A Walden Experience

Nature-a pristine picture of all things good that God created for us. Nature calls to the deepest parts of our souls. There is a thrill that comes only from forsaking technology for a weekend and getting back in sync with the real world: the natural world. Henry David Thoreau forsook the comparably primitive technology of his day to experience the serenity of nature. He followed Descartes' approach in a sense; Thoreau could believe nature only through his own experience. But from that year next to Walden's Pond, Thoreau experienced what modern prophets and apostles preach about: a return to simplicity.

As I read Thoreau's experience at Walden Pond, I recognized the story. After searching

"thoreau" in the lds.org search bar, I found a number of general conference addresses that cite Thoreau's works, and particularly Walden. Elder Perry, Elder Worthlin, and Elder Maxwell use the Walden experience to emphasize the prominent distractions in day-to-day life. After reading this counsel and the most recent counsel from Pres. Uchtdorf on the subject, I see that we all need our own Walden experience.

A Walden experience doesn't have to be in the woods

near a pond. Indeed, a Walden experience only requires slowing down to appreciate the natural

beauties around us. I'm currently reading a book about sailing. The protagonist remarks often on the sublime feeling of looking at the stars in the mid-ocean night sky. I felt the sublime when I returned to the Wasatch Front after my mission in Ireland. The mountains made the rolling hills of Ireland look like the smooth countryside of Kansas. However, both Ireland and Kansas hold their own type of natural beauty.

So after all this talk, My challenge is this: plan time to not keep track of time. Walk around a local park. Do some star gazing. Leave your phone at home. Remove the distractions. Have your own Walden experience.