Continuing on from my post last week “Walking in Light” . . .

In my study of light I ended up at the beginning.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1: 1-4)

Light is good. Without light the earth was void and there was, of course, darkness. Darkness is defined as the absence or deficiency of light; wickedness or evil; obscurity; concealment; lack of knowledge or enlightenment. I can feel that in my own life when I make choices that lead me away from light. I don’t think it was any coincidence that when Jesus, who is “the light of the world,” was crucified there was great darkness over the land. (Luke 23:44-46)

Our goal in life to to return to the beginning, to return to Light. “You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away toward darkness. Some of the most important choices are about what you set your heart upon. There are so many things you may consider desirable. For instance, all of us want, to some degree, the approval of other people. All of us feel a need for friends. All of us are searching for some evidence that we are persons of worth. We make choices based on those desires. Some might lead us away from the light God offers us as a guide. Some may brighten that light by which we can find our way.” (Pres. Henry B. Eyring, Walk in the Light)

What do I set my heart upon? Whatever it is is evident in the choices I make and how people see me living my life. Do I love God, follow His Commandments, walk in His light? Or do I try to hide under the cloak of darkness?

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3: 18-21)

In reading the parable of the Ten Virgins I again realized the importance of not living on the borrowed light of others. It is not possible to stand at the last day without my own light of testimony to guide me. As a mother I need to teach my children the doctrines of the gospel to make sure they too do not live on borrowed light.

President Joseph F. Smith said:
“One fault to be avoided by the Saints, young and old, is the tendency to live on borrowed light, with their own hidden under a bushel; to permit the savor of their salt of knowledge to be lost; and the light within them to be reflected, rather than original. …

“Men and women should become settled in the truth, and founded in the knowledge of the gospel, depending upon no person for borrowed or reflected light, but trusting only upon the Holy Spirit, who is ever the same, shining forever and testifying to the individual and the priesthood, who live in harmony with the laws of the gospel, of the glory and the will of the Father. They will then have light everlasting which cannot be obscured. By its shining in their lives, they shall cause others to glorify God; and by their well-doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, and show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, pp. 87–88)

On our journey back to the beginning, back to the Light, back to home, we have have been given a wonderful gift. We have the guiding light of our Savior to follow. “He knows the way. He lights our path in the dark of night, in storms, at crossroads, and in the daylight. He is always ready to show the way back home.”(Margaret D. Nadauld, Follow the Light)

When we walk in the Light of Christ we never walk alone.

“Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Isaiah 2:5)

© 2007-2011 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved