Relativity and Time

Have you every watched a clock tick? Or watched from an airplane as cars drive on the freeway below? I have, and in these instances time almost seems to slow down. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the faster we move, the slower time passes and the smaller space becomes--relative to the time and space we perceive on earth. Theoretically, if we were to travel at the speed of light (more than 186,000 miles per second), then time would converge to all things being "now" and space would contract to all things being "here." If you really think about that it's pretty incredible, and while this is just a theory, I think it helps us better understand God.

You see, God is omniscient, meaning he knows all things. Doctrine and Covenants 88:42 explains, "He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever." Perhaps this means that God perceives time as we perceive space, in a holistic but not necessarily sequential manner.

In my mind the most significant application of God's omniscience is that God sees us not as we are, but as we can become. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said, "We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming."

So next time you are cruising by someone in a plane or a car, let that serve as a reminder to you that God sees each and every snapshot perfectly and collectively, because "all things are before him."