Every Christmas season, we have an issue at our home about outdoor Christmas lights.

Weve put them up outside some years, but its just never been a big priority to my husband. But my kids like Christmas lights. So every Christmas its a problem. But this year, I found red and green colored flood lights, and Tom agreed to put them up. And I was so pleased that we would finally be a festive family for the holiday. But when Katie came home from YWs the first night they were on, and I said: Did you see our lights? And she said yes I saw the lights. Nice try Mom, but theyre pretty lame. The red and green flood lights are supposed to last for 7 years, so were going to have lame lights for several Christmases to come. Ive decided to talk a little today about the issue of light, based on two talks, one by President Eyring and one by Robert D. Hales. Henry B. Eyring, gave a talk in General Conf. in April of 2008 called: Walk in the Light. He said: The scriptures tell us the source and the power of all light. Every child of Heavenly Father born in the world is given at birth, as a free gift, the Light of Christ. You have felt that. It is the sense of what is right and what is wrong and what is true and what is false. One manifestation of the Light of Christ is what we call a conscience. So what is the difference between the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost?

Light of Christ -- IT Holy Ghost HIM The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost.

In the Dark Ages, when priesthood authority was absent from the earth, was the Holy Ghost on a Leave of Absence? President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: Christopher Columbus had the influence of the Holy Ghost in his life. Two millennia before Columbus, Nephi prophesied: And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land (1 Ne. 13:12). President Hinckley said: We interpret that to refer to Columbus. It is interesting to note that the Spirit of God wrought upon him. Columbus himself declared: With a hand that could be felt, the Lord opened my mind to the fact that it would be possible to sail and he opened my will to desire to accomplish the project. This was the fire that burned within me. Who can doubt that this fire was not merely mine, but also of the Holy Spirit urging me to press forward? Elder Joseph B. Worthlin goes on to say: A person may be temporarily guided by the Holy Ghost without receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (see D&C 130:23). However, this guidance will not be continuous unless the person is baptized and receives the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

We read in Acts 10 that the Roman soldier Cornelius received inspiration from the Holy Ghost so that he knew the gospel of Jesus Christ was true. But Cornelius did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if Cornelius had not received baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost would have left him. In 2002, Robert D. Hales gave a talk called: Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light where he said: By using the Light of Christ to discern and choose what is right, we can be led to an even greater light: the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit. He is the Comforter, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit of Promise. He testifies of Jesus Christ, His work, and the work of His servants upon the earth. He acts as a cleansing agent to purify and sanctify us from sin. He comforts us and brings peace to our soul. The right to His constant companionship is among the greatest gifts we can receive in mortality. Before Katie was baptized, we were trying to plan the day, and we decided after her baptism, wed invite a few family members and friends over to our house for a little get-together. And I asked Katie if she had any ideas about what she wanted to do, and she said, very matter of factly: After I get baptized, I lets go back to our house and have a Holy Ghost Pinata. I know she wasnt quite 8, but it was a disturbing statement on a number of different levels. It brought a whole new TROUBLING meaning to the Gift of the Holy Ghost. And it made me realize our family needed to discuss who the Holy Ghost is a little more often who He is -- and the importance He has in our lives. He is the least-known member of the Godhead. Unlike Eloheim and Jevohova, we dont even know His name.

But He has a vital mission that is critical to each of us that helps bring light to our lives as we make our way back to our Father in Heaven. In Elder Eyrings talk, he said that We make choices every day and almost every hour that keep us walking in the light or moving away toward darkness. I work part-time for Jetblue airlines in reservations and customer service. When I was in training, we were told we had needed to be aware that we have mostly two types of customers. The first being that we have a lot of customers who are New Yorkers. And New Yorkers talk fast and want things fast and they yell a lot even when theyre not mad. And when they ARE mad, they dont say golly or flippin or oh my heck. They say other things. And the second main type of customers we have is travel agents. And we were told all we needed to know about the travel agents is that most of them are New Yorkers. And I thought Id be okay, because Im from Florida, and South Florida is considered a suburb of New York. I grew up around a lot of New Yorkers who wintered in Florida and retired in Florida. These are my people. I wasnt so worried. But wow. I learned it doesnt matter where people are from they can be from New York or Los Angeles, or Seattle or Orlando or SLC and they can be MEAN. And in my experience, its the WOMEN I deal with who seem to be the worst. Why is that? Not only can the women be mean, but they can be brutally sarcastic. We had bad weather in New York at JFK airport a couple weeks ago, and one lady was furious and wanted me PERSONALLY to fix it. The weather. Because her flight was going to be delayed for an hour and I had ruined her life because I had caused the storm that delayed her plane.

It used to make me grumpy and sometimes even cry after Id get off the phones on days like that, with people like that, but then I decided to try to make it a challenge to see if I could somehow, in some small way, help my customers have a slightly better day. And Ive found that a lot of people, as upset as they are, just really want to vent they just want someone kind to talk to them. They want sympathy. They want light. And even if a customer still hates me and blames me personally for creating the weather, my goal is to try not allow them to darken my day. Because when I have a bad day, my family has a bad day. And the reverse is also true when I have a good day, I can often influence my family to have a brighter day.
What can you do to generate light when you dont feel like it? When you feel like a dim bulb? (seek it) What can you do youre around someone who is down all the time? What does it do to you after a while? (self preservation) In D&C 50:23, we read: And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

Tom came home from work on Friday night, and Fridays are usually his busiest most hectic day of the week, with things needing to be filed in the courts, but my car battery had died earlier in the day, so my car was dead , and Katie had to drop off a check for a registration fee for something, and she was frantic, and my computer wasnt working so I couldnt work on my lesson, and one of the water faucets in our bathroom had broken, and we had to go to a law firm party that night, and I dont like law firm parties because theyre with lawyers and I didnt have anything to wear. And I hit Tom with all this the second he came through the door. And I did it in a way that had a sharpness to it. It had an edge, and maybe just a touch of sarcasm in regards to the party we had to attend that evening.

I was acting like one of those customers I complain about. Lame light. And Tom quietly and patiently went about trying to fix all the problems, but the light in our home suffered because of how I handled that situation. Yes, there were problems that needed to be addressed but if I had just greeted him warmly, kindly, lovingly, and THEN gently hit him with all the problems, there would have been a better feeling in our home. Instead, I WAS personally responsible for the weather in my home on Friday Night. I brought about the storm clouds. Thankfully, I am blessed to have a husband who is kind and patient and forgiving. And the weather is clear. Sunny skies. Things are fine.

But let me read D&C 50:23 again: And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. D&C 50:24 and 25 goes on to say: 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. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you. That is the goal, sisters. That we may chase darkness from among us. Robert D. Hales said in his talk:

As children, we learned how to keep darkness away by turning on a light. Light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Light dispels darkness. We are engaged in a battle between the forces of light and darkness. If it were not for the Light of Jesus Christ and His gospel, we would be doomed to the destruction of darkness. But the Savior said, I am come a light into the world. (John 12:46) He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12) Elder Hales goes on to say: The Lord is our light and, literally, our salvation. Like the sacred fire that encircled the children in 3rd Nephi, His light will form a protective shield between you and the darkness of the adversary. We need that light. The problem we face is that in this world, darkness is never far away. It is always just around the corner, waiting for an opportunity to come in. We read in Genesis 4:7: If thou doest not well, the Lord said, sin lieth at the door. It is as predictable as any physical law: if we let the light of the Spirit flicker, the darkness of the adversary will surely come in. Elder Hales said that Stumbling along, we may become accustomed to the dimness of our surroundings and forget how glorious it is to walk in the light. (Ryan companion homesick negative 2 transfers, new companion almost forgot companions can be fun!) Do you remember what happened to the Chilian Miners who were trapped underground for so long? Having been in the dark for weeks, physically their eyes could no longer take

the brightness of the light. They had to wear sunglasses at night -- to become accustomed to the light again. Matthew 5:16 we read: Let your light so shine before men, said the Lord, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Have any of you had an experience where, in a simple way, someone brightened you day? (Honda Odessy woman waves enthusiastically at me) We never know who may be depending on us. We never know what little thing we do will influence someone to move more towards the light. When my older son Tommy was five, our Primary in Texas decided to put on a Christmas Pageant for our Christmas ward activity. And Tommy really wanted to be part of the Primary choir, because the Primary president told the children that being a member of the choir was the most important part. And the choir also got to hold battery operated candles. He wanted to hold one of those candles. He thought if he couldnt be part of the choir, he wanted to be one of the shepherds, because they got to hold cool sticks. Well, he got his part, and he wasnt cast as part of the choir, and he wasnt cast as one of the a shepherds. Tommy was cast as the Star of Bethlehem. And he was HORRIFIED. Show picture To this day, he says he was forced to wear a dress. The primary president tried to assure him that it was not a dress, but it was gold lame gown, and it had a gold sequined train. Boys dont like to wear gowns. With sequins. And his face was surrounded by a big gold star with battery operated lights on it. The primary

president said that she cast him as the Star of Bethlehem because at the end of the play,she needed a small child to walk from the back of the cultural hall, leading the wise men, and climb on top of the stable next to the angels and be still. And he was a very obedient little five year old, and there werent many of those in this Primary, so his fate was sealed. And the play was adorable, and so sweet, but for years Tommy talked about how he did not enjoy his role as the Star of Bethlehem. When he was serving his mission in Paris, we saw a couple news stories on tv about riots in a Paris suburb where buses were being set on fire to protest the death of a local teenager. And when we mentioned it to Tommy he wrote and said: Thats my area! Thats where I live! In fact, one of those buses was a bus I rode on just the day before it got torched! And he was so excited, and I was not so excited. He was living in an area called Sarcelle, comprised of mostly Arabs and Africans, and the two groups did not get along with each other. In fact, the only thing they agreed on is that both groups hated Americans. But Tommy told me not to worry because just the week before a gang of teenagers had pulled a gun on him and his companion, and it was no big deal because they were just teenagers. The logic of a 19 yr old missionary sometimes makes you realize the Church HAS to be true. And I wrote him back and pointed out that teenagers with guns did not reassure me all that much. So he was in a violent, volatile area. And a couple of weeks later, he wrote to tell us about another experience. He said he and his companion were on a bus, one of the buses that had not be torched yet, and hed been trying to strike up a conversation with an African lady who was sitting near him, but she was not interested. And the bus came to a stop, and a man who had been watching him, got up to get off, and when he passed by Tommy, he spit in his face. And for some reason, that upset me almost more than the gun had. You know, spit on his shoe, or on his

clothes, or on the ground, but for someone to spit in my sons face, was too much. And I felt anger. But Tommy said good had came from the experience. Evidently the lady sitting on the bus who Tommy had tried unsuccessfully to engage in conversation, saw what happened. And she was touched that Tommy did not respond to the man with a counter attack of any kind. He just sat there and took it. And so this woman, who had ignored his attempts to talk to her about the Gospel, responded in a Gospel like way. She took a handkerchief out of her purse, and she wiped my sons face. And Tommy said he realized that in serving as a missionary, his role was the same role he had been cast in when he was five years old and he was asked to play the part of the Star of Bethlehem. Both roles, he said, required him to be a light in the darkness that would lead men to Christ. Good came out of what happened on that bus that day. And it blessed my sons life, and that womans life, and my life as well. Tommy served in some spectacular areas during his mission. He served in the heart of Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. He served near Versailles. He served near where Joan of Arc lived. He served in beautiful villages. He served on the coast of France. But it was in that dark, crime-ridden violent suburb of Paris where Tommy had his greatest success, and it is the place he still says to this day was his favorite area and brought him the most joy. Ill never meet the woman who wiped the spit off my sons face, but I will always be grateful that she was willing to move towards the light that day. It helped ME move towards the light.

The Explanation of Insects' Behavior

There is a phenomenon called phototaxis that explains the behavior of insects that are drawn to lights at night. Some scientiststs believe insects instinctively fly directly towards the moon at night because it helps them travel in a straight line. And they confuse lights with the moon. Unless they get zapped by a bug zapper, which makes my analogy rather flawed, that instinct of being attracted to the light is a useful behavior for them, because it helps them navigate in the dark. But cockroaches have negative phototaxis. They do not feel the need to be around lights. If a light is turned on, they will crawl away in search of shadowy darkness. Growing up in Florida, I used to DREAD having to go out to the carport of my home for any reason, because when I would turn on the light outside at night, there were always cockroaches BIG ONES that would scurry away. Gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about them. Sisters, our challenge in this life is to dispel darkness. And we have been given the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost to help us do that. We have been blessed with our Savior as a light to navigate by. As weve been told, He is the Light of the World.

As Elder Robert D. Hales said:

He is the Light of Bethlehem, born of Mary, His mortal mother, and His Father, Almighty God. He is the Light who was baptized by immersion, by John the Baptist, upon whom the Holy Ghost was manifest in the Spirit like a dove descending. He is the Light in whom His Father was well pleased.

He is the Light at the head of the ancient Church, organized with Twelve Apostles, prophets, and seventies. He is the Light of the Atonement fulfilled in the Garden of Gethsemane and on Golgotha, who took upon Himself the sins of the world, that all mankind may obtain eternal salvation. He is the Light of the empty tomb, the resurrected Lord with a glorified body of flesh and bone, who broke the bands of death and gained an everlasting victory over the grave. He is the Light that ascended into heaven before the eyes of His disciples, with a promise that in like manner He would come again. He is the Light that appeared with His Father and restored, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the same Church He established during His ministry on earth. He is the Light that leads and guides this Church today through revelation to a prophet, his counselors, and the Twelve Apostles. He is my Light, my Redeemer, my Saviorand yours.

I know that God lives. I know that He wants us to receive light, to seek light, and to generate light.

It is my prayer, sisters, that we do as Paul declared In Romans 13:12-13 when he said: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

What do we do when we dont feel like being a light? When we feel like a dim bulb? Have you ever had someone do something simple that brightened your day? Have you ever had someone do something simple that darkened your day? What do you do when youre around someone negative who threatens to draw you away from that which is light? Not necessarily someone who is sinful, but just negative? AntiPhototaxis? Have you ever seen the effect of someone who is anti-phototaxis? What are some examples of the Light of Christ? In the dark ages, was the Holy Ghost on a leave of absence?

President George Q. Cannon (18271901), a counselor in the First Presidency, said: Columbus was inspired to penetrate the ocean and discover this Western continent for the set time for its discovery had come; and the consequences which God desired to follow its discovery have taken place. We believe it was a preparatory work for the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

The scriptures contain many examples of righteous people who suffered: Abraham, Abinadi, Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith, and even Jesus Christ. Early in the Book of Mormon, an angel asks Nephi a tough question, Knowest thou the condescension of God? Nephi answers, I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things (1 Nephi 11:1617). Nephis answer is a perfect statement for us to remember in times of trial. We dont know the meaning of all things. We dont have all the answers to explain all the tragedies in the world and in our own neighborhoods. However, we know, we are sure, that God loves His children.

James E. Faust, Your Lighta Standard to All Nations, Liahona, May 2006, 11114 I see the light shining in your faces. That light comes from the Lord, and as you radiate that light, it will bless you and many others. You are young women of great promise. You have much to do in your lives. You will do great work in your homes, in the Church, and in the community. In the words of Mormon, Ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ. 3 A few years ago I stood on the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Young Joan of Arc, one of the great heroines in history, became the unlikely standard-bearer for the French army in the Dark Ages, long before the gospel was restored. Joan had the Light of Christ and also the courage to follow its promptings and make a difference. Joan was a peasant girl who could neither read nor write, but she was bright. Long years of war with the English had impoverished and divided her country. At 17, sensing her life had a purpose, she left home, determined to help liberate her oppressed country. Naturally, people scoffed at her ideas and thought she was a little crazy, but in the end she persuaded them to let her have a horse and an escort to go and see the king. Young King Charles VII of France had heard about Joan and decided to test her. He slipped into the ranks of the army and let one of his trusted associates occupy the throne. When Joan came into the room, she barely acknowledged the man on the throne, but promptly walked up to Charles and curtsied to him as her king. This so impressed the king that he

gave her command over his 12,000 troops. At first the French soldiers did not want to obey her, but when they saw that all who followed her succeeded and all who disregarded her failed, they came to look upon her as their leader. Clad in a suit of white armor and flying her own standard, Joan of Arc liberated the besieged city of Orleans in 1429 and defeated the English in four other battles. Twice she was wounded, but each time she recovered and went on fighting. Her orders seemed to be those of a military genius. She marched into the city of Reims and stood with sword and banner in hand while Charles was crowned king. She fought in the Battle of Paris until she was captured at Compigne by English allies, who sold her to the English for 16,000 francs. She was imprisoned, tried as a heretic, and then burned at the stake in 1431. Although this is a sad ending, it does not take away from Joans greatness. She was courageous enough to follow the personal inspiration to which all of us are entitled. As the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 4 To other girls in the fifteenth century, Joan of Arc seemed to be very different. Sisters, dont be afraid to be different in our century! Sometimes we have to be different in order to maintain Church standards. So I repeat, dont be afraid to be different, but be as good as you can be. Joan of Arc did not worry about what her friends did, but rather about what she knew she should do. We can let the light within us show in many different ways. It may be as simple as a smile or a wave. I have a Silver Honda Odessey. And so do MANY other women. I get waved at by so many people who think Im someone else. I got into a strange familys Honda a while back, thinking it was my family. Well, hello! Each one of you can be a friend to someone, even if it is only by smiling. You can let the sunshine that is in your heart show in your face. The Apostle John wrote of a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. We can be the bearers of light. In the Saviors parable of the ten virgins, 7 each young woman had a lamp. Clearly, this parable has both a temporal and a spiritual application. Oil can be purchased at the market. But another kind of oil, spiritual oil that is not for sale, can be accumulated only by our daily good works.

Every Christmas season, we have an issue at our home about outdoor Christmas lights. Weve put them up outside some years, but its just never been a big priority to my husband. But my kids like Christmas lights. So every Christmas its a problem. But this year, I found colored flood lights, red and green, and they say theyll last for 7 years. And so Tom agreed to put them up. And I was so pleased that we would finally be a festive family for the holiday. But when Katie came home

from YWs the first night they were on, and I said: Did you see our lights? And she said yes I saw the lights. Theyre pretty lame. So Ive decided to talk a little today about the issue of light. More specifically: Seeking light. Receiving light. Generating light. Eyring, may ensign 2008 Walk in the Light

We make choices every day and almost every hour that keep us walking in the light or moving away toward darkness. I work part-time for Jetblue airlines in reservations and customer service. And when I started there, we were told we had needed to be aware that we have a lot of New Yorkers. And New Yorkers talk fast and want things fast and they yell a lot even when theyre not mad. And the second main type of customers we have is travel agents. And they told us all we needed to know about travel agents is that most of them are from New York. And I thought Id be okay, because Im from Florida, and South Florida is really just a suburb of New York. I grew up around a lot of New Yorkers. But wow. I learned people can be mean. And it doesnt matter where theyre from. And its the WOMEN who are the worst. We had bad weather in New York a couple weeks ago, and one lady was furious and wanted me personally to fix it. The weather. Because her flight was going to be delayed for an hour and I had ruined her life. It used to reduce me to tears and make me grumpy after Id get off the phones, but then I decided to make it a challenge to see if I could try to make my customers not hate me. And Ive found that a lot of people, as upset as they are, just really want to vent they just want someone kind to talk to. And even if they still hate me and blamed me personally for creating the weather, my goal now is to try not allow them to ruin my day. Because when I have a bad day, my family has a bad day. But the reverse is also true when Im having a good day, I can often influence my family to have a good day. Moroni as he quoted his father, Mormon, who said this: But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Everything we do, whether we work or not, is customer service. Everything we do inviteth and enticeth to do good or to not do good. Tom came home from work on Friday night, and my car battery had died, so my car was dead, , and Katie had to drop off a check for a registration fee for something,

and she was frantic, and my computer printer wasnt working so I couldnt work on my lesson, and the one of the water faucets in our bathroom wasnt working, and we had to go to a law firm party, and I dont like law firm parties because lawyers arent very fun to be around and I didnt have anything to wear. And I hit Tom with all this the second he came through the door. Poor customer service. I did not inviteth or enticeth to do good. And he quietly went about trying to fix all the problems, but the light in our home was dimmed because of how I handled that situation. If I had just greeted him warmly, brightly, and THEN hit him with all the problems, there would have been a better feeling in our home on Friday night. The scriptures tell us the source and the power of light. Every child of Heavenly Father born in the world is given at birth, as a free gift, the Light of Christ. You have felt that. It is the sense of what is right and what is wrong and what is true and what is false. That has been with you since your journey in life began. The fact that you were baptized and received the Holy Ghost is evidence that you chose to walk in the Light of Christ. When you were confirmed a member of the Church, you were given the right to have the Holy Ghost as your companion. The Holy Ghost is a powerful source of light to recognize truth, to follow and love the Lord Jesus Christ, and to find your way back to God after this life. 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. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.2 Mormon: Seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. Wherefore, ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. Eyring:

I pray that we may better feel the illumination of the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Ghost in our everyday lives. When we walk in the light, we will feel some of the warmth and the happiness that will be ours when we are welcomed home again with the hundreds and perhaps thousands of others whom we will bring with us, who have walked in the light because we did. This is the true Church of Jesus Christ. There is a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. And there are both true servants and angels to help you along the lighted path. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Before Katie was baptized, we were trying to figure out what we would do for it, and we decided after her baptism, wed invite a few family members and friends over to our house for a little get-together. And so I asked Katie if she had any ideas about what she wanted to do, and she said, very matter of factly: After I get baptized, I want to go back to our house and I want to have a Holy Ghost Pinata. Which was disturbing on a number of different levels. It brought a whole new troubling meaning to the Gift of the Holy Ghost. But it made me realize it could only help our family and all of us if we discussed Gospel truths more often. The Light of Christ is the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost. One manifestation of the Light of Christ is what we call a conscience. Light of Christ -- IT Holy Ghost HIM

What is the difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost? The gift of the Holy Ghost is the privilegegiven to people who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, been baptized, and been confirmed as members of the Church to receive continual guidance and inspiration from the Holy Ghost. A person may be temporarily guided by the Holy Ghost without receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (see D&C 130:23). However, this guidance will not be continuous unless the person is baptized and receives the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. We read in Acts 10 that the Roman soldier Cornelius received inspiration from the Holy Ghost so that he knew the gospel of Jesus Christ was true. But Cornelius did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if Cornelius had not received baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost would have left him. One of Gods Greatest Gifts

What blessings can we receive through the gift of the Holy Ghost? The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of Gods greatest gifts to us. Through the Holy Ghost we may know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, and that His Church has been restored to the earth. We may have the promptings of the Holy Ghost to show us all the things we should do (see 2 Nephi 32:5). The Holy Ghost sanctifies us to prepare us for Gods presence. We may enjoy the gifts of the Spirit (see chapter 22 in this book). This great gift from our Heavenly Father can also bring peace to our hearts and an understanding of the things of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:912).

Spring storm March 2006 bumper to bumper albequeque to Monticello could only see the lights of the cars just ahead of us. And so it is with our eternal journey. We travel forward a little bit at a time. In doing so we often move towards the unknown. We need spiritual light to guide us. Robert D. Hales, 2002, By using the Light of Christ to discern and choose what is right, we can be led to an even greater light: the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, a personage of spirit. 10 He is the Comforter, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit of Promise. He testifies of Jesus Christ, His work, and the work of His servants upon the earth. He acts as a cleansing agent to purify and sanctify us from sin. 11 He comforts us and brings peace to our soul. The right to His constant companionship is among the greatest gifts we can receive in mortality, for by the light of His promptings and His cleansing power, we can be led back into the presence of God. 12 Darkness and Light As children, we learned how to keep darkness away by turning on a light. Sometimes, when our parents went away for the evening, we would turn on every light in the house! 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. We are engaged in a battle between the forces of light and darkness. If it were not for the Light of Jesus Christ and His gospel, we would be doomed to the destruction

of darkness. But the Savior said, I am come a light into the world. 13 He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 14 The Lord is our light and, literally, our salvation. 15 Like the sacred fire that encircled the children in 3 Nephi, 16 His light will form a protective shield between you and the darkness of the adversary as you live worthy of it. We need that light. Generating the Light He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, 18 said the Lord, and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. And in this world, the darkness is never far away. In fact, it is always just around the corner, waiting for an opportunity to come in. If thou doest not well, the Lord said, sin lieth at the door. 21 It is as predictable as any physical law: if we let the light of the Spirit flicker or fade by failing to keep the commandments or by not partaking of the sacrament or praying or studying the scriptures, the darkness of the adversary will surely come in. That wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience. 22 In the scriptures we read that some individuals grope in the dark without light and stagger like a drunken man. 23 Stumbling along, we may become accustomed to the dimness of our surroundings and forget how glorious it is to walk in the light. (Chilian Miners) Let Your Light So Shine Let your light so shine before men, said the Lord, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 28 We never know who may be depending on us. We never know what little thing we do will influence someone to move more towards the light. (Tommy Star of Bethelhem)

When my older son Tommy was five, our Primary in Texas decided to put on a Christmas Pageant for our Christmas ward activity. And Tommy really wanted to be part of the Primary choir, because the Primary president told the children that being part of the choir was the most important part. And the choir also got to hold battery operated candles. He thought if he couldnt be part of the choir, he wanted to be one of the shepherds, because they got to hold cool sticks. Well, he got his part, and it wasnt part of the choir, and it wasnt being a shepherd. Tommy was cast as

the Star of Bethlehem. And he was HORRIFIED. To this day, he says he was forced to wear a dress. The primary president tried to assure him that it was not a dress, but it was gold lame, and it had a gold sequined train. And his face was surrounded by a big gold start with battery operated lights on it. The primary president said that she cast him as the Star of Bethlehem because at the end of the play, he had to walk from the back of the cultural hall, leading the wise men, and climb on top of the stable next to the angels and be still. And he was a very obedient little five year old, and there werent many of those in this Primary, so his fate was sealed. Heres a picture of him in his role. And the play was adorable, and so sweet, but for years Tommy talked about how he did not enjoy playing the part of the Star of Bethlehem. When he was serving his mission in Paris, we saw a couple news stories on tv about riots in a Paris suburb where buses were being set on fire to protest the death of a local teenager at the hands of the police. And when we mentioned it to Tommy he wrote and said: Thats my area! Thats where I live! In fact, one of those buses was a bus he rode on just the day before it got torched! And he was so excited, and I was not so excited. He told me not to worry because just last week a gang of teenagers had pulled a gun on him and his companion, and it was no big deal because they were just teenagers. And I wrote him back and pointed out that teenagers with guns did not reassure me all that much. So he was in a volatile area. And a couple of weeks later, he wrote to tell us of a cool thing that happened. He said he and his companion were on a bus, one of the buses that had not be torched yet in this area, and hed been trying to strike up a conversation with an African lady who was sitting near him, but she was not interested. And the bus came to a stop, and a man got up to get off, and when he passed by Tommy, he spit in his face. And for some reason, that upset me almost more than the gun had. You know, spit on his shoe, or on his clothes, or on the ground, but for someone to spit in my sons face, was too much. And I didn t get why he thought that was a cool thing was. He forgot to mention why it was cool. And I was all set to write him back and express my outrage over, but my husband, Mr. Festive Christmas Lights, suggested we ask why it was a cool thing. And he responded by saying good came from that experience. Evidently the lady sitting on the bus who Tommy and his companion had tried unsuccessfully to engage in conversation, saw what happened. And SHE was outraged. And she was touched that Tommy did not respond to the man with a counter attack of any kind. That he just sat there and took it. Tommy said he wanted to deck the guy, but he knew that that wasnt the right thing to do. And so this woman, who had ignored his attempts to talk to her about the Gospel, responded in a Gospel like way. She took a handkerchief out of her purse, and she wiped my sons face. And Tommy said that he had come to realize that in serving as a missionary, his role was the same role he had had when he was five years old and he was asked to play the role of the Star of Bethlehem. Both roles, he said, required him to be a

light in the darkness that would lead men to Christ. Good did come out of what happened on that bus that day. And it blessed my sons life, and that womans life, and my life as well. And it was in that crime-ridden violent suburb of Paris where he had his greatest success, and it is the place he still says was his favorite area. Ill never meet the woman who wiped the spit off my sons face, but I will always be grateful that she was willing to move towards the light that day. Blessed with His Light Heavenly Father used light to announce the birth of His Son, our Savior (see Matthew 2; 3 Nephi 1). A new star was visible in both the Eastern and the Western Hemispheres. It led the Wise Men to the child in Bethlehem. Even wicked King Herod recognized the sign and feared it. The Wise Men rejoiced because of the birth of the Christ, who is the Light and the Life of the World. Three days of light without darkness was the sign God gave to the descendants of Lehi, heralding the birth of His Son. We remember at Christmastime not only the light that announced the birth of Christ into the world but also the light that comes from Him. The boy Joseph Smith testified that he saw a marvelous light in a grove of trees in Palmyra, New York, at the beginning of the Restoration: Just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the otherThis is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! (Joseph SmithHistory 1:1617). Such light will be visible in our heavenly home. Yet even in this life you have been blessed with a part of that wonderful experience, through the Light of Christ. Every person born into the world receives that light as a gift (see Moroni 7:16). Think of the times you have had an experience that makes you a witness that the Light of Christ is real and precious. You will recognize from this wonderfully assuring scripture that you have been guided by that light: And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. 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.

And I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you (D&C 50:2325). In a world that is being darkened by evil images and dishonest messages, you have been blessed to recognize more easily the flashes of light and truth. You have learned for yourself that light grows brighter as you receive it gladly. It will become brighter and brighter until the perfect day when we will be in the presence of the Source of the light. In 1832 the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith a true and powerful doctrine about spiritual light, the Light of Christ: Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space 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.4 President Boyd K. Packer reinforced this truth in saying: The Light of Christ is also described in the scriptures as the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Christ can enlighten the inventor, the scientist, the painter, the sculptor, the composer, the performer, the architect, the author to produce great, even inspired things for the blessing and good of all mankind.5 He that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.1 Brigham Young taught: All true wisdom that mankind have they have received from God, whether they know it or not. There is no ingenious mind that has ever invented anything beneficial to the human family but what he obtained it from that One Source. There is only one source from whence men obtain wisdom, and that is God, the fountain of all wisdom; and though men may claim to make their discoveries by their own wisdom, by meditation and reflection, they are indebted to our Father in Heaven for all. (Journal of Discourses, 13:148.) To those who pursue and apply gospel principles, the Lord says, And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. (D&C 88:67.) Intelligence is the ability to use knowledge properly. The Lord has said, The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. (D&C 93:36.) The light of which this scripture speaks is the Light of Christ, for Jesus further said, I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (D&C 93:2.) Madame Marie Curie was a physicist and chemist famous for her work on radioactivity and was the first person honored with two Nobel Prizes. Hurrying to

cross the street, her husband Pierre was killed by a horse-drawn wagon with a load of military uniforms. The night of his funeral, Madame Curie, wrote in her diary: Your coffin was closed and I could see you no more. . . . We saw you go down into the deep, big hole. . . . They filled the grave and put sheaves of flowers on it, everything is over. Pierre is sleeping his last sleep beneath the earth; it is the end of everything, everything, everything (Curie 1937, 249. Once when President Brigham Young was asked why we are sometimes left alone and often sad, his response was that man has to learn to act as an independent being to see what he will do and try his independencyto be righteous in the dark.

The parable tells what happened as all ten young women waited for the bridegroom. The bridegroom came at the darkest hour, when least expected. It was midnight, and the foolish five had run out of oil. You might wonder why the five wise virgins could not share their oil with the other five. It was not selfishness on their part. Spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant because we each fill our lamps drop by drop in our daily living. The counsel of the Lord to arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations should energize all of us. Great opportunities await you dear sisters to fulfill. We all have some part of the holy work to accomplish, even though it may seem small and obscure. "I believe one virtuous young woman led by the Spirit can change the world." Sisters, this is a call to arms, its a call to action, a call to arise. A call to arm ourselves with power and with righteousness. A call to rely on the arm of the Lord rather than the arm of flesh. A call to arise and shine forth, that our light may be a standard for the nations. A call to live as women of God so that we and our families may return safely home. (Sheri Dew, November 1999 Ensign, We are Women of God) Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the church are seen as distinct and differentin happy waysfrom the women of the world. (President Spencer W. Kimball, November 1979 Ensign, The Role of Righteous Women)

The Explanation of Insects' Behavior There is a phenomenon called phototaxis that explains the behavior of insects that are drawn to lights at night. Earthworms and cockroaches, however, have negative phototaxis because they do not feel the need to be around lights. If a light is turned off, they will briskly fly away in search of shadowy darkness. Insects are attracted to light as they use light to navigate. Some scientiststs believe insects fly directly towards the moon at night because it helps them travel in a straight line. This was therefore a useful behavior for them, helping them navigate in the dark. It is an instinct. However, just because Jesus, the Light of the World shines just as brightly today as He ever has does not mean that human beings are naturally drawn to that Light. In the insect world there is a phenomena called photo-taxis which means movement with relation to light. Most insects exercise what is called positive photo-taxis, which means that they are drawn to the light. Take a look at your headlights or windshield after driving on a warm summer night and you will have proven this basic truth. You will find the remnants of all sorts of critters who instinctively flew toward the light. Some insects, however, exhibit what is called negative photo-taxis meaning that they will always seek to move away from the light. In this way human beings, in their natural state of sin, (and also believers who are persisting in known sin) are exactly like certain kinds of insects. We live in a dark world in which hundreds of millions of people seem not to be attracted to the light.

In May 1982, a massive solar flare erupted from the suns surface. This flare was so huge that scientific instruments could not even measure it, though it was believed that the energy this single flare released in just twenty minutes was greater than all the natural and manufactured energy the earth uses in an entire year. These flares, while blinding at first gradually lose their brilliance as they travel through space, eventually disappearing altogether. Christs brightness and the light He brings, unlike a solar flare, never loses strength, but rather continues onas bright in this age as it has been in every age.

A Special Witness of His Light Now, my brothers and sisters, in this, the last great conflict between light and darkness, I am grateful for the opportunity to endure hardness, as a [disciple] of Jesus Christ. 30 With Paul, I declare, The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 31 I bear my special witness that Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world; yea, [the] light that is endless, that can never be darkened. 32 He is the Light of Bethlehem, born of Mary, His mortal mother, and His Father, Almighty God. He is the Light who was baptized by immersion, by John the Baptist, upon whom the Holy Ghost was manifest in the Spirit like a dove descending. He is the Light in whom His Father was well pleased. He is the Light at the head of the ancient Church, organized with Twelve Apostles, prophets, and seventies. He is the Light of the Atonement fulfilled in the Garden of Gethsemane and on Golgotha, who took upon Himself the sins of the world, that all mankind may obtain eternal salvation. He is the Light of the empty tomb, the resurrected Lord with a glorified body of flesh and bone, who broke the bands of death and gained an everlasting victory over the grave. He is the Light that ascended into heaven before the eyes of His disciples, with a promise that in like manner He would come again. He is the Light that appeared with His Father and restored, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the same Church He established during His ministry on earth. He is the Light that leads and guides this Church today through revelation to a prophet, his counselors, and the Twelve Apostles. He is my Light, my Redeemer, my Saviorand yours. I know that God lives. I know that He hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

What do we do when we dont feel like being a light? When we feel like a dim bulb? Have you ever had someone do something simple that brightened your day? Have you ever had someone do something simple that darkened your day? What do you do when youre around someone negative who threatens to draw you away from that which is light? Not necessarily someone who is sinful, but just negative? Anti-Phototaxis? Have you ever seen the effect of someone who is anti-phototaxis? What are some examples of the Light of Christ? In the dark ages, was the Holy Ghost on a leave of absence? Christopher Columbuss personal study of the Bible greatly increased the influence of the Holy Ghost in his life. Two millennia before Columbus, Nephi prophesied: And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land (1 Ne. 13:12). President Gordon B. Hinckley said: We interpret that to refer to Columbus. It is interesting to note that the Spirit of God wrought upon him. 10 Columbus himself declared: With a hand that could be felt, the Lord opened my mind to the fact that it would be possible to sail and he opened my will to desire to accomplish the project. This was the fire that burned within me. Who can doubt that this fire was not merely mine, but also of the Holy Spirit urging me to press forward? 11 President George Q. Cannon (18271901), a counselor in the First Presidency, said: Columbus was inspired to penetrate the ocean and discover this Western continent for the set time for its discovery had come; and the consequences which God desired to follow its discovery have taken place. We believe it was a preparatory work for the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

The scriptures contain many examples of righteous people who suffered: Abraham, Abinadi, Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith, and even Jesus Christ.

Early in the Book of Mormon, an angel asks Nephi a tough question, Knowest thou the condescension of God? Nephi answers, I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things (1 Nephi 11:1617). Nephis answer is a perfect statement for us to remember in times of trial. We dont know the meaning of all things. We dont have all the answers to explain all the tragedies in the world and in our own neighborhoods. However, we know, we are sure, that God loves His children.

James E. Faust, Your Lighta Standard to All Nations, Liahona, May 2006, 11114 I see the light shining in your faces. That light comes from the Lord, and as you radiate that light, it will bless you and many others. You are young women of great promise. You have much to do in your lives. You will do great work in your homes, in the Church, and in the community. In the words of Mormon, Ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ. 3 A few years ago I stood on the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Young Joan of Arc, one of the great heroines in history, became the unlikely standard-bearer for the French army in the Dark Ages, long before the gospel was restored. Joan had the Light of Christ and also the courage to follow its promptings and make a difference. Joan was a peasant girl who could neither read nor write, but she was bright. Long years of war with the English had impoverished and divided her country. At 17, sensing her life had a purpose, she left home, determined to help liberate her oppressed country. Naturally, people scoffed at her ideas and thought she was a little crazy, but in the end she persuaded them to let her have a horse and an escort to go and see the king. Young King Charles VII of France had heard about Joan and decided to test her. He slipped into the ranks of the army and let one of his trusted associates occupy the throne. When Joan came into the room, she barely acknowledged the man on the throne, but promptly walked up to Charles and curtsied to him as her king. This so impressed the king that he gave her command over his 12,000 troops. At first the French soldiers did not want to obey her, but when they saw that all who followed her succeeded and all who disregarded her failed, they came to look upon her as their leader. Clad in a suit of white armor and flying her own standard, Joan of Arc liberated the besieged city of Orleans in 1429 and defeated the English in four other battles. Twice she was wounded, but each time she recovered and went on fighting. Her orders seemed to be those of a military genius. She marched into the city of Reims and stood with sword and banner in hand while Charles was crowned king. She

fought in the Battle of Paris until she was captured at Compigne by English allies, who sold her to the English for 16,000 francs. She was imprisoned, tried as a heretic, and then burned at the stake in 1431. Although this is a sad ending, it does not take away from Joans greatness. She was courageous enough to follow the personal inspiration to which all of us are entitled. As the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 4 To other girls in the fifteenth century, Joan of Arc seemed to be very different. Sisters, dont be afraid to be different in our century! Sometimes we have to be different in order to maintain Church standards. So I repeat, dont be afraid to be different, but be as good as you can be. Joan of Arc did not worry about what her friends did, but rather about what she knew she should do. We can let the light within us show in many different ways. It may be as simple as a smile or a wave. I have a Silver Honda Odessey. And so do MANY other women. I get waved at by so many people who think Im someone else. I got into a strange familys Honda a while back, thinking it was my family. Well, hello! Each one of you can be a friend to someone, even if it is only by smiling. You can let the sunshine that is in your heart show in your face. The Apostle John wrote of a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet. We can be the bearers of light. In the Saviors parable of the ten virgins, 7 each young woman had a lamp. Clearly, this parable has both a temporal and a spiritual application. Oil can be purchased at the market. But another kind of oil, spiritual oil that is not for sale, can be accumulated only by our daily good works.