The Greatest Evidence

I have before me Tom Brokaw’s 1998 bestselling book, The Greatest Generation. The title is intriguing because the modifier ‘greatest’ is so compelling. I think it is safe to say that we, as human beings, are drawn to what is denominated ‘the greatest’ in anything.

Who, of the generation following ‘the greatest generation’, can forget the loud-mouthed self-proclamation of Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) proclaiming himself to be ‘the greatest’ (I at least hope he delimited his evaluation to being a prize fighter)? It may be interesting to know who was the ‘greatest’ golfer, or dancer, or president, or what is the world’s greatest river or even civilization. To make any such judgment one needs to be prepared to present the evidence supporting the declaration.

But I do not hesitate to make such a declaration regarding an issue of much greater moment.

Every day I pause to marvel at the very fact of my existence—my hands, my eyes, my brain, and the existence of those things that surround me that sustain that existence. I do not take it for granted that I have been granted a spot on this earth at this time—or, indeed, at all. It causes me to ponder my relationship to the ‘grantor’ or ‘generator’ who started and sustains the ‘generation’ of whom I am but one.

To me, the greatest evidence for a watchmaker is the watch.

To me, the greatest evidence for a Father is a son or a daughter.

To me, the greatest evidence for a Creator is the creation.

In The Book of Mormon—Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a gainsaying atheist named Korihor challenged a prophet of God regarding the prophet’s testimony of what Korihor termed “the silly traditions of [your] fathers.” The prophet’s response was, “I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none…. But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true…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: 39-41, 44)

And so, when I consider all this evidence, and the purposes for which it was created, I exclaim:

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed; then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, How great thou art! How great thou art!” (How Great Thou Art, Stuart K. Hine, copyright 1955 by Manna Music, Inc.)

Indeed, “I stand all amazed….”