I'm up each morning in time to observe the sunrise.  I live where I have an unobstructed view of a range of high mountains to the east over which the sun rises.  I watch as the sun reaches its farthest point of rising to the north on June 21^st, the day summer officially begins.  It then starts a slow march back to the south, rising a minute later each morning.  On December 21^st, winter has set in, and it reaches its farthest point south.  It then begins its march back to the north.

The sun makes a wide swing from south to north and back again.  It's dependable.  I can calculate when the sun will rise on any morning, and I know precisely where it will happen.  The sun governs the seasons, warms us, causes plants to grow and bloom, feeds us, and makes life possible.  It's a perfect system.

Is it happenstance that this earth is exactly at the distance from the sun where it is in a narrow band that is neither too hot nor too cold for life to exist?  Is it happenstance that of all the millions of miles of space wherein this earth could be, that it is positioned right here?

Is it happenstance that this earth can rotate on its axis and revolve around the sun in such precision that we have predictable 24-hour days and 365-day years?

Is it happenstance that this world has a coating of soil, abundant water, a perfectly-balanced system of rain and evaporation, and an atmosphere that is 21% oxygen?

The other planets of our solar system are not similarly blessed.  Preparing this planet with these attributes surely took an eon of time.  Do you suppose we helped prepare it?  Do you suppose that the other planets are in their preparatory state, and that they'll get their turn to be habitable earths?

Is it happenstance that there are 400,000 species of plants on earth, and an estimated 8.7 million species of all forms of life?  Could such diversity have sprung from a primordial amoeba?

To believe that these things occurred through happenstance requires more faith than knowing that an omnipotent hand put them all in place.

Is it happenstance that I live where I have this view of the valley and the mountains and the sunrise?  Is it happenstance that I live in this most fertile, most beautiful spot?  Is it happenstance that I was born in this winding-up generation, and that I was led to the ordinances and covenants that would save me, my progenitors, and my posterity?

Is it happenstance that I recognized and married my best friend?  Is it happenstance that we were blessed with these particular 10 amazing, faithful, outstanding, loving children?

To believe that these things happened randomly and were not part of a plan would require infinitely more faith than I am able to muster.

It is obvious, and I know, that there is a God in heaven Who knows us intimately, Who loves us more deeply than we can possibly imagine, and Who has long had a grand plan in place to bless each of His children with the maximum blessings that each is prepared and willing to receive.