The observer becomes a worshiper

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Morning Session of the October 1978 Conference.

From Elder N. Eldon Tanner's talk, but he's actually quoting Elder James E. Talmage:

As man proceeds to the closer examination of things he finds that by study and scientific investigation these proofs are multiplied many fold. He may learn of the laws by which the earth and its associated worlds are governed in their orbits; by which satellites are held subordinate to planets, and planets to suns; he may behold the marvels of vegetable and animal anatomy, and the surpassing mechanism of his own body; and with such appeals to his reason increasing at every step, his wonder as to who ordained all this gives place to adoration for the Creator whose presence and power are thus so forcefully proclaimed; and the observer becomes a worshiper.

The first thing that came to mind when reading this is this scene from Without a Clue ("He sees, but he does not observe!"), but that was followed by a couple of thoughts:

1. If we observe the wonders of this world and the universe, and do not naturally progress to adoration and worship of our Father who created those things, we are missing the point.

And 2., a corollary: when we aren't full of wonder and gratitude, we are not clear-sighted observers.


Other posts in this series:

• Faith: The Theme In All Our Lives by Jan Tolman