Light

Several years ago, I had an image stuck in my head. I sketched it. I painted it. I drew it in Photoshop. Still, that image haunted me. It was the image of a single candle bravely burning, while hands reached out from darkness to pinch it out. I was reminded of this image today during institute, as we read Moroni 7, and talked about the Light of Christ.

The Bible Dictionary describes this Light:

The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ. For instance, Christ is “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (D&C 93:2; see John 1:9). The light of Christ fills the “immensity of space” and is the means by which Christ is able to be “in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things.” It “giveth life to all things” and is “the law by which all things are governed.” It is also “the light that quickeneth” man’s understanding (see D&C 88:6–13, 41). In this manner, the light of Christ is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from wrong (Moro. 7:12–19).

We talked about how the Light of Christ is a free gift to everyone. Anyone can be enlightened and uplifted. Everyone can gain knowledge. Everyone can recognize great truths when they hear them because it resonates with the Light within us. Light is what allows us to see. Without light, we would remain in darkness and ignorance.

But this Light does more than just teach us. Light is what gives life and energy to all things. It is a power source, even greater than the sun.

In the scriptures we can read many times when light is mentioned in different forms. In Genesis, we read that God's first action in creating the earth was to say, "Let there be light!" (Genesis 1:3) There had to be light before there could be life on earth.

When the Brother of Jared asked the Lord to touch stones to make them glow so he and his people would have light while crossing the sea, Christ was able to touch them to make them shine. For the God who created the earth and made the sun shine, causing clear stones to light up was probably easy.

After Moses returned down the mountain from talking with the Lord, his face shown so brightly that he had to cover it with a veil. (Exodus 34:29-35) He had both figuratively and literally been enlightened.

When Christ was born, the Americas experienced a night in which there was no darkness. Christ's coming brought so much light into the world that the skies remained bright even after the sun had set. Similarly, at Christ's death, the light in the world was taken away, from Israel for three hours, and in the Americas for three days. The period of time after Christ's death is called the dark ages because of the ignorance that existed among the people. The Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment came to prepare the world for the restoration of Christ's gospel on the earth, and the inspiration and progress which have occurred since that restoration is unprecedented. The Light of Christ is truly enlightening.

Because of the Light of Christ, most people can sense if they are doing good. Most cultures recognize that certain things, like honesty, are good, and other things, like murder, are bad. The Light does more than just remind us of what is good and bad though. It gives us the desire to do better. It inspires us to improve and excel. The Light of Christ is what leads us to in faith, to take action, to step forward and make the world a better place.

So, "Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matt 5:16) Don't let those who dwell in darkness snuff out the light that is in you, but let it shine for all to see.