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The bigger boys and I went to see "Earth" this afternoon while Samuel was napping (Derek was working from home).  The videography is spectacular – I loved the sights and sounds and the beautiful animals…wow!  The kids had seen most of the footage because we have "Planet Earth" permanently locked on our DVR and they watch it on Saturday mornings instead of cartoons.  So for them it was nothing new, with the exception of the big screen, the popcorn and the Icee, which I think they enjoyed.

What I did not like was the political agenda and hidden innuendos.  It is surprising to me how much of our media is driven by extremes.  Although this is not altogether bad or completely unavoidable…after all, we are all just human and insert our own experience and point of view into everything that we do.  But I found myself pondering during the movie the extremes with which we were bombarded – the polar bears were "starving" and "desperate".  The lions were "famished".  The elephants were "exhausted".  The whales were "going to perish" if they did not arrive soon.  And I wondered – didn't those animals know exactly what was ahead of them…it was the same or similar journey that they had experienced the year before!?  We project so much of our own feelings and complexities onto these simple and perfectly capable creatures.

But don't get me wrong – I know that there are extremes in nature, many of which are probably brought on by humans and our ignorance and neglect.  And we have largely overindulged in the world's resources.  BUT…I believe that our Creator did not skimp when he created the earth.  In fact in our Doctrine & Covenants (104), we are told…"For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare…" (v.17)

Enough.  And to spare.

But even with the abundance that we are given, we have to be wise…

"For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures." (v.13)

See, I believe that we have to apply the same principles to the use of our earth that we do to our very salvation.  Faith + Works and then add Grace.

We have faith in a God in Heaven who is all-knowing and all-wise and has created an earth that is in His command.  We know that we have to do our part in every way to ensure that it is used properly and wisely.  And then we rely on grace, knowing that even after all we can do, we will need His help and His favor.

And that my friends is my very deep review of a simple afternoon at a Disney movie… 🙂