The Magnificence of Man | Russell M. Nelson | 1987
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
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One of the most magnificent creations of God is the remarkably complex human body, which ought to be an object of appreciation and respect.
This speech was given on March 29, 1987.
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"I invite you to ponder things magnificent. To assist, let us define the word magnificent. It is derived from two Latin roots. The prefix magni comes from a term meaning “great.” The suffix comes from the Latin facere, meaning “to make” or “to do.” A simple definition of magnificent then might be “great deed” or “greatly made.”
Think, if you will, of the most magnificent sight you have ever seen. It could be a meadow in springtime filled with beautiful wildflowers. Or perhaps you have been awestruck, as I have, at the magnificence of a single rose with its special beauty and perfume. I have come to appreciate the magnificence of an orange-each droplet of juice neatly packaged in an edible container, joined with many other packets, grouped in sections, and all neatly wrapped in a disposable, biodegradable peel.
Some would say the most magnificent sight they have ever beheld is looking heavenward on a summer night, seeing stars beyond number dotting the sky. Those who have traveled in orbit through space say that their view of planet earth was one of the most magnificent sights ever observed by man.
Some might choose the view of the Grand Canyon at sunrise-others, the beauty of a mountain lake, river, waterfall, or desert.
Some might select a peacock with its tail in full fan or a handsome horse. Others would nominate the beauty of butterfly wings, or a hummingbird seemingly suspended in midair while feeding.
These magnificent sights are wondrous beyond measure. They are all “great deeds” of our divine Creator.
You may be surprised at what I am going to suggest now. Ponder the magnificence of all you see when you look in the mirror. Ignore the freckles, unruly hair, or blemishes, and look beyond to see the real you-a child of God created by him, in his image.
Tonight I would like to peek beyond the surface we see in the mirror, lift the lid on the treasure chest of understanding the marvelous attributes of your body, and discover, at least in part, the magnificence of man.
Time won’t permit us to do more than sample some of the glittering jewels of magnificence in this treasure chest, but we might reach in and look at some of the gems awaiting our view.
Embryonic Development
In the first compartment of the treasure chest, we might look at the magnificence of our creation itself.
We don’t know precisely how two germ cells unite to become a human embryo, but we do know that both the female cell and the male cell contain all the new individual’s total hereditary material and information, stored in a space so small it cannot be seen by the naked eye. Twenty-three chromosomes from both the father and the mother unite in one new cell. These chromosomes contain thousands of genes. A marvelous process of genetic coding is established by which all the basic human characteristics of the unborn person are determined. A new DNA complex is thus formed. A continuum of growth is instituted that results in a new human being. Approximately twenty-two days after those two germ cells have united, a little heart begins to beat. At twenty-six days the circulation of blood begins. Cells multiply and divide, some becoming differentiated to become eyes that see, or ears that hear, while others are destined to become fingers that feel the wonderful things about us. Yes, awareness of the magnificence of man begins with the miracles of conception and our creation.
Specific Organs
In our treasure chest of understanding, we can look to the compartment of capability of selected organs. Time won’t permit complete consideration, but each jewel merits admiration, appreciation, and awe.
Let’s mention the magnificence of the eyes with which we see. No doubt you have stood before the mirror, as have I, watching pupils react to changes in the intensity of light-dilating to let more light in, constricting to reduce the light allowed to reach the sensitive retina of the eye. A self-focusing lens is at the front of each eye. Nerves and muscles synchronize the function of two separate eyes to produce one three-dimensional image..."
I love Pres Nelson and I’m so grateful for his heart and lung machine that I was connected to for 4 1/2 hours as surgeons saved my life. He is the poster child of the example of a man’s potential to approach godhood in a future existence.
Amen 🙏
Great talk. Impressive knowledge of science and of the word of God.
It's interesting to me that many who go through the education system fall away from the gospel. As I worked towards graduate degrees in sciences and medicine I could see God's hand more and more in all things.
Amen 🙏
I was a chemistry major, and I also saw God’s hand in the world through chemistry.
I also studied my undergraduate in Biology and have said this exact same thing many many times.
Sorry, I'm a theology student and can only marvel at Father's and Jehovah's hand's in everything, down to the minuteous details. BUT what I am really waiting for is the large scale changes that are planned for mother Earth 🌎🌍. We will not recognize after the re-configuration. However, each of either hear and recognize our saviour's voice and follow HIM, or we don't! Be of good cheer and be on the Lord's side, always!!
That’s because you didn’t study social sciences! ;)
Pres. Nelson has ALWAYS been a firecracker! 🥰
He was DEFINITELY chosen and prepared by Jesus Christ to lead His church🕊🙏🏼
I LOVE him, sustain him, and am thankful to have him as our prophet today🫂❤
Thank you Father in Heaven for our wonderful leader(s)❣💜💞
As I read the comments here, I find it interesting and consistent to my recent faith growth…. I’ll explain.
I have noticed as a lifetime active member, I’ve been putting TOO MUCH attention on the messenger.
The apostles and prophets are full of SO MUCH GOOD - but I fear as an LDS culture, we are putting too much attention on the church leaders. Their messages draw us closer to God, yet we admire (or may I say “worship”) the person delivering the words.
Pres Nelson is worthy of our admiration, but he is just ONE OF US (God’s children).
Our comments and take away pondering should be upon GOD.
Agree with you, Lisa - I've been at conferences where General Authorities have run themselves ragged shaking hands with long lines of members who seemingly wanted to be associated with godly celebrities .....similar to the endless lines wishing to shake hands with Donald Trump at a rally or Oprah on Hollywood Boulevard.
He’s directing us to see God’s hand, nothing wrong with that.
I wish I had heard this talk at about age 10. Then, would have watched it once a year through my teen years. I didn't join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints until my mid 20's. Oh, how I wish I had been a member of this Church growing up.
Converts are such a gift to those born in the covenant! Your experiences before finding and joining the Church add to our testimonies and gratitude of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! My mother is a convert. How grateful I am for her faith!
I too am a convert and am grateful that I was guided by the Spirit to understand the difference between the true Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and what is not.
We are such amazing creations of our loving Father in Heaven! The complexity and wonder of the human body, and our spirit, testifies of God's love for each of us, and how he wants us to bless mankind for him.
All these physical capacities are here to develop our spiritual capacities... Such an interesting thought that makes a lot of sense.
I loved everything he said!!!
I love the Prophet. How can anyone deny his wisdom and inspiration?
Unbelievable talk...wow...ABSOLUTELY hit this one out of the park Mr. Nelson. I loved every second of this inspiring thought provoking message. If anyone ever questions our prophet share with them this beautiful talk.
Whaaa,word's cannot describe the greatness, thoughtfulness and inspirations of such a unique and spiritual uplifting teachings. Prophet Nelson we are blessed by Heavenly Father to have you as a gift and great teacher of our time's and Tran's this dispensation through great technology to make all you're Great teachings available at a clicks of a button when one is spiritually in tune to listen to you.The youths in 1987 those who loved scientific adventure we're highly blessed and inspire to pursued medicine with collectively well design, simple but complexes to understand the Magnificent of man and the different and various system within us that we can only marvelously appreciate. Glory be to God in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
The human eye, without a doubt, is my personal evidence of the existence of my Supreme Creator and in no way possible did I and my ancestors come into existence from pond scum.
I totally agree! Can a random explosion in a bucket of swiss watch parts at its factory create a brand new working model of a Swiss watch? Has anyone seen, tasted, touched, smelled, or heard, the "big bang," happen?
The complexity and beauty of the human body, and mind, solemnly testifies of a Divine creator, who is also our loving Father in Heaven!
@@nathanbanks2935 I'm on your team Nathan!
What a great talk! I’m very grateful we have living prophets today :)
What a handsome young man. I sure hope God has a work for him to do on earth.
I love the content that is produced when a latter-day Saint merges scientific understanding with the doctrined revealed by God through his prophets
Magnificent! Thank you for sharing this gem!
What an awesome speech. I learned a lot from it. God bless you.
Wow. So needed. We wouldn't harm our bodies if we understood these. things. We wouldn't cut them up and alter them.
Niente di più soddisfacente e spiritualmente profondo 💖 grazie per questo discorso, nostro amatissimo profeta🙏 ha riconfermato la sua chiamata come essere tale 💖 sono profondamente commossa da questa certezza. Pres. Nelson è il nostro profeta vivente ed è stato appuntato a ricevere tale chiamata ancor prima della sua venuta qui sulla terra 🙏💖 sia fatta Gloria al Signore per quanto amore riversa su tutta l'umanità attraverso i Suoi Santi Profeti avuti nel corso di tutti i tempi 💞 fino ad oggi, dove a dirigere la Sua Chiesa il Signore ha visto necessaria la guida di un Profeta come Presidente Nelson 💖 i love him, and pray the Almighty God to preserve him still for many more years to come 🙏💖 God Bless You President Nelson 💞
Thats the key finding are Devine nature
This man is beyond amazing....GOD bless you PRESIDENT NELSON!!!!!
To understand the aging process and why we die, all you have to do is look at the food that we are eating. There was two trees in the Garden of Eden. One of the trees was the Tree of Life, and the other tree was planted by the cunning serpent. Now the fruit of the Tree of Life gave eternal life and healing because it had fruit on it that did not spoil , corrupt or die of itself. Every bite that they took of it, gave them an incorruptible body that could never die as long as they ate of that tree. This tree represents Christ. Now the other tree that was also in the Garden of Eden, which God plainly told them not to eat of, contained corruptible fruit that was able to spoil and die of itself. This tree represents Satan. So the second that they ate of it, their bodies started to corrupt and die. God knew that they ate of it because their bodies started to smell. So, in order for them not to live forever in that state, they had to be banished from the Garden of Eden and go to live on the earth where the fruit that they ate of was there. And this is why we physically die because we are still eating of the same corruptible fruit that Adam and Eve ate of.. In men's quest to lift himself up above God and to become a god, has caused him to greatly fall. They were tried in the garden to see whether they will obey God or the serpent. They chosed Satan, and because of their disobedience became a curse. BUT BE OF GREAT JOY, BECAUSE ALL ROADS WILL LEAD US BACK TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN BECAUSE OF THE OBEDIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SECOND ADAM. AMEN.
The true is always very interesting
There IS no more sure sound of direction for our lives than the inspired words of God's true prophets in these latter days!! Bless and protect President Nelson!!
An amazing talk by a man destined to become a Prophet. Thank you for posting this.
The world falsely judges the outward appearance putting such value on it that people will do almost anything to look a certain way, while God will one day judge us by our spiritual attributes. 39:15
A great message. Thank goodness Heavenly Father provided a Prophet to teach us, guide us, and help us grow closer to our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ. I knew Heavenly Father would not leave us without a Prophet in these last days before the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ when Satan would do his fiercest attacks against us. This talk was given by our now Prophet when he was much younger before he became a Prophet. This talk inspired me to want to take better care of this wondrous body that houses our spirit. We must protect both. Thanks for sharing this message.
I loved this speech...love this man our PROHFET!!!
I found myself wanting to re-live my few months at BYU in the late 1980's after being at general conference in person during this morning's session. (April 6, 2024). The empty seat between our prophet's counselors, and the heartfelt words of Jeffrey Holland was very overwhelming for me. I'm grateful that both our church and our BYU have such a long history of wonderful inspiration and knowledge for each of us. We've been blessed with many great leaders, male and female, and I pray for their health and strength. And I pray for those who will benefit from their legacy.
I had picked a Elder Holland talk and fell asleep along the way, drifted into dreamland and found myself live at BYU hall listening to president Nelson. At one point I walked out of the hall and found myself standing with some nursing young moms trying to calm down their kids. But somehow I was still within the sound of his voice. And I cannot deny the feelings I had as the talk went on. God loves us, and has blessed us with this man, to lead us. I am grateful.
So beautifully put!!
Amazing message preached from the pulpit and by example. 💕💓💕
Non riesco a smettere di ascoltare questo profondo messaggio d'amore e di riconoscenza al nostro Creatore, per aver eseguito così magnificamente la richiesta del Padre 💖 amo profondamente Pres. Nelson e sono immensamente grata al Signore per avermi reso partecipe di tale magnificenza 🙏🌈💞
Sempre e per sempre gloria nei secoli dei secoli al mio Creatore per tutto il Suo operato 💖 ecco cos'è la gioia di cui parlano i vangeli 📖 so grateful for Pres. Nelson 🙏looking forward for more learning experiences and endless personal grouth in this which is His True Church🌈💞
My favorite part is at 1:52 to 2:06 ! ;)
Such gifts -- for which I thank our God.
35 years down the line as applicable as when I was young. 🥰 👌
Masterful talk
Amazing, powerful address.
Love this talk
8:30 The heart pump.
❤
😅
❤
Prophet Russell M. Nelson, thank you! I am Thinking Celestial!
Eternally grateful!
~ smg
💜🙏💜🙏💜🙏