Earth-like? 10, 9, 8…
April 26, 2007 | Filed Under Architecture, Futurist, Church | 3 Comments
Maybe you’ve heard: scientists have discovered some interesting details about a planet 20 light years away, and of course the buzz is that it may be habitable, as it is believed to have similar tempertures to our earth and that it may have liquid water too. Oh, and does anyone else get the urge to play some Jamiroquai after hearing about all this space stuff? 
CNN didn’t think much of the discovery (but who really is hanging on every word they write anyway?) In any case, I like reading about this stuff.
But that’s just because I’m a bit of a futurist at heart and the whole idea of people blasting off into outer space to visit other worlds (growing up with Star Wars and Back to the Future will do that to you) is just plain cool.
As it happens, my focus at school is very much aligned with this type of idealism–clean cities, advanced building technology, architecture that integrates renewables, etc. There are a lot of modernists out there, but that crowd is a mixed bag, and I don’t know if I fall into that category. My undergrad in city planning cured me of the Le Corbusier-like architectural perspective and for that I’m grateful, but you have to appreciate the overall concept. Flying cars and all that. So I’m on board with people like Richard Branson, and others, who want to push the envelope.
Of course, when stories like these come around, the planet discoveries anyway, I tend to think about the these verses in Moses 1:
30 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?
31 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.
32 And by the word of my power, have I created them, which is mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth.
33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.
34 And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many.
35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.
36 And it came to pass that Moses spake unto the Lord, saying: Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content.
37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.
38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.
39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Having the added perspective that comes from the restored gospel makes all of these things much more interesting to contemplate, don’t you think?