Dear Gramps,

As a pilot, with many hours behind the stick, have you ever seen an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO)?

Will

Dear Will,

I have never seen a UFO, but I have a very close friend with many more flight hours than I have who has seen a flying saucer between himself and the ground, so he had a good reference point to judge its size. It is hard to imagine that UFOs would not exist. The number of populated wolds in the universe is infinite–and they come and go—

But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them (Moses 1:35).

Further, the inhabitants of other worlds know much more about us than we do about them. The reason for that is that this earth is unique. First, it is the most wicked world in all the universe—

Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the creations which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren (Moses 7:36).

Secondly, this is the unique world to which the Savior, who descended below all things, came to live as a mortal and to work out the great atonement, that has provided the opportunity for salvation and exaltation to all of our Father’s children in the entire universe to have their sins remitted and be saved in the kingdom of God if they would yield obedience to the principles of the gospel. Being privileged to observe the gross wickedness on this earth, they were shocked into silence—

For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven-- Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained (D&C 38:11-12).

An account is given in the scriptures of the Savior visiting all of the worlds, and we must assume that his purpose was to establish with the inhabitants the laws and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ so that they too could be participants of salvation (see D&C 88:51-61). I image that some of them are watching us very closely and very cautiously.

Gramps