The night was dark, with only a crescent moon giving off a faint glow. The hour was late, nearly midnight. Yet, dozens of people — adults and children — stood on the mountaintop, enjoying a spectacular show in the sky, the Perseid meteor shower, visible in much of the northern hemisphere for about two weeks each August.

During this seemingly magical time of year, meteors streak across the sky, trailing flames as they burn up in the air. Many people call them "shooting stars." Whatever they're called, they're a glorious sight. After one particularly spectacular meteor burst onto the scene, hurtling across the sky but remaining visible longer than most, watchers spontaneously applauded and cheered.

Tiny pieces of rock, often no larger than a grain of sand but sometimes as large as a pebble, scientists tell us, the meteors enter Earth's atmosphere so quickly — 40 miles per second — and burn out so fast that seeing one is almost hit-or-miss. If you're not looking in the right direction as one enters the atmosphere, most likely you won't see it. "Look! There's one!" someone might shout. But it's gone before you can turn and look.

One who has seen many meteor showers said that the likelihood of seeing a "shooting star" is increased if you gaze into one section of sky for several minutes, rather than constantly scanning all around. Also, it's best to go where there are no city lights.

We can learn a lot by gazing into the night sky any time of year, but the Perseid meteor shower is metaphor for many lessons. Six readily come to mind:

First, it emphasizes the importance of keeping our focus in the right direction. Just as we turn our eyes to the sky to view the spectacle of a meteor shower, we ought always to turn our gaze heavenward to receive the marvelous gifts of personal revelation and spiritual guidance from our Heavenly Father.

Second, it teaches that distractions often cause us to miss the very things we seek. After we've gained a testimony of gospel truths, we know the direction our lives should head. We will miss out on many important things if we constantly look around to see if there might be something more appealing in the world about us.

Third, it shows us that we will have clearer vision when we leave the things of the world behind. Just as the stars are more visible away from the glare of city lights, answers to prayers and teachings of apostles and prophets come through more clearly if we set aside interferences from the world.

Fourth, it reminds us that our time to "shine" on earth is brief. In the eternal perspective, our lives streak past ever so quickly. To a young child, a day seems a lifetime; to an elderly person, a lifetime seems but a day. "Where did the time go?" some ask near the end of long lives. "It seems that only yesterday I was a young child; today I'm old."

Fifth, it demonstrates the beauty and majesty of God's creations. Just as the strangers on the mountain applauded when they saw a spectacular meteor light up the sky, we ought to appreciate the many creations around us.

Sixth, it teaches us that even small things matter, have significance and can have an effect on our lives. Who would imagine that hundreds of thousands of people would leave their homes on dark nights every August to stare into the sky, hoping to see something as small as a grain of sand or a pebble? If we focus on something that tiny, certainly we can pay attention to other "small things," little children among them. We can recognize that small words, including "thank you," can brighten a day.

If we permit them to do so, such marvels as the Perseid meteor shower can be not only for our enjoyment and entertainment, but also for our instruction and edification. We can learn great lessons as we gaze heavenward.