I understand that the word light appears in the scriptures 535 times. For example:
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world (D&C 11:28).
Besides being a metaphor for Christ Himself, light is a wonderful metaphor for the personal revelation and inspiration that we are entitled to receive through the Holy Ghost.
In the April 2011 General Conference, Elder David A. Bednar gave an address entitled "The Spirit of Revelation." (Click here for the complete text.) In that talk, he described "two experiences most of us have had with light." One of those "occurred as we entered a dark room and turned on a light switch." The other "took place as we watched night turn into morning." He goes on to say that "a light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message from God quickly, completely, and all at once" while "the gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God 'line upon line, precept upon precept' (2 Nephi 28:30)."
I love how those examples of light illustrate some of the ways the Spirit works with us!
Lorenzo Snow said, "It is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives." With the impending arrival of Spring in the northern hemisphere, our days have been gradually getting longer, and today is the beginning of Daylight Saving Time in the United States. I cannot think of a better time to spend some time contemplating the metaphor of light and looking for ways to better recognize the workings of the Spirit in daily life!
Little Cottonwood Canyon, September 2012.
Let us walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5).
I love Elder Bednar's analogy. Too often, I wait for the quick burst, but looking back, I have felt more guidance from the gradual increase in light. What a great idea to look for the light of the Spirit every day. And, for me, it is a reminder to remember to do the little things every day that bring the spirit. Prayer, study, conscious acts of peace and grace toward others.
ReplyDeleteI love how President Snow said that it is "our right" to feel the Spirit on a daily basis! Of course, with rights always come responsibilities - those little things you mentioned. But how often are we living beneath our privileges?!
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