The Urge To Make Sense Of It All

J. A. Widtsoe, apostle and scientist — Elder John Andreas Widtsoe was born in 1872, in Frøya, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway, United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. Having immigrated to the United States, he received his bachelor’s degree with honors from Harvard University, in 1894, and went on to receive his master’s degree and his doctorate from the University of Göttingen in Germany in 1899. After working as an academic biologist, he served as president of the Utah State Agricultural College in Logan (now Utah State University) from 1907 to 1916, and then as president of the University of Utah from 1916 until his appointment to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1921. He served as an apostle until his death near the end of 1952. (Wikimedia Commons)

“Earth, stars, and the vastness of space; yesterday, today and tomorrow; and the endlessly increasing knowledge of the relation of forces, present an illimitable universe of numberless phenomena. Only in general outline can the universe be understood. In its infinite variety of expression, it wholly transcends the human mind. . . . In the midst of this complexity man finds himself. As he progresses from childhood to manhood, and his slumbering faculties are awakened, he becomes more fully aware of the vastness of his universe and of the futility of hoping to understand it in detail. Nevertheless, conscious man cannot endure confusion. Out of the universal mystery he must draw at least the general, controlling laws that proclaim order in the apparent chaos; and especially is he driven, by his inborn and unalterable nature, to know if possible his own place in the system of existing things. ”

John A. Widtsoe

The urge to make sense of it all