2020 has been a great year for our family, full of miracles
and choices that from an outside observer would seem absolute lunacy. Prior to the
starting of 2020 I had been struggling for 7 ½ years. I was at a great paying job
where for some reason I was hated for doing my job. I was in fear every day I
went to work. My whole body would tense up when others were around. It was like
being locked in a room with an unfamiliar and very vicious dog unsure of what was
going to trigger an attack. And that dog did attack, and to often. It got bad enough I feared for my life and would
carry an audio recorder with me so if actual violence occurred I could have
some form of proof. I would pray in personal, couple and family prayer
that My heart would be softened and that my coworkers would be blessed. My work Life was
very dark for me.
I was reading my scriptures individually, as a family and as a couple. I was going to church, fulfilling callings, performing home teaching and ministering assignments, and even dutifully having family home evening which I lead and initiated each week as Husbands should. I was attending the temple regularly and I was preparing and taking names each time. I was still feeling God’s love, I was still having near daily revelation. I was not alone, but my work life was absolutely miserable.
At the end of 2019 things drastically changed. I felt inspired that I was done. I was going to change careers. I had a new heading and I was spending all of my free time working towards that goal. Doing things I had never imagined that I would even learn about. Only to reach the last stage of that preparation to receive my finial certification when I was denied that opportunity because of the pandemic.
Things started to change drastically at work, on
the first of January 2020. There was no change of personnel. I have no idea
what the catalyst was, but my body no longer tensed up,. I didn’t
feel the need to carry the recorder anymore. I was
calm and unafraid. Then a call came to my
phone, at my desk, at work, inquiring if I would be interested in a job. The
same kind of job I was already doing, only near Goldendale. I had interviewed
for many jobs over the last 3 years, but would always get to the interview
and feel it was not what the lord wanted and turn it down. Which was really hard because I knew how bad things were for me at my job at the time.
And well I’m here now, so you know the end of that story.
Today I am going to talk about struggles and light, specifically
the struggle between Good and Evil and the Light of Christ. I pray that the
spirit will be here today. The term, “Light of Christ” is only found in the
scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints. Yet it is a term
that is used throughout Christendom and although referred to by many different
names is taught throughout the Bible. We even have record of Jesus Christ
himself teaching about it, and since he is the master teacher I will start
first with his words.
In the end of 1832 the Prophet Joseph smith was under attack
from members inside the church living in Missouri, or Zion as it had been
designated by the Lord. He was greatly troubled because of these attacks. In these circumstance he meet with 8 other high Priests and received the revelation now
recorder as Section 88 of the doctrine and covenants and commonly referred to
as the “olive leaf . . . . plucked from the Tree of Paradise” as it was described by the prophet.
I think it is interesting that Joseph Smith referred to this
revelation in that way. In some Hebrew traditions the Olive tree is the
representation of the tree of life. In Revelations we learn that the Tree of
Life exist in the, "midst of the Paradise of God" (Revelations
2:&). In the Saviors words about the Light of Christ he says that the Light
of Christ , “ giveth life to all things “ (D&C 88:13) Mormon teaches, as you may remember from you
reading this week, that the Light of Christ is how we should judge between Good
and Evil.
In the Garden of Eden there were two tree. The Tree of Life
and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and evil. It was not the tree of right and
wrong. It was of knowledge of Good, which is another name for God. Christ's
birth was the Good Tidings brought by the angels to the shepherds, Jesus is the
Good Shepard, and It was Christ that taught the rich young man that, "No
one is good except god alone."(Mark 10:18) and as Mormon declared “all
things which are good cometh of Christ;” (7:24). The term Evil here is translated
from the Hebrew word Ra and means, "willful disobedience of God and his
intentions for human beings." So it is possible that both trees of the garden represent
distinct aspects of the Light of Christ.
Even Eve taught about the Light of Christ without calling it
by names as recorded in Moses 5:11 -
Were it not for our transgression we . . . never should have
known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which
God giveth unto all the obedient.
In section 88 Christ starts by letting Joseph know, despite all his troubles, he is on
the right path and then says he is sending in some help.
3 Wherefore, I now send upon you another Comforter, even upon
you my friends, that it may abide in your hearts, even the Holy Spirit of
promise; which other Comforter is the same that I promised unto my disciples,
as is recorded in the testimony of John.
4 This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of
eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;
5 Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of
God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—
6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all
things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through
all things, the light of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ.
Growing up in the church I remember many lessons on the
Light of Christ, but it confuses me that they never seemed to incorporate this teaching from the
savior himself.
Elder Marion G. Romney helped fill in some of my gaps in understanding of the Light of Christ. He taught that there are actually
3 distinct phases to the, “Light of Christ”
“The first one is the light which enlighteneth every man
that cometh into the world;
The second phase is the gift of the Holy Ghost;
And the third is the more sure word of prophecy.”
This 3rd phase is the one the Lord spoke of in section 88.
Which makes sense since all present where already members of the church and
well acquainted with the gift of the Holy Ghost. We also hear it referred to as
having ones “Calling and election made sure”, or as Christ termed it the Holy
Spirit of promise, the “Other” or “Second Comforter”. It, “is the promise which
(the Lord) give(s) . . . of eternal life, even the glory of the Celestial
kingdom"
I find it interesting that Christ describes his
qualifications to give this message:
6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all
things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through
all things, the light of truth;
It makes me feel like he describing how he because one with
and a source of the Light of Christ. It was not because he was blessed to be
born spiritually and physically of god, although he was. It was not because he
was chosen and agreed to be the linchpin of the Father’s plan in the celestial
courts above, although he was. It was because he suffered and endured such
trials that he qualified to have such mastery and oneness with the light of
Christ that he became The Christ.
Christ goes on to teach that the Light of Christ “proceedeth
forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space” (88:12) It is how the Sun, moon, stars, and earth where created and continue to operate. Speaking of that, Our Son Devon was baptized yesterday and I would like, with his permission to share something that happened in his Baptismal interview. The Bishop asked if he knew that Jesus Loves him. Devon responded, "Well yea, He made this whole world for us, what else says love like that". The Light of Christ is
the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the
law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon
his throne who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.,
(88:7-10, 13)
The Light of Christ might sound like the 4th member of the godhead, but the Light of Christ is not a personage at all. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day
saints we know that God the Father and Jesus Christ have glorified perfected
physical bodies and the Holy Ghost a spirit body, and none can literally be everywhere. The Light of Christ is
how they fill the immensity of space and are through all things and in all
things. It is how they are all knowing
and even how they are all powerful. If we want to become like God, then
it is essential for us to grow in the Light of Christ.
So how do we use the Light of Christ to judge between Good
an Evil? Mormon explains in chapter 7 of Moroni:
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ (or the Light 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.
17 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.
Mormon continues by says that although the Light of Christ is given to everyone that enters into the world, we are still required to “search diligently” to be able to make proper use of it in judging Good and evil. Do you search diligently in the light of Christ? It is also interesting that he suggest that it is by searching diligently in the Light of Christ that we can become, “a child of Christ.” This phrase makes me think of how Christ taught the Nephites at the Temple in Bountiful that after we are baptized we need to, "become as a little child". After Baptism you are confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints and commanded to Receive the Holy Ghost. If received, this gift will guide you in what you should do to gain more light. What sort of things will the Holy Ghost direct you to do to increase in the Light of Christ?
The Third and Last reference that uses the exact phrase
Light of Christ is found in Alma 28. Here Mormon finishes his abridgment of the
Missionary labors of Ammon and his brothers, or the sons of Mosiah. If you
remember their missions included being put in prison, fighting off bandits,
civil wars , and the slaughter of many of the saints because the had believed in the words of the Sons of Mosiah's. With this in mind Mormon shares this:
14 And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to
labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow,
and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and
joy because of the light of Christ unto life. (Alma 28)
Christ gives a nice summary of how his Laborers in the
vineyard interact with the Light of Christ in section 50 of the Doctrine of
Covenants.
26 He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is
appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant
of all.
27 Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things
are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life and the light,
the Spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus
Christ, his Son.
28 But no man is possessor of all things except he be
purified and cleansed from all sin.
29 And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye
shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done.
