Dieter F. Uchtdorf on adding beauty to the world

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (1940- ) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He has served as second counselor in the First Presidency since 2008.

These remarks are from an address to a General Relief Society meeting soon after he was called to the First Presidency:

"Nearly a century and a half ago, President Brigham Young spoke to the Saints of his day. 'There is a great work for the Saints to do,' he said. 'Progress, and improve upon and make beautiful everything around you. Cultivate the earth, and cultivate your minds. Build cities, adorn your habitations, make gardens, orchards, and vineyards, and render the earth so pleasant that when you look upon your labors you may do so with pleasure, and that angels may delight to come and visit your beautiful locations. In the mean time continually seek to adorn your minds with all the graces of the Spirit of Christ.' (Brigham Young, Deseret News, Aug. 8, 1860, 177.)

"The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 2008, pp. 117-18
Click here to read the full talk

In past years, I remember President Spencer W. Kimball regularly encouraging members to clean up their yards and beautify their surroundings. I don't recall him ever using this quote from Brigham Young, but he certainly carried on the spirit of the message. I love President Uchtdorf's application of it.

The dual reference to cultivating the earth and cultivating the mind is significant; are they linked in some way? Is the mind more capable of beautiful work when in a beautiful environment? President Uchtdorf seemed to suggest this relationship exists, as he encouraged creativity in his listeners: "As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you." And in the beautiful symmetry that often exists, "The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create."