Sunday

Hi All,
Whit and I were asked to speak in church on Sunday. We were asked to speak on any of the teachings of Christ. Whit shared a beautiful testimony about how this probationary time on earth and living the gospel is about becoming full and perfect in the eternities. I wish he typed it up because I would love for all of you to have been there to hear it.
I spoke on the light of Christ that is in us. I felt like the assignment to talk was a huge blessing for me. By learning more about this topic I was able to feel closer to my Savior Jesus Christ and realize that He and Heavenly Father have instilled divinity within me and all their children. I thought I would post my talk up here so you guys could read it. I hope you like it!

I am so excited to be giving this talk right now. Whit and I were told that we had to speak on the mission, ministry, or teachings of Christ. I was nervous and excited because that left a whole spectrum of great subjects to speak on! I prayed about what I was supposed to learn and share with you today and I came across D&C 115:5. It reads;
“Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be as a standard for the nations;”
This verse is short but its words made me feel so full and energized! I knew that it was what I needed to speak on today. When I read this a few thoughts immediately came to mind.
1. We need to have the Lord’s countenance
2. How do I (we) Shine?!
a. Is it a real physical shine or is it symbolic?
3. Be Confident
4. Have Conviction
I have heard the phrase or description of someone having the countenance of the Lord, or a light about them. In D&C 110:3 it describes in beautiful words exactly what the countenance or appearance of the Lord is. Joseph Smith Jr. describes it as such;
“His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair on his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shown above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters…”
What an amazing appearance to emulate! President Faust gave a great talk at the Oct. 2005 Conference in which he talked about this light, shine, or countenance that we as saints are able to have. The address was titled, “The Light in Their Eyes.” He began this talk by explaining when the BYU Jerusalem Center was opening the brethren of the church had made an agreement with the Israeli government that the church members would not proselyte. When the center was opened one of the men the church had worked with, who was not LDS, commented; “Oh, we know that you are not going to proselyte, but what are you going to do about the light that is in their eyes?” President Faust then expanded eloquently as to what that light is. He shares D&C 88:11. It says,
“And the light which shineth, which giveth you light , is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understanding.”
D&C 93:2 supports and clarifies this verse by saying, that the Lord is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and D&C 84: 46 explains that the spirit gives light to anyone that listens or hearkens to its voice. Paul Harvey, one of the reporters who was interviewing students at the BYU Jerusalem Center said this about the students, “Each young face mirrored a sort of…sublime assurance.” What a great description of that shine that the Lord asks us to show.
Now that I understand what that Shine is. How do I do it! How do I and all of us, SHINE!? 3 Nephi helped me better understand how I go about shining. It says;
“ And it came to pass that Jesus blessed them as they did pray unto him; and his countenance did smile upon them, and the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance and also the garments of Jesus…”
So to put in simple terms for me to understand, in order to receive that beautiful, warm countenance, I need to make my Savior, Jesus Christ, SMILE! How great is that! I am pretty good at making people smile, so what actions do I we need to do to make Him smile? I think immediately of those simple, yet meaningful primary answers like: Praying to him, keeping his commandments, loving him, following his prophets, reading and gaining a testimony in the gospel, having a conviction and hope, knowing that Christ is my Savior and redeemer, that there is eternal life. And most importantly actively looking and seeking for his light, that it may shine through me for all to see. Phillipians 2:15 explains how we shine to the world. It says,
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons (and daughters) of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”
Brothers and sisters, I think that we would all agree that this verse definitely applies to our world and society today. The light that emanates through us from the savior shows others the love, hope and comfort he offers to us. We are like the stones that lit the vessels for The Brother of Jared and the Jaredites as they crossed the sea. This verse is found in Ether 3:4. It says
“…Touch these stones, OLord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in the darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.”
Be like these stones. Let the Lord touch you and prepare you to SHINE in the darkness. This SHINE or Light of Christ shown through us is divine. It is the Power of the Lord manifesting itself in us. Christ, speaking in D&C 6:21, says this about his light.
“I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.”
This was one of the more powerful verses to me, because that great powerful light, that Christ IS, Literally shines through me! D&C 50:24 describes what I mean perfectly!
“That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, recieveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”
That shine grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day, meaning we will have reached our potential to be like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, described in D&C 88:107.
“And then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him.”
Isn’t that amazing that we are so blessed to have even the smallest amount of that light today!? That light, is Christ.
Having the Lord’s light creates a responsibility to be an example to all around us. That is what is meant by the word, “standard” in D&C 115:5; “A standard for the nations.” We need to be like Moroni in Alma chapter 46 when he so fervently raises his Title of Liberty! Brothers and sisters, have a cause and let be known. Let people see in our actions what we stand for, so that our actions can clearly state our own personal title of liberty. Shine! Be noticed for your uniqueness in the gospel. As a woman the examples of Emma Smith and Esther immediately come to mind. It is amazing to realize I have the same light available to me that inspired those women to their great heights. Think of the leaders in the church! Whether it be a Sunday school teacher or our beautiful prophet! I have been so privileged to have been raised around so many valiant members of the church that radiate that light of Savior! I know we can all think of instances in which the light of the Lord has shone out at us from the face of another.
Brothers and Sisters I want to close by encouraging you to be confident in this light that we are so blessed to shine. Don’t let discouraging thoughts dim the light that it is in your heritage to radiate. Sisters we have so much to shine for! We are daughters of a DIVINE CREATER, meaning that we have divine potential. In the May 2000 Pres. Faust gave a talk titled, Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor. I will briefly quote from it as he can explain the divine role of true womanhood with greater force than I ever could.
I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents and how all of you can achieve the “highest place of honor” in the Church and in the world. One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it. Femininity is part of your inner beauty.
How amazing that by simply living up to the standards of compassion and brightness innate to us, we are embracing our divine potential and reflecting the light of Christ. What else can I say? Sister’s we were born to shine!
Brothers, you have a great reason to shine! You are blessed with the Holy Priesthood! Merrill Bateman from the Q of the 70 said,
“The priesthood is the power and authority of God delegated to man.”
To those young men here, not only do you get the Priesthood, you will also be called on Mission! You have to shine as a missionary!! You will be able to PROCLAIM the gospel and be that light that people need to come to the Savior. Isaiah 61:1 is speaking Messianically, however, I think it applies to our missionaries as they teach with the light of Christ. It says,
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
Lastly I would like to leave a word with the patriarchs of our homes. You brothers are the revelators in our homes, you provide guidance to our families, and provide a strong example, to your wives and children, as to how we may return home to our Heavenly Father! Brothers bear these things in mind and Shine!
Brothers and Sisters please keep in mind the amazing capacities that we are able to have through the gospel. Through living in a way that pleases the Lord we may be able to shine and become Gods ourselves.