There is a song our Primary children sing at church,

“Teach me to walk in the light of His love;
Teach me to pray to my Father above;
Teach me to know of the things that are right;
Teach me, teach me to walk in the light.

Come, little child, and together we’ll learn
Of his commandments, that we may return
Home to his presence, to live in his sight—
Always, always to walk in the light.

Father in Heaven, we thank thee this day
For loving guidance to show us the way.
Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight!
Gladly, gladly we’ll walk in the light.”

The power of light is amazing. Without it we are left to wander in darkness. Vegetation wouldn’t grow. Our climate would be much colder.

On a spiritual level it is the same. Jesus Christ is the greatest source of our light. He said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Without the light of Christ in our lives, we would wander in spiritual darkness, our faith wouldn’t grow, we would be a cold-hearted people. 

A couple of weeks ago in seminary we discussed the Light of Christ as described in these verses from Doctrine and Covenants 88:

“5 Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—

6 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;

7 Which truth shineth. This is the alight of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.

8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;

9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;

10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.

11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;

12 Which alight proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.”

Christ’s ability to give life, govern, and enlighten, is everywhere. If He withdrew His light all life would cease to exist. Have you ever thought about that? We already know we are dependent on the Lord because of the grace of the atonement. But, in reality, we are dependent on Him for every single thing.

Everyone is given a measure of the Light of Christ when they are born.

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.” (Moroni 7:16)

This light is given to help us choose the right. As children we all learned that turning on a light would dispel darkness. As Elder Robert D. Hales explains, “We understood the physical law that is also a spiritual law: light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Light dispels darkness. When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. More importantly, darkness cannot conquer light unless the light is diminished or departs. When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs.” (Robert D. Hales, Out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light)

How do we keep that spiritual light? Through daily prayer and scripture reading, by keeping the commandments, by fasting and serving and living the gospel.We keep the light by walking in it. I love this quote from Elder B.H. Roberts:

“The man who so walks in the light and wisdom and power of God, will at the last, by the very force of association, make the light and wisdom and power of God his own—weaving those bright rays into a chain divine, linking himself forever to God and God to him. This [is] the sum of Messiah’s mystic words, ‘Thou, Father, in me, and I in thee’—beyond this human greatness cannot achieve.” (B.H. Roberts, “Brigham Young: A Character Sketch,” Improvement Era, June 1903, 574)

We’ve all been associated with people who have done just that. We can see the light in their eyes, we can feel the light when in their presence.

I am so grateful for the Light of Christ.

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