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The Light Of Christ: A Comfort in the Dark

How often do we think we can just feel our way through the dark? The Light of Christ is there to comfort us and guide us.

You’ve probably noticed there have been more posts on mental health this year. It’s become apparent to me that that is where my passion lies – in sharing information that can truly help others.

The following is something I came across probably a million times in my life, but only just understood the meaning of it.

The People of Jared

The Tower of Babel – Hendrick Van Cleve

So this past week I was reading in The Book of Mormon in Ether. This is a story of the people of Jared who were at the Tower of Babel. When the Lord changed everyone’s languages, the Brother of Jared prayed and asked God to let him, his family, and friends keep their language that they may understand each other.

The Lord having compassion on the Brother of Jared, allowed them to speak the same language. Over the next few years, the Brother of Jared and his family follow the guidance of the Lord in moving their families to the seashore. During a prosperous period, they forget to pray. They had everything they needed.

How many times do we this? Things are going great in our lives so we forget to talk to our Father in Heaven. To thank Him for how good things are, because truly it is through His blessings that we prosper.

Sufficiently chastised, the Brother of Jared is instructed to build barges and take their people across the sea to a promised land. With the Lord’s guidance they are able to learn how to build these barges to stay safe. There’s only one problem. It’s going to be really dark in those water tight barges.

So Jared asks his brother to pray again to the Lord asking for some light. At this point the Lord asks the Brother of Jared what he would have Him do to provide some light. Almost in a ‘don’t you trust me’ kind of attitude. Obviously, the people of Jared trusted the Lord, but they, like us, are inclined to human nature. So put in his hands, the Brother of Jared thinks about what he can do to create light in the barges. There can’t be holes, or they’ll sink. They can’t light a fire or it will burn the barges and suffocate the air.

So he gathers some round stones, and returns to the Lord. Asking that if the Lord will only touch the stones, He knows they will provide light for the barges. The Lord complies, and touches the stones, providing light for the people of Jared.

You can read the rest of the Jaredites account online.

Personal Insight

This is where it finally hit me. I have probably read the account of the people of Jared numerous times over my life. It’s probably one of my favorite scripture stories of faith and love. However, I have never really studied it, and tried to understand what this story can mean for my personal life.

Not until last week that is. I was struggling a lot. I had fallen out of the habit of daily scripture reading, my mind was in a dark place, and it felt like my life was falling apart. Then I read this account, but very specifically chapter 6 verse 10 stuck out to me.

“And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether is was above the water or under the water.”
Book of Mormon; Ether 6:10

They were driven across the sea in barges. Sometimes they were above the water, where they could open a hole and let in fresh air, maybe see the sun for a bit. Then at times, they were driven beneath the sea, as the waves crashed down on them and the monsters of the sea and whales beat upon them.

Through it all though, they had light. Not just any light. This was the Light of Christ. Light he let leave Him and put into simple stones to carry the people of Jared across the sea not just in safety, but in comfort. They literally carried the Light of Christ with them.

The Woman with an Issue of Blood

In our church studies recently, we’ve been focusing on the New Testament and the Life of Christ. In one account there is woman with an issue of blood. She has been to doctors and no one can cure her. The Savior happens to be in the area, and she thinks to herself, “if I can only touch Him, I know I will be healed.” So in a crowded area, she reaches out and touches the hem of his clothes.

Christ stops immediately and asks “who touched me”. Those with Him are confused, because there are so many people around Him, can he possibly want to know which one just touched Him? I gather many people were probably brushing past Him, with no thought to who He was, or what He could do.

But this woman, she knew. And the Savior knew, because His light went in to her and healed her. He knew through the faith of someone near Him, His light had been accessed. Isn’t that cool?! Just as the light left Him to heal this woman, He willingly put light into the stones for the people of Jared.

The Light of Christ in Our Life Today

Now, how does this all affect my life hundreds of years after both the people of Jared and Christ lived on the earth? Easily. When times are dark. When the monsters of my mind, when the devil sets his eyes on bringing me down, if I carry the Light of Christ with me, then I will come out OK. It doesn’t mean it will be easy. It doesn’t mean I won’t still be human, and have bad days. I’m sure despite the light, the people of Jared had plenty of scares in the depths of the sea. The women suffered for a long time and still had to seek out Christ before she could be healed. But they came out OK.

The people of Jared made it to the promised land. I plan on making it to my promised land one day. I don’t know how long this journey will be, but I have faith like the woman with a blood issue and like the Brother of Jared, that if I can have His light, then I can have comfort along the journey.

March 25, 2019
Kind Notes and Candy Canes to Light Your Community
It doesn’t take much to spread a little cheer around your community. This years Light the World campaign gave us a focus to “Light your community.”

You may also enjoy: Feed the Hungry this Christmas As You Light the World

The idea behind lighting the world is to do things our Savior, Jesus Christ, would have done – that is to serve others with joy. During a time we are celebrating His birth, I can think of no better gift to give.

This year, the campaign took on a new idea and broke it down into 3 areas.
1. Light the World
2. Light Your Community
3. Light Your Family
#3 was the easiest for our family to focus on. I actually got the idea from my sister in law, Renee. She began having her family all pick a name of someone in the family and then spend a week doing secret service for them. So we decided to do the same. It has been a joy watching the kids try to serve each other and us, and I’ve found myself focusing more on my children as individuals who need separate attention.

#2 also was an easy and fun experience for us. Again, Renee inspired and even led this particular experience for us on the Sunday before Christmas. After church we gathered together and with stacks of sticky notes, we wrote kind notes, inspiring messages, and I even made up some cute emoji’s on the bright yellow sticky’s. We then took the older kids and left the notes on cars at the grocery store, along with some candy canes hung on door handles – or given directly to those we found loading up groceries.

#1 however I admit was a bit more difficult, and I admit I didn’t find – or make – the time to do anything to light the world. Ideas encouraged us to learn about a different culture, or volunteer with the local refugee groups. Nothing stuck out as a way for me to truly help though. So I will continue to look throughout 2019 for ways to serve the world beyond my local community. If you have any ideas for me, please leave them in a comment.
December 28, 2018
Light the World + A Christmas Ornament Giveaway

I’ve said it every year, but my favorite reason to celebrate this season is the immense amount of giving back that happens. I wish we did it more throughout the whole year. I received a Light The World ornament in exchange for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You may also enjoy reading: Feed the Hungry as You Light The World this Christmas

I always go into the new year with a goal to do better at giving service. Without setting down a plan, though, that goal goes nowhere. It’s similar for most of our goals isn’t it?

A Goal to light the World

So here’s my plan to achieve this goal of more service in the New Year. I’m starting now. Using the Light the World plan from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, I’ll make service a habit through out the month of December.

Starting a habit is the hardest part. This calendar of ways to Light The World this coming month is the perfect asset to get started on this habit of service. Download a copy for your family.

Starting in January our church has decided to change our Sunday worship. We’ve been going to a 3 hour block for my entire life – Sacrament meeting, Sunday School, Relief Society/Priesthood. The new outline is a 2 hour block, with the encouragement to start living the gospel more fully in our homes and lives – not just at church.

We’ve sat down as a family and discussed different ideas to use this “extra” hour of church on Sundays. I believe it will be important going into the new year with a plan, or we’ll find ourselves being lazy instead of taking the opportunity to grow our faith and testimonies.

So, we came up with a family plan. Each Sunday we will designate to an extra activity. They are not set in stone quite yet, but at least one Sunday every month we will find a service project to do together. It may not always be easy to find something, but I am confident that if we make it our focus, the Lord will direct our hands to those who need His hands.

In this way, we can light the world all year round. Will you join us in giving service this year?

Christmas Ornament Giveaway

I am so excited to share this Christmas Ornament with one of you this season. May it be a reminder that the Lord needs us to be His hands. To help those in need, lift the weary, feed the hungry, and comfort the sick. May you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Giveaway is open to US 18+ and ends 12/10/2018. Enter on the form below.

November 30, 2018
Feed the Hungry this Christmas as You Light The World
In the midst of commercialization, kids begging for the newest gadgets, and a bit of seasonal depression setting in, I find solace and joy in serving others. This particular service event to feed the hungry was made possible by the amazing people at Boncom, and I feel incredibly lucky to partner with them as we Light The World.

Related Content: Personal Care Bags for Moms in Need

I often find myself asking why it is that I love the holidays so much? I’m not a great gifter, and if you were to ask me what I want, very little of it consists of things. However, with the Christmas Season comes an abundance of opportunities to serve.

Light The World: 25 Ways in 25 Days

My mom taught me that the best way to change ourselves is by focusing on others. Having a bad day? Serve someone. Feeling down? Serve someone. Mad at someone? Serve them. Struggling with faith? Go out and serve.

So a week after some depression hit hard, I did just that. I had heard that the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana needed volunteers to come cook freezer meals for their residents. It was exactly the kind of opportunity I needed. I texted my sister in law to see if she’d like to join in giving this service and then went shopping.

The Ronald Mcdonald House only asked for one freezer meal, but I knew I had time to put together at least 2 casseroles, as well as bake a few dozen cookies.

As I walked into the Ronald McDonald House, my spirit lifted. A natural smile crept across my face, and I knew this is where I was meant to be. My spirit yearns to give service and the depression that had begun to set in, lifted if but just for that day. Today I would feed the hungry, but my own soul would be spiritually fed. We chopped, boiled, fried, and baked for the next 2 hours. Since it was the middle of the day the House was pretty quiet. Most of the Ronald McDonald House residents are at one of the area hospitals during the day with their sick children. Coming back to the house for a bite to eat and sleep.

The casseroles were coming together nicely, and the cookies were almost done. When the first guest we had seen all day walked in. He was grabbing some snacks to take to his wife and discussing things with the manager.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but it was impossible not to overhear. Their utility bills were late, they didn’t really have enough to cover the bill anyway, and he guessed it wouldn’t matter if their power was shut off because they weren’t home.

The cookies were done, so we placed them on the counter for whoever might need a bite of something sweet. Before this man left, he turned saw the cookies, and asked if they were for anyone. We indicated they were available for all and then tried to blend into the background.

I had debated buying that cookie dough. I didn’t know if there would be cookie sheets to cook it on, or if leaving a plate of cookies on a counter would be something the Ronald McDonald House would even allow. In that one man, though, I knew I had made the right decision. In the excitement I heard behind his voice as he told us how much his wife would enjoy these, I knew for just a moment, whatever his story, this small seemingly inconsequential choice I made was the right one.

Get Involved!

There are opportunities all around to Feed the Hungry. It’s probably one of the easiest services you can give. Whether you donate a can, or a whole meal, there is something everyone can do
- Donate food to your local food pantry
- Go make meals at your local Ronald McDonald House
- Put together snack bags to hand out to the homeless
- Serve at the food pantry
- Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
- Make a meal for someone in need
- Invite someone who may be lonely to have dinner with you
Food fills our physical hunger, but it is through Christ we can fill our spiritual hunger. These service ideas and countless other ways to serve will help fill your spiritual hunger. I know this to be true.

If time or finances are tight, and you can’t get out to serve the physical hunger in our world, consider feeding someone’s spiritual hunger.
- share your favorite scripture with a friend
- Invite someone to worship with you
- pray for the well being of someone today
How will you Feed the Hungry? Please share more ideas in the comments, or over on our facebook page. Tag #lighttheworld and join a movement to share God’s love with the world.
December 21, 2017
Ways to Remember General Conference

Every 6 months, we get a special spiritual boost during General Conference. However, it’s easy to forget those special messages that touched our hearts as the months go by. So, just in case you’re like me, and you’re already feeling bogged down by the daily grind, here are some suggestions of ways that you can cherish the inspiration from General Conference all year long (…or at least until April’s conference!)

Ways to Remember General Conference

Create a List of Your Favorite Quotes

This is probably something that you should do in conjunction with any other one of the following tips. Many people simply adopt quotes from Pinterest, or bring them home from Relief Society class. Often you can find quotes that speak to a certain focus online, like this collection. However, the exercise of selecting your own favorite quotes and putting them in a list makes it a lot more personalized and effective. Browse through the October Ensign and highlight lines that feel important and significant for you, and then copy them down somewhere.

Memorize a Quote

It’s very likely that you’ll have moments now and then where an uplifting message from an apostle could really do you some good, but you won’t have your list of favorite quotes with you. In those moments, having the words of prophets and inspired teachers saved in your own mind can help you adjust your view and remember to draw closer to Heaven.

Mirror Notes

It’s hard to avoid the mirror in the morning – even if we want to! While we brush our teeth, fix our hair, and put on our makeup, we usually watch ourselves in the mirror. Well, your mornings might go more positively if you had an inspiring message to mull over during that time. Consider posting quotes from one of your favorite General Conference talks up on the mirror. You can either write them with dry-erase markers, or you can print out the quote and tape it up.

Phone Background

Have you ever tracked how many times you check your phone each day? Odds are, it’s the first thing you look at in the morning, as the alarm goes off. And it might just be the last thing you look at at night. Numerous graphics are available online with artfully arranged text quotes. Or, if you want to have it more personalized, consider creating your own graphic.

Refrigerator

Want to bring the quote to the top of your whole family’s mind? Well, there’s nowhere that we gather together quite like the refrigerator. While it’s true that things displayed on the fridge can quickly fade into the background and get ignored like white noise, changing the display now and then will re-draw people’s attention so that they’re reminded throughout the day which things are truly important.

Listen to a Talk

Again, while you get ready in the morning, this could be a great time to re-listen to a talk each day. Conveniently timed around 5 minutes each, and easily available online, these talks are a perfect way to focus your mornings. This is especially helpful for people who have a hard time finding time for morning scripture reading. You might even listen to the audio during your morning commute in the car, or during a walk in the morning.

Create a List of Goals

I think that the single most effective way to keep General Conference present in our lives throughout the year is to act on the inspiration that we received during the conference. In order to listen more purposefully, consider leaving room at the bottom of your notes (or if you’re not a note-taker, maybe this is a great way to start) for you to write a goal, or two or three. You might even find that this is a new way to do something akin to New Year’s Resolutions, except that these happen twice a year and they have the spiritual jet-fuel propulsion to get you moving. Make sure that these goals are simple and that they don’t rely on any external factors. Instead, they’re simply things that YOU have the power to enact in your life.

What kinds of things do you do to remember the messages from General Conference? Share your best tips below.

Christine is a professional writer and an avid reader who’s passionate about storytelling in any form. At any given moment, she’s in the middle of at least three books on anything from psychology to ninjas. Although she’s a marathon swimmer and enjoys camping in the mountains, she believes there’s nothing better than a carton of ice cream and a Dawson’s Creek marathon. She blogs about marketing here. Follow more of her writing on Twitter @readwritechill.

December 11, 2017