As I studied 2 Nephi 27 today, a phrase caught my attention. Paraphrasing Isaiah, Nephi is describing a time when “all the nations…will be drunken with iniquity” (2 Nephi 27:1). They will feel uneasy and unsatisfied, but the actions they take to address these feelings will not help them feel better. They’ll be like hungry people who dream that they are eating, but who wake up and discover they’re still hungry. (See 2 Nephi 27:3, Isaiah 29:8.)
In the middle of this discussion Nephi (quoting Isaiah) gives the following instruction to his readers: “Stay yourselves and wonder” (2 Nephi 27:4, Isaiah 29:9). Then, he continues to describe our lethargic state: filled with “the spirit of deep sleep,” closing our eyes, rejecting the prophets (2 Nephi 27:5, Isaiah 29:10).
What does that instruction mean? The word “stay” comes from the Hebrew word mahah (מָהַהּ), which means “to linger” or “to tarry.” The word “wonder” is a translation of tamah (תָּמַהּ), which means “to be astounded or dumbfounded.” So I would paraphrase the sentence this way: “Slow down, and let yourself be awestruck.”
Dacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, has for many years studied awe, which he defines as “the emotion we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that we don’t understand.” He has found that awe is evoked by a variety of activities, including walking in nature, experiencing music and art, and observing other people doing good things. He and his colleagues have found strong correlations between feelings of awe and humility, altruism, and creativity. They have also found evidence that consistent experiences with awe improve your immune system and reduce anxiety.
But here’s the catch: awe doesn’t just happen. We have to find it. We have to set aside our to-do list, go outdoors, look up from our phones, and experience for ourselves the mysteries of life. We have to be intentionally receptive in order to find it. (See Dacher Keltner, “Why Do We Feel Awe?” Greater Good Magazine, 10 May 2016; Laura Smith, “Dacher Keltner is awe-inspired, and you should be too,” University of California Magazine, 6 July 2023.)
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave us a similar set of recommendations:
May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you—as His precious daughter or son with divine potential.
“Of Things that Matter Most,” General Conference, October 2010
Today, I will “stay myself and wonder.” I will participate in activities which help me to appreciate the grandeur of God’s creations and the incredible potential of His children. I will remember that opening my eyes to see things as they really are will help me to be more humble, kind, productive, and joyful.