In the Book of Ether, verse 19 Jesus describes himself as the Creator of our Heaven and Earth:
I am the Father. I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world. Come unto me, O ye gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.
https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/ether/1
A less known description for our Father in Heaven was given to John on the Island of Patmos, Revelation 22:16. In the last book of the New Testament, Jesus testifies of Himself in a most interesting way “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star”.
Why would the Savior of our fallen world, compare himself to a lonely planet known as Venus?
I was surprised to learn that Jesus was teaching John about the organization of our Solar System. It makes sense that Jesus would share knowledge of His creations with John, in the same way He taught Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Nephi, Joseph Smith and others.
Jesus was teaching John that Venus, while following an endless track through space, an eternal round of orbiting the Sun, a pattern of movement that was ordered by Jesus in the beginning, is continually testifying of Christ’s Birth, Life, Death, and Resurrection.
Can this be true? Have astronomers (scientists) actually named the different phases of Venus after monumental moments within the life of Jesus from Galilee?
It’s true! The following picture was received with permission from a friend named John Pratt (an astronomer).
Venus is the brightest object in our night sky after the moon. Venus is called “the morning star” because the planet rises in the East just before the morning Sun. Venus is called an “evening star” because Venus also follows the setting Sun into the western horizon. Either way, in the morning or in the evening, the planet is only visible for a few hours because the rising Sun hides Venus in the morning. In the evening, Venus is hidden by the horizon while chasing the setting Sun.
Venus spends 263 days as a morning star, or viewable before the sun rises. Venus also blesses our skies for 263 days as an evening star, or viewable after the sun sets. There are about 58 days when Venus is hidden from view. The complete cycle of Venus takes place over 584 days, 263 + 58 + 263 = 584. Official term: the synodic period is the time Venus takes to be seen again from the Earth in the same position with respect to the Sun, this period takes 584 days.
Is there a difference in brightness between Venus as a morning star, and Venus as an evening star? The brightness changes as Venus slowly travels through the cycle.
This special planet is born in the western sky just after sunset. Sunset is also the beginning of the Sabbath day. The first phase of Venus is known as “Birth” and the planet appears dimly in the evening sky in the cardinal direction of west. Venus is dim at first and grows in brilliance over the next 263 days. The birth of Jesus took place in the town of Bethlehem, with very little fanfare. Jesus and His earthly parents were known well in the Heavens, and hardly noticed by the majority of those living on the Earth. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary took their special baby south and west to Egypt. The Birth phase of Venus is easy to miss as the planet appears in a northern location of the western sky, just after sunset and travels further south each night.
Right now, (August 6, 2021) Venus is easy to locate in the western sky each evening. Venus was “born” earlier this year (late April) and is slowly traveling a little further south each night, while increasing in brightness. Currently, Venus is representing the time is His life while Jesus was growing up as a tender plant. Eventually the brightness of Venus will reach “Prime”, which is representative of the Savior’s ministry. Our Savior spent three years preaching His Gospel message, starting with His baptism from John (son of Elizabeth and Zacharias). During this time, He continued growing in popularity as the truth of His beautiful message was shared and accepted, including His ability to perform healings and miracles.
After “Prime” Venus quickly descends and is hidden in the underworld, at “Death”. When Jesus died the Earth was covered in darkness and He shared His message with those who had died and were in darkness without Him.
We endure about 8 days of darkness without Venus. Suddenly, bright, and brilliant in the East, Venus appears in a southern location of the eastern sky as a morning star. The “Resurrection” of Venus takes place in the East, in the morning and is very symbolic of the Savior, His victory over death and His return in glory, which is close at hand.
Following Venus and the ordered movements that testify of Christ may prove to be a meaningful way to remember our wonderful Lord, who described Himself as the Bright and Morning Star.
www.earnestmormon.com
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