Saturday, March 1, 2014

Giving Light

As I was watching several videos this evening of Mormon Messages and listening to the snippets of talks by the prophet, apostles and other general authorities, I started to hear at least in my mind a theme whereby Heavenly Father was trying to touch me with. That is giving the light of Christ. This is my testimony through the light of Christ that is within me.

Throughout the Bible and Book of Mormon we are taught to shine that light of Christ through, not hide it but celebrate it. Share the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ in all times and in all places, standing as witnesses for Him.

In Matthew chapter 5 we are taught:
 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
 
I sometimes am sorrowful that all four of my children no longer believe in the gospel. It is sometimes very hard for me to talk to them about what I believe because they just don't want to hear. So I ask myself, how can I shine the light of Christ through me to them and I realize I just need to always set an example as Christ set an example for me.
 
I see people at church with such a strong light of Christ and I often wonder, is that how people see me? Do I have that strong light of Christ? I hope that I do and I know I'm working on it.
 
How best can I understand then show the light of Christ? In D&C chapter 84 we read:
 45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
 46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.
 
As I am keeping His commandments, praying often, attending my church meetings, searching the scriptures diligently, and by gaining an understanding of the atonement of Jesus Christ, I can use these things to help the light of Christ shine more brightly, and then I will know the answer, I will know that people see me with that same light that I see in them.
 
This video Patterns of Light by Elder David Bednar was one of the videos I was watching that hit me so positively and made me want to share my thoughts.
 
On LDS.org in one part of the definition of light of Christ it reads: "The light of Christ should not be confused with the Holy Ghost. The light of Christ is not a person. It is an influence that comes from God and prepares a person to receive the Holy Ghost. It is an influence for good in the lives of all people."
 
In the Book of Mormon we read in Moroni chapter 7:
 19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
 
I am grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost that has helped me to share the light of Christ within me to people who have gained their own testimony and have been or will be baptized soon. I see the light of Christ growing in them. I know that I want to continue to share that light of Christ and I hope Heavenly Father can help me seek out those people looking for that truth or yearning to return to the gospel they love like I did. And what helped me to come back? The light of Christ I saw in a couple of young men, and their spirit that came through in their singing and in their words.