Eternal Light: Creator/Lord

Creator of the world, with concern and compassion for his people living on it. Jesus Christ is the eternal light.

Eternal Light at Creation

We know well the Word of creation:

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . All things were made by him . . . In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not. (John 1: 1-5)

Various Bible translations have positioned darkness differently, including “has not overcome it” (several), “can never extinguish it,” “is unreceptive to it,” “did not perceive it,” “has not mastered it,” “has not overpowered it”— and just about anything darkness could try to do. I tell my students, “In the morn of creation, it was in the darkness and chaos of space where the piercing voice of God commanded, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).

The Word (Christ) created the earth and everything in it with the will and direction of His Father. As revealed in the Doctrine and Covenants (93:9-10),“The worlds were made by him . . . all things were made by him, and through him, and of him.”

Living Light on Earth

Christ’s mission on earth was a time of great light. His birth star brought intense light to the world, guiding shepherds from nearby and Magi from a distant land. His light extended to the Americas, where His birth was revealed by a day, a night, and a day of uninterrupted light.

Christ’s apostles lived in His light. In human efforts and struggles, His light would have taught, directed, comforted, and loved them in ways we cannot imagine and ways they probably could not have recognized.

The eternal light of healing was constantly with Him. People without sight received light with all of the wonders and blessings light revealed. So many received the light of hope: those with deafness, leprosy, crippling conditions, troubling spirits; all sorts of sicknesses, injuries, and other misfortunes. Light entered the lives and hearts of those who were weak, helpless, and/or alone; those with anxieties, fears, and sorrows.

Christ brought life, light, and love to the sorrowing and helpless widow of Nain, whose only son (and only help or support) had died. His light touched a woman marked for stoning for adultery, making her His devout follower for life. The light of His teaching transformed everyone who would come, listen, and believe. He brought the hopeful eternal light of repentance and forgiveness to those who would accept it.

Gifts of Light

Light is gifted from the beginning of life. Jeffrey R. Holland explained,

The Light of Christ [is] planted in your soul, that “light which is in all things . . . giveth life to all things,” and is the influence for good in the hearts of all people who have ever lived or ever will live. That light was given to protect you and teach you.

Henry B. Eyring was more specific; this inborn light allows children to sense good and evil as they experience both.

But throughout our lives we must “stay connected to our source of light—Jesus Christ  . . . without a strong connection to Him, we begin to spiritually die,” as Sharon Eubank has warned.

 She reassured us, “Stay connected to our source of light—Jesus Christ . . . the source of our power . . . Without a strong connection to Him, we begin to spiritually die.” She continued, “The light clarifies the human spirit.” Christ’s eternal light is everywhere.

We must keep that connection, develop it, and maintain it. Book of Mormon accounts show how this can happen. President Nelson helps us understand, “The increasing darkness that accompanies tribulation makes the light of Jesus Christ shine ever brighter.”

A People in Darkness

Living in a darkness of anger and violence, King Lamoni and his people received the light from Ammon. Being quickly bound and dragged before the king was not a pleasant greeting. But with the Savior’s light, he knew to volunteer as a servant to the king, whose “loyal” subjects were scattering and stealing the royal flocks. Our good-evil dichotomy makes us enjoy the account of how Ammon killed some thieves and cut off the arms of others, his fellow servants carried the pile of arms back to the king, and the shocked and frightened king was enlightened to listen.

Ammon was enlightened to know the king’s thoughts, including his guilt and ignorance. He and his people were not accustomed to light, but they received it. The king and all his household were overcome with it and fell unconscious. Ammon understood,

The dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from [Lamoni’s] mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God . . .  a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul.

The queen, the servants, and some of the gathered sensation-seekers followed him into the light and into baptism. Lamoni’s father, overlord king of seven kingdoms, was fully enlightened; the people followed (see Alma 17). Light filled their lives. They never fell away.

Unbelieveable? Amy Wright suggested, “Think of a magnifying glass. Its sole purpose is not simply to make things appear bigger. It can also gather and focus light to make it more powerful.” Ammon was a magnifying glass for seven kingdoms of Lamanites.

A Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained,

 The dawn of celestial light will penetrate the shadows of your trials, and you will begin to taste the unspeakable glories and wonders of the unseen, perfect, heavenly sphere. You will feel your spirit lifting away from the gravity of this world.

The Ultimate Light

The Savior’s visit to the American Continent followed massive wickedness and incredible destruction, culminating in infusions of light we cannot comprehend. Wickedness ruled and consumed. The earth brought forth “tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals.” And most of the people were consumed in horrific deaths. Three days and nights were suffocated in haunting, impenetrable darkness. No light could exist.

Light came with two voices:

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

followed by

 I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world . . .
 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world. (see 3 Nephi 8-11)

Christ baptized the righteous survivors “with fire and with the Holy Ghost,” telling them to build lighted cities on hills, place candles on candlesticks (12: 13-16), and focus their eyes for additional light (13: 22).

As He blessed their children, “Angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire . . . came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them” (17:24).

Adults had their turn. After praying with His disciples, “the light of his countenance did shine upon them, and behold they were as white as the countenance  . . . of Jesus . . . there could be nothing upon earth so white” (19:25). Praying at His request, “they were white, even as Jesus”  (19:30).

He explained, “Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up” (18:24).

 Through all the happenings and adventures of this earth and its people, blessings of Christ’s eternal light have been continual, loving, and reliable. As creator, He proclaimed, “Let there be light,” and there has been light. We have depended on it and hallowed his name for it—and we always will.