Gathering Spiritual Light
Moroni 7:15-17, Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV
For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to ajudge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
For behold, the aSpirit of Christ is given to every bman, that he may cknow 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 aevil, 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.
Moroni 7:15-17
The Glorious Promise of Light
Welcome back to Celebrating the Light! Welcome to the newest subscribers as well. I am always on the lookout for bringing light into our lives. I find much of it in the scriptures, talks, quotes, magazines, and the internet. Albeit, I need to be very specific, typing things into a search engine.
I am an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (formerly known as Mormon). I draw much of my material from the teachings of Jesus Christ, the true Light of the World. I try to find the most universal understanding of light and truth and share these beautiful things with you.
One thing I truly believe is that Truth is truth wherever it is found. I read lots of different newsletters on Substack. We have so much more in common than differences. I believe that most people are good and sincere. People are seeking light, sharing light, and/or being a light to others. My hope is that you will come away feeling inspired and sharing these drops of light with others.
This year I will be searching for things that bring joy and light into our lives. Joy should not be left to certain times of the year. Joy can be found in everyday circumstances. Men and women were created to have joy (2 Nephi 2:25). I challenge you to share your experiences with light and joy. Things that make you happy and grateful.
In preparing for this post, I came across a quote I love from Dieter F. Uchtdorf, one of the Twelve Apostles, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I found the talk on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. It’s called Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth. I’m going to share a few excerpts from it. It’s perfect for the new year.
Scientists were struggling to understand the breadth of the universe until instruments became sophisticated enough to gather in greater light so they could understand a more complete truth.
The Apostle Paul taught a parallel principle regarding spiritual knowledge. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God,” he wrote to the Corinthians, “for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”12
In other words, if you want to recognize spiritual truth, you have to use the right instruments. You can’t come to an understanding of spiritual truth with instruments that are unable to detect it. . . .
The more we incline our hearts and minds toward God, the more heavenly light distills upon our souls. And each time we willingly and earnestly seek that light, we indicate to God our readiness to receive more light. Gradually, things that before seemed hazy, dark, and remote become clear, bright, and familiar to us.
By the same token, if we remove ourselves from the light of the gospel, our own light begins to dim—not in a day or a week but gradually over time—until we look back and can’t quite understand why we had ever believed the gospel was true. Our previous knowledge might even seem foolish to us because what once was so clear has again become blurred, hazy, and distant.
This is why Paul was so insistent that the message of the gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing, “but unto [those who] are saved it is the power of God.”14
In the end, we are all pilgrims seeking God’s light as we journey on the path of discipleship. We do not condemn others for the amount of light they may or may not have; rather, we nourish and encourage all light until it grows clear, bright, and true.
I offer you my personal witness that spiritual truth will fill your heart and bring light to your spirit. It will reveal to you pure intelligence with wonderful joy and heavenly peace. I have experienced this for myself by the power of the Holy Ghost.
As the ancient scriptures promise, the unspeakable presence of the Spirit of God will cause you to sing the song of redeeming love,16 lift your eyes to heaven, and raise your voice in praise to the Most High God, your Refuge, your Hope, your Protector, your Father. The Savior promised that if you seek, you will find.17
I testify that this is true. If you seek God’s truth, that which now may appear dim, out of focus, and distant will gradually be revealed and clarified and become close to your heart by the light of God’s grace. Glorious spiritual vistas, unimaginable to the human eye, will be revealed to you.
It is my testimony that this spiritual light is within the reach of every child of God. It will enlighten your mind and bring healing to your heart and joy to your days. My dear friends, please do not delay the moment to seek and strengthen your own personal testimony of God’s divine work, even the work of light and truth.
Love,
Shauna
Share Your Light Today!
Sometimes our friends, family, and total strangers feel plunged into darkness and can’t seem to find the Light. They need our little drops of sunshine to help dispel the darkness one step ahead. Sometimes, we are the ones lost in the dark. Reaching out to each other in tough times is hard, but necessary. There is so much turmoil and confusion in the world. Look for that Light, even if all we get, are shards of light. Hold it close and help will come.
May you have a glorious day!
Shauna
Thank you again for your love and support! Celebrating the Light is about shining our light. All are welcome here! If you have an uplifting thought or story, feel free to share it. I am also open to collaborations with other artists, writers, musicians, etc.
Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions. Be courteous to one another. Everyone is welcome here. If you have concerns, please contact me at shaunakay@yahoo.com.
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