First, I want to share a sweet experience with you that I had last night at supper. (names have been changed.)
We had dinner with the S family. They are wonderful members of the ward and they have taken very good care of us in the past. Brother S is a convert to the Church and Sister S comes from a.... less accountable family. We decided at the last minute to change our original plans from the message we had prepared and to talk about the Plan of Salvation. My boy followed the spirit and the lesson went from a lesson to a testimony meeting. Both Brother and Sister S bore powerful witnesses of the truths they knew to be true, but it didn't stop there. Each of the children, from the first to the last, bore testimony. When it got to the youngest---named M (3)---he smiled and said, "I know Jesus is real..." He paused, and his face twisted as if he were thinking really hard; after a second he said, "That's all I got." Lovingly, Brother S held his boy and said simply, "That's all you need."
Along those lines, check out this great talk :D
I remember eating dinner with the O's one time. Their little boy (J, age 4...or three... somewhere in there) had lost his Nintendo DSi. He had been searching all day long and was very distressed. His mother and father both kindly suggested that J pray to find his DS, but he rejected the idea. They let it go, and we finished dinner and then had a lesson.
At the conclusion of the lesson, he asked if we knew where is DS was. We told him we didn't know, but, following the earlier promptings of his parents, we invited him to pray right then and there to be able to find it. With some encouragement from his parents and grandmother, we all got down on our knees and we began to pray. During the 10-15 second prayer, I peeked open my eyes to watch this teaching moment in action. Brother O had nudged his wife, and was pointing at the pocket on the back of the recliner---they had found his DS. They smiled and waited patiently for J to finish his prayer.
After the prayer was finished, we all set out searching for the DS. After a few minutes, Brother O suggested to J that he search by the recliner. Within 30 more seconds, the DS was found and there was much rejoicing. Little J was simply amazed that it had worked. On his face was wonder and excitement as his lost DS was returned to his possession. His parents taught that he should give a prayer of thanks. We all got on our knees again, and J offered a sincere, simple prayer of thanks for a Father in Heaven who loved him enough to help him find what he held so dearly.
Isn't it amazing to see how our Father in Heaven blesses our lives through these simple acts? It is amazing to witness the majesty of his power as He reaches out to the uncorrectable and imperfect things of the world, and sanctifies them.
We currently are teaching a 16 year old investigator who reads the Book of Mormon every day. She has a great desire to do what is right, and she recognizes Change in her life as she reads the Book of Mormon. It has changed her perception on who she is and what her purpose in life is. Sooner or later, she will join the Church of God, along with her family, and she will be able to enjoy all the blessings that are available to her through the making and keeping of sacred covenants with God. Simply incredible.
Conference was fabulous.
Honestly, we all have external circumstances that give us reasons, real reasons to be happy. This said, we often forget that no matter what, it is our decision to be happy. It is not controlled by external circumstances. If your happiness is being controlled by negative consequences in your life, begin to count your blessings and you will find peace and happiness. I promise you. But, there is a way that you can be happy without the need for any of these circumstances. There is an inner light within us all known as the Light of Christ. We do not have to dwell in darkness. Happiness is a decision that we make as we choose to believe in and hope in Christ. When we believe and hope in him, we also choose to act on his teachings. As we act on what Christ would have us do, the holes in our hearts are able to be filled. We forget the wrongs and we forgive the wronger. We, in effect, become filled with light, and it all comes down to choosing to believe in Him.
Speaking of light, one time we read a story in my humanities class that now holds a very special significance. It was a story about a city that was underground in complete darkness. One day, a man became lost and wandered away from the city. When he left the city, he began to notice something he had never noticed before. He could see (which was an entirely new sensation) a light ahead. Curious at this new sensation, he followed the light. Eventually he came out of the ground and found himself on a beautiful, sandy beach. There were other people on the beach and there was even fire. So, he took a torch and went back in to the cave and went to the city. He told everyone about light and was also able to show them a little bit of it from the torch he was holding. Many were afraid, many were unsure, and many were amazed, but only a few said they would come back to the surface with him.
Don't ask me what the rest of the story was, because I can't remember, but, honestly, this is how I feel as a missionary. I have seen the light. I have come from it and I have a desire to share, metaphorically, light to the blind. Light in darkness. People have grown up with out this light in their lives, to the point that they don't even know that it exists. Others have portions of the light, but are hardly aware of the beauty of the Sun (or Son) that is available to them. They do not understand that there is so much beautiful light that they could enjoy, and they choose instead to reject it because they don't understand, or because they are afraid, or because they just don't want it---they are happy with the light that they have and it's all they need.
I don't understand why a blind person would reject sight. Or why the deaf would reject the ability to hear. I understand that it must become a part of who you are, but surely, we know that light and music are so much better than being deaf and blind. That is why we share the message of the gospel to the world. Because, even though in a way darkness is a part of all of us, we know that light is so much better. It provides us with strength, peace, and happiness. It is the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is rich and full. We do not have to live in darkness (unhappiness, discontentment, misery, pain, solitude). We can enjoy peace, hope, faith, happiness, joy, and the reality of good things to come. We know that there is more and we are eager to share.
That thought borne in mind, please consider how differently people may have reacted if it had been their best friend who had tried to share the light with them. What if it had been someone they knew and trusted instead of just a random citizen? Would the message of light have been more meaningful?
Yes.
Please share the light with those you know and love.
That's what I learned this week. :D Amongst other things. I will stop rambling now.
I know that this Gospel is true. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He is my Saviour, and my friend. He has shown me, and millions of others, they way to the light. He is the light.
I love you all very much.
Rock on. Obedience, peace, love, and temple marriage. In that order.
Elder Taylor J. Hill
