The words of the oft-sung hymn about nature "How Great Thou Art" inspired two speakers.

Chair of the Department of Geology, Jeffery D. Keith and Christena Gates, former director of garden guides at Temple Square, spoke about taking the time to observe God's many creations Friday.

"I am always fascinated by the earth because all of God's creations are so incomprehensible," Leslie Bird from Idaho Falls, Idaho, said.

Bird is a regular Women's Conference attendee who feels coming to the conference is always a great blessing.

Keith and Gates discussed the vast creations of the earth. Keith compared the process of Christ perfecting people to the process of diamonds being perfected. Gates then discussed getting rid of figurative weeds in personal lives, and finding balance.

Keith began the session with pictures of the universe. He said that he is constantly in awe of the Creator of this world, Jesus Christ. By looking at the creations people can better understand the Creator because everything shows that there is a God, Keith said.

Keith then moved into an analogy about how much time diamonds take to perfect.

"With time, you can go to having something that has flaws to something that has no flaws," Keith said.

Keith said time is one of God's greatest gifts given to man and that Heavenly Father, as the stonecutter, promises to take the time to make us into perfect jewels.

Gates then turned the audience's attention to the nature that is abundant in the world. She said that every flower and weed lived in heaven before it was put on the earth. Christ showed the way for creativity by creating a world in which nothing is the same.

Gates said that although Temple Square is sacred, there is still an abundance of weeds that have to be tended to. Gates discussed how essential it is to tend our personal "garden" continually.

She challenged the audience to compare a grudge to a flower bulb. Gates asked the audience to buy a flower bulb and pretend it is a grudge they hold. The women should bury their grudge. They can then watch their forgiveness grow.

Gates emphasized the importance of setting realistic short-term and long-term goals, while at the same time taking personal time to observe nature in order to achieve personal stability.

As women are pulled in millions of different direction it is important find balance, Gates said.

"Our Heavenly Father knows we have limits," Gates said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 5 May 2003