God is a scientist.

"There is no difference between true religion and true science."

This was shared in institute last week. Unfortunately I cannot recall who it was attributed to.

This is so much my feeling and belief for years.

My biology professor freshman year started off the semester by explaining to us what he felt a proper mentality towards science was. He drew a line on the board and wrote "God" on one end and "science" on the other. He then said that anyone who believed in only one end of this spectrum was nuts (extremists at either end). We should believe in both, that God created the universe and that he uses the laws and principles that govern it.

Without delving deeper than is necessary, I believe that God is a scientist and that any discrepancies between religion and science are our own fault. Eventually we'll have a clear understanding of how science and it's laws are exploited by God.

Interesting fact: in the Bahá'i Faith  they believe that true science and true religion can never be in conflict. The principle states that truth is one, and therefore true science and true religion must be in harmony, rejecting the view that science and religions are in conflict. Neat-o.

You might also find some of these things that Einstein said interesting:

- I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.

- Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.

- My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds.

And finally, something from the Book of Mormon. "Thou hast had signs enough . . . and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:44).

promises.

Before I start, I want to say this: God always fulfills his promises.

While reading in the Book of Mormon this week in 2nd Nephi, I was impressed by something in the 10th chapter.

Jacob, Nephi's brother, is talking to his people (circa 559 BC) about Christ's future coming among the Jews. He mentions that they (Nephi's people) have received a promise, and despite prophecy of the consequences of future disobedience, that God will be merciful and that their descendants (in his own time) will eventually be restored and know their Redeemer.

The promise? That God will give future generations a fullness of knowledge of Christ. The time table? More than a thousand years . . . But the promise was fulfilled, and the descendants of the Book of Mormon, wherever they are, have access to the complete and full knowledge of Christ's sacrifice.

But what most intrigued me most was this:

Jacob talks about the Lord leading groups of people to different areas at different times, he even emphasizes "isles of the sea," saying, "the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now . . . the Lord remembereth all them . . . wherefore he remembereth us also" (10:22).

I feel like, at least in my own life, God has had a very direct hand in leading me sometimes. I feel very good about a direction and path I'm taking, or a destination that I have "arrived" at. Then it feels like I'm on my own for a little while. God expects me to act and use what he's given me; to exercise my own free will.

In these times, and in times of challenges we wonder, when is this going to be like He promised me? Often times, we get clear promises from God, or the council that everything will be alright. We wonder, "well right now would be a good time for that to be true. God promised me. I'm ready for it to be better already."

As Jacob points out, those promises always come, "for [God] hath spoken it, and who can dispute?" (10:9)

I definitely don't know God's timetable for fulfillment of promises he's made with me. But I know that if I am righteous and strive to use my agency wisely . . . the promise will be fulfilled. Tomorrow. Or in 5 years. The Old and New Testaments, and the Book of Mormon are clear evidences that God remembers and keeps his promises.