How Great Thou Art--Reminiscing the greatness of God in our lives!

I just listened to the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s version of “How Great Thou Art.” As I listened and watched them sing, listened to the orchestra’s incredible music, and watched the various images that depicted why God is great,” I thought I should share some of those images why I feel God is Great and pen a few lines why I feel this on this beautiful Sabbath Day!

God is great and His creations have had a lasting effect on my life and the lives of my family. 

The first time I think of when I recognized His Greatness was when we used to fish Birch Creek in Idaho. I remember standing on the banks of the little creek, which I thought was huge when I was eight. It was so quiet with a slight breeze rustling through some of the trees that lined certain portions of the creek. I stood there with a fishing pole in hand and worms in an old Band aid can, alone but not alone along a small creek meandering through that vastness of sagebrush, a few trees, and mountains on both sides of the valley.

Other times happened when my father and I fished on Rainey Creek, which flowed into the mighty Snake River. I was with my father when we witnessed a cow elk and her twins trying to escape us on the other side of the creek. She was trying with her might to get those two little ones up the hill and out of sight of us. We just watched quietly on banks, beneath some bushes, as she cajoled and finally convinced them to climb that steep mountain. They finally did, scrambling away and out of sight.

Still another time when Joanne and I were serving in the Dominican Republic and visited the great Caribbean and just watched sunsets, and enjoyed the beach and that famously beautiful blueish turquoise water, something that was so foreign to us having grown up in Idaho.

 

The Volcán Osorno in southern Chile is one of those majestic creations. I remember as a young missionary, standing on the banks of Lake Llanquihue and marveling at its beauty. When Joanne and I returned to visit Chile in 2009, I had to stop and have Joanne witness the same incredible view. We almost missed it, but dusk was just settling, and we captured the glorious essence of Volcán Osorno as we stood there holding hands as the sun gently, reluctantly slid beyond the horizon.

Still another was the event when Elder Neil L. Andersen, a modern-day Apostle, visited our mission with Elder Jörge Klebingat of the Seventy and Elder Kevin K. Miskin, Area Authority Seventy

 

The Tetons are one of those great sights that millions of people have seen and experienced. Every time I have seen them, I just stand in awe and wonder “how” and “why.” And then it hits me: It the majesty of it all.  

 

The Idaho Falls Temple is another sign of the Greatness of God. All temples are signs of His great majesty and wonder—yes, even the Lord’s sacred house. 

Flowers—how can I leave them out. I love flowers in their different arrays and creative bouquets scattered across the world. Can one question the majesty of God? They were designed by divine and loving hands. I am sure that Heavenly Mother had some say in all this. It is all too beautiful to not have our Heavenly Mother’s eternal eye on all this. I can see her gentle, kind smile, and a slight nod of love as the daisies and lilies wave their dainty heads toward Her.

 

Probably the greatest feeling of  how Great God is was when we were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. Yes, we were young, but we knew what kind of marriage we wanted. We waited a long time before Heavenly Father blessed with with two incredibly talented and beautiful daughters, Anna Rose and Hailey. They are a blessing to our lives.

Of course, the greatest example of God being Great is the eternal principle of families! We may not have been around them as much as they would have liked or we would like. We love our family more than anything else in the world!

Yes, God is Great! The Choir finishes with these testimonial and powerful statements: “How great Thou art, how great Thou Art.” Those words continue to reverberate through my very soul as I contemplate how great He has been in my life!