“Our Promise to Be a Light,” For the Strength of Youth, Jan. 2023.
Come, Follow Me
Our Promise to Be a Light
Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. Let’s do all we can to share His light.
Crowds of people came from all over to see the man in the wilderness who wore clothes made of camel’s hair and ate locusts and honey. They were interested to hear his teachings about the Savior, repentance, and baptism. After hearing him, many people wanted to be baptized. He baptized those who had repented. This man’s name was John the Baptist.
One day, as John baptized people in the Jordan River, Jesus Christ came and asked to be baptized. John was surprised. He knew that Jesus always obeyed God’s commandments and did not need to repent. In fact, he thought that Jesus should baptize him (see Matthew 3:14)! Jesus explained that God had commanded all people to be baptized, so He too needed to be baptized to set an example. John agreed and baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.
The baptism of Jesus teaches us that we, too, must be baptized. When you were baptized, you made a covenant and showed your willingness to follow the Savior’s example, not just at your baptism but always.
Promises and Opportunities
At baptism, you make a covenant with God and promise to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 5:8–10). You also promise to keep His commandments, stand as a witness of God “at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9), and serve Him (see Mosiah 18:8–10; Doctrine and Covenants 20:37).
Each week at church, you renew this covenant when you take the sacrament (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79). You then “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men” (2 Nephi 31:20).
Along the way, you’ll have many opportunities to follow the Savior’s example and to show your love for Him and for those around you. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said: “We have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give.”1
A Light to Those in Need
Our perfect example, the Savior always loved and served others and “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
In difficult times, Jesus Christ is the Light that “shineth in darkness” (John 1:5). He has also taught us to be a light. He said, “Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do” (3 Nephi 18:24).
As part of your baptismal covenant, you promise to be “willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” and “to mourn with those that mourn … and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8–9).
When you come across someone who’s feeling sad or discouraged, it may be obvious how to help. There are other times, however, when you won’t know what to say or do. In those moments, you can still open your heart. You can listen to them and support them.
As you love and serve others, the Savior’s light grows brighter within you and will illuminate the way before you. It will also attract others who are seeking the Savior’s light. By pressing forward and keeping the promises you made at baptism, you will find many ways that you can make this world better and brighter.