3
Nephi 2:14-15
Choose
the Light
What
14 And
it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites
were numbered among the Nephites;
Why
We
change when we change our peers. We tend to become more like them.
In this case it was a good change and as the Lamanites became a
righteous people, the curse of darkness was removed and they radiated
light like the Nephites.
The
Lamanites joined the church and were members and numbered among them.
Pattern
Alma
17:15
15
Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship
idols, and the curse of
God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of
their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended
unto them on the conditions of repentance.
23:18
18
And they began to be a very industrious people;
yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they
did open a
correspondence with them, and the curse of
God did no more follow them.
Alma
9
16 For
there are many promises which are aextended to
the Lamanites; for it is because of the btraditions of
their fathers that caused them to remain in their state
of cignorance;
therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them and dprolong their
existence in the land.
17 And
at some period of time they will be abrought to
believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the
traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the
Lord will be merciful unto all who bcall on
his name.
2 Ne.
5:21
21
And he had caused the cursing to
come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity.
For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had
become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and
exceedingly fair and delightsome,
that they might not be enticing unto
my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to
come upon them.
30:6
6
And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that
it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of
darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations
shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and
a delightsome people.
Jacob
3:8
8
O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that
their skins will be whiter than
yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God.
Luke 11:34
34
The light of the
body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body
also is full of light;
but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
22
The light of the
body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body
shall be full of light.
33
No man, when he hath lighted a
candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on
a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
Christ
They
became lighter because they gained the light of Christ.
Ephesians 5:8
8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in
the Lord: walk as children of light:
1 John 1:7
7
But if we walk in the light,
as he is in the light,
we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
35
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with
you. Walk while ye have the light,
lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth
not whither he goeth.
John 8:12
12
¶Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of
the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall
have the lightof life.
2 Corinthians 4:6
6
For God, who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give
the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:11
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;
24
That which is of God is light;
and he that receiveth light,
and continueth in God, receiveth more light;
and that light groweth
brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:7
7
For verily I say unto you that I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning
and the end, the light and
the life of the world—a light that
shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
7
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.
Conference
By
Jean B. Bingham First
Counselor in the Primary General Presidency
“When
I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought
as a child: but when I became [older], I put away childish things.
Words
have surprising power, both to build up and to tear down. We can all
probably remember negative words that brought us low and other words
spoken with love that made our spirits soar. Choosing to say only
that which is positive about—and to—others lifts and strengthens
those around us and helps others follow in the Savior’s way.
“For
now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know
in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”6
How
like that glorious wind can be the sincere compliment of a friend,
the cheerful greeting of a parent, the approving nod of a sibling, or
the helpful smile of a co-worker or classmate, all supplying fresh
“wind in our sails” as we battle the challenges of life!
President Thomas S. Monson put it this way: “We can’t direct
the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace,
and contentment, may we choose a
positive attitude.”7
Words
have surprising power, both to build up and to tear down. We can all
probably remember negative words that brought us low and other words
spoken with love that made our spirits soar. Choosing to say only
that which is positive about—and to—others lifts and strengthens
those around us and helps others follow in the Savior’s way.
When
we see our own imperfections more clearly, we are less inclined to
view others “through a glass, darkly.” We want to use the light
of the gospel to see others as the Savior does—with compassion,
hope, and charity. The day will come when we will have a complete
understanding of others’ hearts and will be grateful to have mercy
extended to us—just as we extend charitable thoughts and words to
others during this life.
Yes,
we can bring
the light of the gospel into our homes, schools, and workplaces if we
look for and share positive things about others and let the
less-than-perfect fade away. What gratitude fills my heart when I
think of the repentance that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has made
possible for all of us who have inevitably sinned in this imperfect
and sometimes difficult world!
Conference
By
Elder Vern P. Stanfill Of
the Seventy
In
our lives, the extended hand of the Savior may take the form of help
from a trusted friend, leader, or loving parent. While we are
struggling in the darkness, there is nothing wrong with relying
temporarily upon the light of those who love us and have our best
interests at heart.
When
we consider thoughtfully, why would we listen to the faceless,
cynical voices of those in the great and spacious buildings of our
time and ignore the pleas of those who genuinely love us? These
ever-present naysayers prefer to tear down rather than elevate and to
ridicule rather than uplift. Their mocking words can burrow into our
lives, often through split-second bursts of electronic distortions
carefully and deliberately composed to destroy our faith. Is it wise
to place our eternal well-being in the hands of strangers? Is it wise
to claim enlightenment from those who have no light to give or who
may have private agendas hidden from us? These anonymous individuals,
if presented to us honestly, would never be given a moment of our
time, but because they exploit social media, hidden from scrutiny,
they receive undeserved credibility.
Third,
there is no darkness so dense, so menacing, or so difficult that it
cannot be overcome by light. Elder
Neil L. Andersen recently taught: “As evil increases in the
world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As
the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the
way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater
confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they
are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in
the emerging twilight.”7
Brothers
and sisters, we have not been left alone to be influenced by every
whim and change in the world’s attitude, but we have the power to
choose belief over doubt. In order to access the promised
compensatory spiritual power, we must choose to heed prophetic
counsel, recognize and act upon spiritual promptings, be obedient to
God’s commandments, and seek personal revelation. We must choose.
May we choose the light of the Savior. In the name of Jesus Christ,
amen.
Apply
How
are we influenced by the light or darkness around us? Do we seek the
light? Do we share the light? Do we choose to think negatively
about others and to say negative things to them that hurt them?
We
can choose the light. We can choose to do as Christ did and still
does. He loves us all. We can share that love and lift and
strengthen others. Kind words bring light and happiness to others.
We can share our testimonies by example and by word. We can share
our talents by teaching others to gain the same good skills and
talents that we have. Our talent for loving others, for faith and
kindness and every other talent the Lord has blessed us with.
As
we share these talents then others will be blessed.
Goodness
shows in the faces of those who have it. It is a radiance that we
seek to obtain and to share.
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