By Robyn Young

Our world is a world of order. Now, with all us pesky humans stirring things up, it might not always look like a world of order—but the natural world truly is. And thankfully, there are a few things we can absolutely count on.

Take gravity, for instance. Gravity is a natural law. It’s part of the built-in order of this world. It’s the invisible force that draws everything toward the earth. If you drop something heavy from a height, it doesn’t hang mid-air—it falls. Every. Single. Time. You can count on it.

But what if someone doesn’t like gravity? Or doesn’t even know it exists? Are they exempt from it? Of course not. Gravity applies to every person on earth, all the time—whether they like it, understand it, or not.

BUT—birds can fly.

For centuries, humans looked at birds in flight and longed for that same freedom. Leonardo da Vinci was captivated by the idea and even designed a flying machine—but it couldn’t function with just human power. It wasn’t until 1903 that the Wright brothers achieved the first successful flight in a human-powered, human-controlled aircraft.

So—does the fact that birds (and now people) can fly mean that gravity isn’t real? Was it all just a false belief?

Of course not. Birds are still subject to gravity. When they’re not flying, they’re not floating off into space. What’s really happening is that flight happens because of other natural laws at work—in harmony with gravity, not in opposition to it.

Scientists didn't break the law of gravity. They discovered additional laws—like lift, thrust, drag, and aerodynamics—that allowed flight to become possible. Once understood, what once seemed “impossible” wasn’t impossible at all.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1965) — Impossible (4/4)
(As you watch this clip from the 1965 TV production of Cinderella, consider how truly “impossible” our modern special effects would’ve seemed back then!)

So, what do natural laws have to do with our thoughts?

As it turns out, more than you might expect.

Your thoughts can either enslave you or set you free.

To truly accomplish great things, your thoughts and actions must align with natural law—which, at its core, is also God’s law. In today’s world, many argue there are no absolutes—but the scriptures say otherwise.

In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi reads:

"And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away."

"And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." (2 Nephi 2:13-14)

Think of it this way: when builders construct a tall tower, they use scaffolding to reach the highest points. It provides structure and support that helps them rise higher.

Laws—especially natural laws—work the same way. They provide the framework that helps us elevate our lives. When we don’t understand or believe in those laws, we limit ourselves. We stay stuck in superstition or frustration, grasping for unclear or false explanations about why things happen the way they do. We stay slaves to our natural man.

But when we do understand these laws, everything begins to shift. We feel more hope. We begin to thrive. We gain the freedom and clarity needed to grow and achieve the life we’re meant to live.

There are a series of natural laws that govern thought. To learn more about a specific law of thought, click on the links below. The material also includes simple ways to help children understand these concepts—perfect if you want to bring these principles into your home.