Do You Have Light in Your Dwelling?

“And Moses stretched forth his hand towards heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

Exodus 10:21-22

A profound darkness lasting three days was one of the plagues the Lord sent upon Egypt while preparing the children of Israel to be free. We all should be able to relate to this. Throughout this pandemic, for weeks and months we, “saw not one another, neither rose any from our place.” During this time what did we do to accumulate light in our lives?

Jesus Christ is Light

“He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;”

Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-7

When we look at the sun, the moon, and the stars, we are literally seeing evidence of Jesus Christ’s presence in our life. No matter the circumstances in our world, the sun comes up and the moon and stars appear, all testifying to us that Jesus Christ is there. We are never alone. While researching light, I came across an interesting article.

“Light is a form of energy that is visible to the naked eye. It is one of the most important resource for the survival of animals and plants on earth.”

References: 12 Uses of Light in Our Life|Its Importance and Examples, December 29, 2017, by Ranga.nr

I love the idea that light is a form of energy. The article goes on to discuss the various applications of light in our day-to-day life. I included several of them below along with the spiritual applications I drew.

• Communication – Light transmits data through fiber optics – As we seek light in our life by following the commandments, we can receive direct communication from out Heavenly Father.
• Energy – Light can generate energy – Light gives us energy to be able to endure our time on earth. Sometimes it will be low energy and sometimes it will be high energy. I love the pioneer story about Francis Webster, who was in the Martin Handcart company. He said, “I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand, or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me! I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the Angels of God were there…” Don’t we all feel like that at times? When we are going through health, financial, personal and family challenges we feel as though we cannot go one more day. Sometimes it is simply the small daily tasks; we can do one more family home evening, one more load of laundry, one more dinner, one more day of work, and then we must give up. Again, no matter the challenge, big or small, we have a visual reminder of light and His promise that He will be on our right hand and our left hand with angels to bear us up.
• Microscopy – Light is used with microscopes to observe objects invisible to the naked eye – When we are actively seeking for light, we allow the Lord to enlighten our minds giving us perspectives and answers we never would have thought of on our own.
• Sterilization – Light, particularly ultraviolet light is an excellent sterilizing agent – To have light in our lives, daily repentance is essential. “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

Bad News

When anyone says they have good news and bad news, I always want to get the bad news first. The bad news in this case is the world is going to continue to get darker. Enoch was shown our day.

“And there came generation upon generation; and Enoch was high and lifted up, even in the bosom of the Father, and of the Son of Man; and behold, the power of Satan was upon all the face of the earth. And he saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth. And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.”

Moses 7:254-26

Good News

Just as the children of Israel who had light in their dwelling places while the whole of Egypt was engulfed in profound darkness, we too have been given promises of light if are walking in the Lord’s covenant path.

The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7). Our safest insurance is to continue to be worthy of admission to His holy house. The greatest gift you could give to the Lord is to keep yourself unspotted from the world, worthy to attend His holy house. His gift to you will be the peace and security of knowing that you are worthy to meet Him, whenever that time comes.

The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming
By President Russell M. Nelson

“And in came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”

1 Nephi 14:14

This week ask, “What is the one thing you can start doing and the one thing you can stop doing that will bring light into your life.”