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Letting the Light of the Son Shine through Us
As we seek to receive and share Christ’s light, we can find joy more abundantly in our lives.
On an early Monday morning, a group of willing volunteers gathered to help clean the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. Assignments were given, and as several volunteers and I followed our assigned supervisor, we quickly realized she was leading us to the celestial room.
When we entered the room, we immediately noticed that the huge, tiered chandelier which normally hung high above our heads had been lowered near the floor. Our responsibility was to clean it. This was no small task, since the chandelier consisted of thousands of individual crystals! Each person was given white gloves, and we were shown how to remove the dust by carefully rubbing every crystal one by one between our gloved fingers. The delicate process was very labor intensive, but we enthusiastically went to work.
Several hours later, the newly cleaned chandelier sparkled radiantly! After admiring its beauty, we began cleaning the smaller chandeliers in the celestial room.
Suddenly something astonishing happened! The morning sun rose over the eastern mountaintop, and its bright rays shone directly through the large round window in the celestial room at the perfect angle to illuminate the magnificent chandelier. Each shiny crystal caught the sunlight, and innumerable prisms of light spontaneously scattered everywhere! Brilliant rainbows streamed across the floor, ceiling, furniture, walls, and the people, and some beams even danced through the air! We were catching rainbows in our hands! It was spectacular!
I have often pondered on that unforgettable moment and have come to understand more clearly that the light makes all the difference! Like the crystals, when we receive the light of the Son and reflect it outward, His light is magnified, and the joyful effects are astonishing!
During His mortal ministry and again following His Resurrection, the Savior declared that He is the Light of the World (see John 8:12; 3 Nephi 15:9; 3 Nephi 18:24). He invited His disciples to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16; see also 3 Nephi 12:16).
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we each might ask ourselves, “How can I more intentionally let the light of the Son shine through me?”
We might consider beginning to answer this question by becoming more gratefully aware of the abundant ways Jesus Christ has shared His light with us. Look around! His light is everywhere! We see it in the beauty of a sparkling raindrop and the miracle of a golden sunrise. We feel it in times of hardship when we recognize His merciful hand that enables us to bear our burdens and rise above the darkness of pain or fear. We embrace it as we realize that every breath we take and every day on earth is an opportunity to become more like Him:
“The light and the life of the world, a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not;
“Who so loved the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would believe might become the sons of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 34:2–3).
When we “live in thanksgiving daily” (Alma 34:38) for the light we have received, our desire to share His light with others will increase.
As our desire to receive and share light grows, we can ask Heavenly Father to help us act in small and meaningful ways to let the light of His Son shine through us. Perhaps the Spirit may prompt us to offer a genuine smile to brighten someone’s day, pray for a stranger in need, be kind in our thoughts about a neighbor, or listen intently to a child. As we heed the promptings sent especially for us, more personal revelation will come. We might be inspired to choose to be cheerful; send a message to uplift a friend; tell a family member, “I love you”; truly forgive; or ask forgiveness for an unthoughtful act. In whatever unique ways we are led to reflect the light of the Son, our acts of kindness and love will bring great joy to us and others—and with the Lord’s help, the combined effects will be astonishing!
I’ve come to understand more clearly that the light makes all the difference. I’ve realized more fully this profound truth: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:24).
With humble gratitude, I gratefully offer thanks unto the Father for His Beloved Son and for allowing us to help Him light the world!