“God makes himself known to the world. He fills up the whole circle of the universe, but makes his particular abode in the center, which is the soul of the just.” -Lucian
The circle is a curved perpetual line without beginning or ending. As such, it conveys a completeness encompassing space and time—eternity.
Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.
Circles denote eternity with unchanging purpose, perpetual motion, and expansion. The Lord’s work and glory is encompassed in the circle.
Moses stared into that circle as the Lord taught him about His work and glory.
And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?
And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease.
As Enos repented of his sins, he also caught a glimpse of the eternal circle. Enos sought remission of his sins. When God granted that request, Enos’ vision expanded to his family, the Nephites, then further expanded to include everyone in his worldview, even his enemies the Lamanites.
Divine self-truth illuminated Enos’ vision. That vision progressed beyond the initial rock in the pond ripple and Enos realized God’s fold encircled many, many other people in expanding ripples. Eternally.
Nephi and Lehi preached the gospel to apostate Lamanites. After keeping them in prison for a number of days, the Lamanites decided to bring the brothers out of prison and slay them. However, they couldn’t get close to Nephi and Lehi who were encircled by fire.
And when they saw that they were encircled about with a pillar of fire, and that it burned them not, their hearts did take courage.
Ultimately, the circular experience expanded to include the Lamanites who repented of their faith and turned to God during the episode.
And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.
And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.
Inside the circle, they heard the voice of God the Father testifying of Jesus Christ! The Holy Ghost sanctified their minds, bodies, souls! Angels ministered to them! Their vision expanded to see others beyond their immediate circle of family and friends and they burst through that close circle, expanding it to declare truth to others.
In Alma 5, Alma described folks being encircled by the chains of hell until illuminated by the light of God.
And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved.
After being released from circling chains of hell, their souls expanded. The vision expanded. Their purpose expanded. “They did sing redeeming love.”
Even redeeming denotes a circle. Something goes out one way and then is brought back another way.
But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.
The Lord’s perpetual, unbroken purpose? To encircle every soul in the arms of His love. Forever.
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