One of the truly amazing things about Total Solar eclipses is the fact that they happen at all. In order for there to be the dramatic total eclipse, the moon has to appear in the sky as almost the exact same size as the sun, so that it can completely block out or eclipse the light of the sun. It seems impossible that the moon, which is about 400 times smaller than the Sun, would be able to completely block out the Sun. But the moon is also about 400 times closer than the Sun, so the moon seems just as large because it is so much closer. For the past six months, we have been invited by our Prophet Russel M. Nelson to “think Celestial.” In the Plan of Salvation, the glory of the Celestial Kingdom is compared to the glory of the Sun, and the glory of the Terrestrial Kingdom is compared to the glory of the Moon. Just as a total solar eclipse happens when the moon lines up perfectly to block out completely the light of the sun, we can experience a spiritual total eclipse when we find ourselves in a situation where our Terrestrial thoughts and choices and behaviors line up perfectly to block out the light of Celestial thoughts and choices and behaviors. When we “think terrestrial”, we think and act in ways that are honorable. We are engaged in good activities and worthwhile pursuits. We “receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father.” (D&C 76:77). Just as the moon is 400 times closer than the sun, thinking terrestrial is 400 times closer and more immediate and more compelling and more urgent than thinking celestial. Thinking celestial requires patience and trust. Thinking celestial requires us to accept that our immediate desires - good, noble, and great desires even - will not or cannot be realized in the time and manner of our choosing. Just as the Sun is 400 times bigger than the moon, thinking celestial is 400 times more likely to bring us peace and joy and help us to live up to our divine potential than thinking terrestrial does. Some of the greatest challenges that we face aren’t having to make a choice between good and evil but having to make the choice between good and best. When we start to lean on our own understanding, when we start to prioritize worldly concerns over spiritual matters, when we allow our terrestrial thoughts to line up perfectly with what our Celestial thoughts out to be, then we become blinded by the craftiness of men and we run the danger of being less than valiant in our testimonies. We may see the brilliant corona of Celestial glory peeking out from behind our terrestrial concerns, but we will miss out on receiving the fullness of light and splendor that could be available to us. It is so hard when thinking terrestrial and thinking celestial both seem like really good, honorable options, but at the end of the day, we can only ever choose one at a time. Unfortunately, thinking terrestrial is always going to be closer and feel more urgent and appear to loom larger in our minds and in our hearts, but it is completely in our power to live our lives in such a way that we are not even in the pathway of a total eclipse. Yes, sometimes terrestrial concerns will block out part of Heaven’s light, but if we make the effort to stand in holy places then we will be able to discern more clearly between what is best and what is merely good and we will be able to think celestial until we have received of the fullness.
