The Most Important Person in the Universe

          The universe is a big place.  A lot of work goes into its maintenance.  From glittering cosmos to the point on a pin, each detail has a significant place.  As I sat pondering recently, it occurred to me that it was all wrought, all created, all meticulously held in balance, all for a single individual.  Who do you suppose that might be?

          After all, God created it for everyone.

Didn't He?

          Moses asked Him that question once.  "And it came to pass that Moses called upon God, saying: Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them?  And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me" (Moses 1:30-31).  Interesting answer, don't you think?  Especially considering His answer to a very similar question just verses later, "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

          So God's purpose in the creation of the Earth is at least slightly different than what He defines as His work and Glory.  The firsts question He did not answer.  The second He did.  What I am about to teach is not found explicitly in any single scripture.  But I know it is true.  As Moroni teaches, "By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5).

          But what do you think?  A farmer goes out into the country, buys a piece of land, farms it, builds a house on it, sells his crop and buys food for his family.  For which of his children did he do it?  For all of them?

          "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him" (1 John 4:16).

          It's easy to see that everything that God does is in some way linked to love.  But the way He loves may not be the same way that we envision that He does.  You see, love, or truth, is "independent in that sphere in which God has placed it."  If love is independent, it is also unconditional.  It is separate and distinct for each person and is neither increased, decreased, or affected in any other way by the existence of other people who are also loved.  He loves as if each person were His only child.

          The person that God created the universe for is you.  Yes, you.  The sky, the flowers, the sun, the worlds without number, all for you personally.  If you ever stare out at the sunset and feel like He is putting on a show for you personally, you're right.  An interesting parallel might help you grasp the idea.  After Conference in April, one of my friends posted on Facebook something to the effect of the following:  "I feel bad that you all had to sit through 10 hours of talks made just for me."  Of course, this was said with a bit of a sarcastic overtone, but it is literally true.  Just as each talk in General Conference was designed personally for every single person who would listen to it, so has everything, EVERYTHING in life been designed for every single child of God simultaneously.  There isn't any kind of trade-off between one person's interests and another.  Each person is favored absolutely and completely.  You may just as well sit back and feel bad because everyone else in the world has to experience a universe that God made specifically for you.

          It is easy to see error in our lives.  It's much more difficult to see perfection.  But it is there.  In fact, it is everywhere.  Every detail.  Every haphazard attempt by a friend to make your day.  Every moment of "bad luck."  All of it is perfect.  All of the difficulties, pain, unfairness, awkwardness, insecurity, and sadness are part of what makes your life ideal for you.

          The incredible thing is that God does this for every single person in the universe.  The next time you have trouble forgiving someone who has hurt you, remember that they are literally the one person that God created the entire universe for.  Maybe then you'll see them in a different light.

          The other incredible thing is that while God controls every single aspect of your life, so do you.  It sounds impossible, but it is true.  You are in just as absolute control of your life through your agency as God is through the priesthood; the best decisions in life are a team effort, a combination between your agency and God's power and inspiration.

          The farmer builds his house and harvests his crop not for all his children, but for each one individually.  Your love for one child or spouse or friend does not destroy your love for another person.  Each piece of your life is a personal manifestation of the great, eternal Whole.