This is the last post of a 2+ year analysis of D&C 93:1 and a 6+ month synopsis of the Seven Steps of Ascension (which began here).
So, let's combine it all -- everything -- the steps, the narrow path, the ever-increasing glory and the course which I mentioned in my previous post.
What would it look like?
Here's my best guess:
In this graphic, you can see that:
Each of the steps leads to the next -- "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little".
The spiral is "narrow", round and ever-increasing -- an "eternal round."
As you proceed up the spiral, you experience increased strength, grace and glory.
The symbolism of 7 steps: 7 signifies completeness and spiritual perfection.
The symbolism of the number 8: 8 signifies a new beginning.
It repeats itself.
The Fibonacci Sequence: The Fingerprint of the Gods
In the year 1202, an Italian mathematician named Leonardo Pisano Bogollo (whose nickname was "Fibonacci") helped spread Hindu-Arabic numerals (like our present numbers 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) through Europe in place of Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, V, etc).
He also introduced a sequence of numbers in the following sequence:
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610, 987...
By definition, the first two numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are either 1 and 1, or 0 and 1, depending on the chosen starting point of the sequence. Each subsequent number is the sum of the previous two.
(So, 0+1=1. 1+1=2. 1+2=3. 2+3=5. 3+5=8. 5+8=13. Get it?)
When this ratio is graphed, it looks like this:
The interesting thing is, this "Golden Ratio" -- this "Divine Proportion" -- is found in almost every height and breadth of creation. From the smallest to the largest structures in the cosmos, everything testifies of the transcendent, ascendant nature of God, His goodness and powers.
"all things bear record of me" (Moses 6:63)
"...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)
Let's see where this particular design -- the ever-expanding spiral, Eloheim's symbolic fingerprint -- has been identified throughout all creation:
Biology
The Fibonacci numbers are applicable to many living things, including a single cell, a grain of wheat, a hive of bees, and even all of mankind.
Fibonacci sequences appear in pinecones, pineapples, poppy seeds and many variety of plants, including sunflowers. The family tree of honeybees is based on this ratio. So are starfish and snails. Check these out:
Romanesque Broccoli/Cauliflower
Spiral Aloe
Nautilus Shell
A microscopic view of an Anglerfish's ovary.
The shape of chicken eggs? Yep.
Even humans exhibit some golden proportions (it's only logical, isn't it? We are God's greatest and grandest creations):
The DNA molecule measures 34 angstroms long by 21
angstroms wide for each full cycle of its double helix spiral.
The ratio between your forearm and your hand is the Golden Ratio.
The cochlea of your inner ear forms a spiral.
Mathematics
Here, Mathemagician Arthur Benjamin explores hidden properties of that weird and wonderful set of numbers, the Fibonacci series...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjSHVDfXHQ4
Meteorology and Astronomy
The shapes of spiral galaxies, such as Messier 74, and hurricanes, such as Hurricane Irene, follow the Fibonacci sequence.
Religion
In Genesis 6:15, God commanded Noah to build an ark, saying,
"And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits."
50 by 30 cubits is also in the ratio of 5 to 3, or 1.666
God also commanded that a different ark -- the Ark of the Covenant -- was also constructed using the Fibonacci sequence:
"And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof." (Exodus 25:10)
The ratio of 2.5 to 1.5 is 1.666, which is as close to phi (1.618 …) as you can come with such simple numbers and is certainly not visibly different to the eye. The Ark of the Covenant is thus constructed using the Golden Section, or Divine Proportion. This ratio is also the same as 5 to 3, numbers from the Fibonacci series.
In Exodus 27:1-2, we find that the altar God commands Moses to build is based on a variation of the same 5 by 3 theme:
“Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.”
So, What's My Point?
God is a God of patterns (Hebrews 8:5; D&C 52:14). Indeed, "There is pattern and order in the universe" (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Lord, Increase Our Faith").
Thus, as you can see,
"There are patterns for all worthy things if we will search for them." (Elder Marvin J. Ashton, "A Pattern in All Things", October 1990 General Conference; emphasis mine).
If there are patterns in all of God's creations -- even "all worthy things" -- then wouldn't it be logical to assume that He has also embedded those patterns in His plans which help you return to Him?
He has.
His "narrow" course is "one eternal round", and may be composed of seven (complete) repeating steps which He has revealed to mankind since Day 1. As you ascend past these steps (to an eighth step), you begin anew. And gradually, you increase in grace, strength, faith and glory -- until, eventually, you are purified, even as Christ is pure (Moroni 7:48, D&C 35:21).
You're Cordially Invited!
I invite you to take the most exciting journey possible in this life: to develop a truly deep, intimate friendship and relationship with Yeshua Ha Mashiach.
I know (not hope, not fervently believe, not guess, but KNOW) that He lives, independent of any other person, past or present.
I know His presence, His voice, His sense of humor, His compassion, His disdain for unrighteous dominion and His face.
God is no respecter of persons. He doesn't manifest Himself to a person because of their gender or genealogy, church calling or credit card balance. He has manifest Himself in marvelous ways to saints and sinners alike. He does so because we have a pure heart, having sought HIM and no other mortal, with faithful patience and an eye towards feeding His sheep.
I know that God doesn't lie when He says that as we draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to us. Here are a few things I have learned on the way:
Believe: "Sometimes we think we can do it by ourselves, that it will make us strong to struggle through a problem alone. Or sometimes we think that no one can help us, no one can understand us. The Savior can and will do both. James 1:5 is that wonderful scripture that gave the boy Joseph Smith courage to go out into the Sacred Grove. Let’s paraphrase it so that it applies to us more directly:
'When we lack wisdom, we should ask God. God will give us wisdom generously, without scolding and finding fault. Wisdom will be given to us.' I think that God is waiting for us to ask him. He wants to give to us and give generously, and he will not scold or reproach us. He doesn’t say, 'Can’t you figure this out on your own?' or 'You, again! Didn’t I just see you this morning?' No, he’s anxious to fill our souls with his goodness and his love. Our questions are just as important to us as Joseph Smith’s question was to him. And who knows, maybe the Lord has an answer for us that turns out to be as important to the world as Joseph Smith’s answer was to us today!" (Chieko Okazaki, Cat’s Cradle, p. 87)
Ask: Sometime, when you're alone and it's all quiet, kneel. Be still. Empty your mind of anything and everything. Then, just ask Him if He is there. Ask if He hears you. Ask Him if He loves you.
Be Patient: Then wait. It may take a second, minute, hour, day, week, month or more. But He WILL answer. You cannot force spiritual things. The scriptures give us many examples of those who waited upon the Lord, and were rewarded for their waiting (or, as I see it, their faith in Him). As we read in Psalms, "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord" (Psalms 27:14). Isaiah also said, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). For a good article on waiting upon the Lord, click here.
Succeed: If you're tempted to think, "I'm such a sinner. I don't deserve to hear Him," then just remember that none of us are perfect; God gets that better than anyone. You may fall and fail a thousand, maybe a million, times at the "Consecrate" or "Obey" steps, for example. That's OK. We are all babies taking our first spiritual steps. At the end of your day, return and report to Father. Talk to Him, and then LISTEN for Him. Don't be surprised if He expresses exuberant joy at your attempts to spend your day with Him. I doubt He will focus on your failures; instead, He will likely want to discuss how to turn your weaknesses into strengths -- how to get back up after being knocked down so many times. In fact, it's highly likely He'll use pronouns like "we" and "us" when discussing solutions and strategies. He'll encourage you, motivate you, strengthen you to take more steps with Him the next day.
That's because, like any good parent, He will always have a hand reaching out to you as you take your baby steps.
"I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Proverbs 4:11-18; also see D&C 50:24; emphasis mine)
Sidenote: For Current (or Prospective) Fibonacci Fans:
http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emat6680/parveen/fib_nature.htm
http://www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat.html#golden
http://www.inspirationgreen.com/fibonacci-sequence-in-nature.html
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/fibslide/jbfibslide.htm
http://www.elliottwave.com/freeupdates/archives/2014/02/10/The-Fibonacci-Sequence-New-Research-Surprises-Scientists.aspx#axzz3eiUBRflV
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oyyXC5IzEE
(Fibonacci Day is November 23rd, as it has the digits "1, 1, 2, 3" which is part of the sequence).