The Christmas Star

For this week's spiritual thought, I've decide to touch on the Christmas Star, which has gotten a lot of hype this past month because of the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter.

As a big astronomy buff, I've been eating up this whole conjunction thing. A few days ago, December 21, Jupiter and Saturn got so close in the sky that they looked like one star. Here is one picture I took ... 

And the same picture close up, so you can see Saturn as a tiny bulge on the right side of Jupiter.

And this picture is through my telescope, where you can also see three of Jupiter's moons and maybe one of Saturn's moons as well to its upper left (also note that the telescope has flipped the image -- silly mirrors) ...

If you go out tonight, you can still see Saturn close to Jupiter. Just look after sunset -- probably around 6PM local time (depends on your longitude inside your time zone). Look slightly south of west. Jupiter will be the bright star, and Saturn will be the slightly dimmer one to the lower right. It's still pretty and worth catching. Or you can wait 60 years for when Jupiter and Saturn get even closer than this!

Okay -- with all that out of the way, let's get back to the spiritual thought. It was on that same day that I tuned in to a live Slooh event on YouTube. This is a group of telescopes that are set up to provide live events. And some astronomers were talking up a storm right before the sun started setting (in England -- I think). This main guy give this big long spiel about the Christmas Star. What was it really?

If you go to a planetary show this time of year (other than 2020), you'll most likely catch a Christmas Star presentation that provides several different scenarios: a supernova, a conjunction of planets, a comet are the three main ones I hear.

My favorite one is the supernova theory, as it is consistent with both the Biblical and the Book of Mormon account. The Bible describes a new star that led wise men to find Jesus (a journey that could have taken a couple of years). The Book of Mormon describes a night "as if day" and then a new star would appear. This seems to be consistent with the idea of a supernova exploding as it brightened the sky over the American continent (The Book of Mormon), and then lost most of its brilliance by the time it hit the Eastern skies (The Bible -- which doesn't mention a night "as if day"). However, there seems to be no other independent record of such a phenomenon around 1 AD. The first Chinese-recorded supernova is 185 AD. This doesn't mean it didn't happen -- just no way to corroborate the account.

The conjunction of planets theory is interesting, but I actually don't like it, because the ones that happened around 1 AD aren't particularly interesting to me. One popular conjunction is Jupiter with Venus and Regulus in June 2 BC. But, planets get that close to each other all the time. The one that just happened a few days ago is by far the most interesting conjunction I've seen, and much more interesting than anything that happened around 1 AD. There would have been a Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in 1 BC, but not as close as what we just saw.

The comet theory is also interesting, but again, records are sparse -- though one was recorded in 5 BC by the Chinese.

As the Slooh guy kept on talking, he made this interesting comment: these planetary presenters give these presentations because it sells around Christmas time. Sure enough, I've been to a couple of them. However, all of these astronomers and presenters seem to believe that the Christmas Star was "none of the above" because a star can in no way direct a person to Bethlehem. There's only one stationary star in the sky, "Polaris," which can only lead one toward the North Pole, but all other stars spin in the sky and have no power to lead. Well -- a star could help lock down the latitude, but not the longitude.

Perhaps the stars/comet/novas simply triggered a sign to let the wise men know to start looking, and then they used other means to find the exact geography. As a matter of fact, if the star were leading to the exact place, why did the wise men have to go to Herod? I actually like this idea ... because a star doesn't have to show geography to "show the way."

The Slooh guy also presented a new theory I had never heard before: maybe the Christmas Star was made up by Matthew, who wrote his account decades after it happened. Evidently there was a prominent work of fiction at the time in which a star led the protagonists, and perhaps Matthew mixed up the two stories. Luke doesn't mention a star in his account.

And also, the thought came to mind -- what if it were something completely different? What if it were a supernatural event? It couldn't have been a geostationary event -- something that can only happen at the equator. But what if God created a "local" star above the earth in orbit and held it in place right above Bethlehem (defying laws of physics), to help show the way?

But then again, does it matter what the Star really was? It's fun speculating, and as a side-chair astronomer, I would love to know the answer. If it all possible, I would enjoy going back in time to witness the Star for myself.

Coming back to spirituality -- I believe that we can have our own Christmas Star to lead the way. We can receive our own signs and revelations to help us in our own lives. If we are wise and keep an eye out for these, they can lead us all in the right direction. This very recent Christmas Star in our sky has been a perfect reminder of this very concept.

Finally, I'll close with this recording of my favorite song about the Star of Bethlehem ... this is the choral version I've sung in church several times in the past ...

Christmas Gifts

It's that time of year, and let me tell you right off the bat ... this has been one of the more difficult Christmas shopping years for me. So much sleepless nights, struggling with online shopping, sneaking around while everyone is home, and creating contingencies for presents not arriving by Christmas. I'll be glad when it's over.

For this week's spiritual thought of the week, I'd like to dive in a little deeper into these gifts, and hopefully avoid the usual "reason of the season" post. Yes I know without Jesus, there is no Christmas, but I'm assuming you already know about that, and I'm trying to explore new aspects and views of Christmas.

I often get stressed out about choosing gifts. Though this year was pretty bad, every year always has the research, and the working with a budget, and trying to create an experience our kids will enjoy -- which is almost a science in and of itself. Sometimes I wish, with all the stress, that the gift giving would just go away, and then we could all just relax, and maybe think about Jesus more. (Wait -- I said I wasn't going to go there.)

But, that's what some people choose to do. Some Christian denominations don't even practice Christmas because it puts something above God. Some can "see through all the hype" and "see that it's all a scam to sell lots of cards and toys."

But here's something to consider ... one of my favorite scriptures ... D&C 29:34: "Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual." In its full context, it's talking about temporal vs. spiritual matters, and we learn that they are one and the same to the Lord. And I believe this includes Christmas gifts.

I have very fond memories of my Christmases as a kid. It was something very important to my mother -- to provide memorable events of joy and peace. To her it meant showering us with gifts. I only came to learn well afterwards that this meant going into debt and lots of stress. And I don't think any of my kids have had a Christmas anywhere near what I got, but that's okay. It was my mother's way of showing love. She loved the look on our faces when we opened a present and said, "No way!!!" One of my favorites was Carl Sagan's COSMOS book -- and a few other cool science-related toys.

Ultimately, I think it comes down to having fun with the family, and fun memories. It's not so much the gifts themselves but the joy of giving and enjoying the happiness they bring. As for receiving gifts, sometimes they become part of my daily arsenal of things I use, and sometimes they end up in a pile that I'll get to one day. But I cherish the love that went into them.

As for the commercialism and all that, I don't think it's all that bad. I'm happy to help the economy. Any unused presents eventually get recycled -- donated to other families or Goodwill. Sometimes I do get annoyed with commercials and some people going way over the top, or taking advantage of the season to sell low-quality toys at high prices. 

But then again, a good dose of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special always helps there. Oh ... but wait ... people can no longer watch it for free because Apple TV+ just swiped it up. Dang -- commercialism strikes again. (And I said I wasn't going to go there!)

Okay, I tried -- but I guess Jesus just keeps coming back. He is the reason. But gift giving can always be a good way to celebrate what Jesus did for us 2000 years ago. Don't be afraid. Make someone else happy. 

I've never regretted it. Every Christmas night when it's all over, I always feel peace that I never want to end.

Judging Righteously

This week's lesson comes again from my church's weekly reading, but this lesson is for us all, especially in our current circumstances. Not coincidentally, there was also a talk in our church Zoom meeting today touching on these same principles, and also not to mention that several times in early October, many similar talks were given in our church's General Conference. It is clearly a lesson our church desperately wants us to hear, so I invite all to listen up, because this is darn important.

Today I will concentrate on this question: how can we learn to judge righteously?

For a backdrop, let me describe the situation for those not familiar with the Book of Mormon. Being toward the end of the year, we're at the very end when the Lamanites (the bad guys) are wiping out the Nephites (the former good guys), and there is no righteousness left anywhere. Only Moroni remains the sole faithful person.

As described in Moroni 9: 5,19:

(5) For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.

(19) And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; ...

This may seem a little scary, but doesn't this describe the situation today, though not quite so bad -- just yet? Don't we have two "parties" that are being increasingly violent toward each other? Isn't everything today more about revenge and putting down the other party? And frighteningly, we now hear talk of rising up and fighting? Is there any way to avoid all this? Can we diffuse this increasingly dangerous situation?

There's one thing you can do. You can make right choices. If you are able to judge righteously, and act on those choices, then you can not only avoid the "thirst after blood" but you can also help to diffuse our nation's current predicament.

Moroni 7:17-19 says:

(17) But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. 

(18) And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.

(19) Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

Right now, between those two parties I mentioned before, if you listen to what each side says, you will hear the same thing. "We are the ones upholding the Constitution. We're right, and you're wrong, and you're trying to cheat and steal to gain power." To me it's pretty clear which side is doing the most cheating in this specific instance, but I'm trying to remain neutral in this post because of two reasons:

• This has been going on for years, and at different times, each party has had its fair share of doing most of the cheating or power grabbing; AND
• I want you to be able to turn to God and JUDGE for yourself the best way to proceed -- not just in the most immediate instance, but EVERY TIME this type of thing comes up.

So, I challenge you to stop and think, and reconsider. Here are some tips that come from the whole 7th chapter of Moroni:

• Make sure that you are not calling good evil and evil good.
• Make sure to pray with real intent of heart.
• Whatever you ask God will be answered.
• Consider: does your proposed plan of action bring good or evil? Does your plan come out of hatred and anger, or does it come from love and patience?
• Make sure you remain a servant of Christ, and not the devil.
• Remember faith and hope.
• Remember humility.
• If you are in tune, then judging good from evil will be as "a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night."

Whatever side you may be on, I hope you will decide today to continue on in peace, love, and a willingness to work together. Make sure you're always on the right side of things as you judge, so that you can always have a clear conscious and receive judgments on yourself with the best outcomes.

I wish you luck ... and together we judge righteously and figure this all out.

Wisdom and Smarts

For this week's spiritual thoughts, I figured I'd do a quick follow-up to last week's thoughts on science.

Last week I mentioned the word "smart" several times. To me, this word means increasing the power of your brain, using critical thinking, holding knowledge and always searching for more, and so on. It's the whole concept of exercising the brain like a muscle, so that it becomes stronger. Einstein was smart, and he was able to figure out some of the most complicated theories with crazy math. Practically every technological advancement comes from smart people figuring things out. 

So, a few years ago, I gave a talk at church. I talked about being smart and falling into the "smart" trap. This happens often with people who intentionally choose a "smart" path in their careers, meaning one that uses math, science, or logic. Then along the way, they feel that they've figured out the world and suddenly find that God no longer fits, and then a belief in God turns into a weakness. Often it's because of the idea of: "There is much I can prove in life -- it all makes sense. But God cannot be proven. I don't need Him in my grand scheme of things."

I then went on to say ... but if you're truly "smart," then you'll see the trap, and then you'll know how to avoid it. And you end up having the best of both worlds -- which is the situation I find myself in today. Religion does not interfere with my "smart" career, but it does enhance my career, as religious principles help me in my interactions with others, and that helps me get ahead. I also find on the flip side that my smartness actually enhances my spiritual belief as well. That's a very long discussion, and eventually I'll out with most of it in that upcoming book I'll finish years from now.

But seeing the trap is not really being "smart." (I'm only putting quotes around this word to emphasize something important. I'll admit to my grammarian friends that I'm being lazy -- I just got 10 more minutes to finish this -- and these thoughts are typed out very quickly.) It is something that is better described as "wisdom."

Smartness is figuring things out. Wisdom is being able to analyze what you know and then making the most beneficial decisions. While being smart helps you know what to do, wisdom helps you to understand why and sometimes how.

A perfect example would again be Einstein, who was incredibly smart, but didn't always make the wisest decisions -- especially when it came to women. Though, it was definitely wisdom when he left Germany, wisdom when he warned against using nuclear bombs, and then wisdom when he told the US now was the time to build nuclear bombs.

When you have wisdom, you are then making better choices -- being able to rely on experiences of other people -- doing what you think makes the best outcome. So, is wisdom enough to perfect your life?

According to Bible ... maybe not so much. Solomon was called the wisest man who ever lived and who would ever live ... which has made me jealous many times. But yet, he allowed Gentile women to lead him away from God.

So, if the wisest guy ever failed, then perhaps wisdom isn't enough? But then what is? I'm still trying to figure this out. I think he just lost his wisdom when his thoughts were corrupted by his wives. 

But now I'm out of time. Feel free to make comments and sometime in the future we can analyze this some more.