remarkable beauty of God’s creations, I also think, “All these things denote that there is a God.”
The marvelous creations of our Father in Heaven are captured in the words and music of Clara W. McMaster titled “My Heavenly Father Loves Me.”
“Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav’nly Father created for me.
He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev’rently
For all His creations, of which I’m a part.
Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.”
It is a loving Heavenly Father who created a beautiful world for us for our mortal journey.
For this, I am so grateful.
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Bishop Jason Bringhurst is the leader of the Mount Pleasant Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Angeles, ComeUntoChrist.org. His email is jasonbring@gmail.com.
