Why is light so important? Some answers are obvious. We use light to see the things around us. Without light we would run into obstacles or find ourselves groping in the darkness. In simple ways, it can be used to signal our direction (think of car flashers or lighted highway signs at night). It can be used to point the way (think of your flashlight). Light from the sun provides the energy for photosynthesis, and as such, is a basis for our food chains. Without it, we would soon starve and then freeze to death. Visible light is just a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and so if we count the entire spectrum as “light”, without “light” there would be no communications (radio waves and microwaves), medical diagnostics would be limited (no CAT scans or X-rays), and all the other tools (microwave oven, Wi-Fi, and so forth) that count on light and its lower and higher frequency siblings would not exist. Our life is permeated with light of one form or another.
In a real way, the coarse light that is all around us provides us knowledge and understanding of our surroundings. It opens our eyes to obstacles and dangers. It also allows us to see the beauty and wonders of the world in which we live. It provides us the ability to accomplish tasks by showing us the way or by doing the work itself. It provides a form of truth and the power of choice and action associated with it.
If the physical light that the sun, stars, and we produce can do these many needed things and provide so many benefits, think of the even greater light of the Spirit and how necessary it is for our eternal existence.
6 He [Jesus Christ] that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. (D&C 88:6-13, emphasis added)
Is it no wonder that the Lord wants us to follow in His light?
22 The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! (3 Nephi 13:22,23)
67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. (D&C 88:67)
The Lord has said that light and truth and intelligence are all intertwined and in some ways are equivalent:
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. …
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. (D&C 93:24,28,29,36)
A conclusion I draw from this (right or wrong) is that the amount of light [truth] that is in us is the factor which determines how much we understand [see] the people, circumstances, and things around and about us. It is like having, or more correctly, being, a bigger and bigger flashlight.
As we grow in Spiritual light and knowledge, we better recognize what is the truth in the world and worldly situations around us. We can better differentiate between truth and falsehood. The greater the light that we gather into and around ourselves, the more light we can cast onto the circumstances that come our way.
We are not deceived by the sophistries of men. We can know that restriction of free agency and self-reliance are wrong, no matter how convincing or reasonable the counter arguments of planned control may sound. We can know that abortion, except under the most stringent of conditions as set forth by the Lord, is wrong and not a simple freedom of choice. We can read through the same old political lines of class warfare or “you’re a victim and we can help” that permeates societies. We can see through the cries of doom from science to view the signs of the times instead of the supposed evils that civilization and progress make.
At the same time, we recognize that not everything is perfect. But with the light and knowledge of the gospel, we know how to set things straight. We know that it is through changing and converting hearts and not through earthly laws that individuals, families, and societies change for the better.
In addition, our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will not falter but will also continue to increase. “Light and truth forsake that evil one.” (D&C 93:37) and “truth embraceth truth” and “light cleaveth unto light” (D&C 88:40).
And how do we gather more light? By our being willing and able to allow the Spirit to fill our souls. Obedience to light begets more light.
We only see a small portion of the spectrum. Think of all we would know if we could see in all the wavelengths. The following picture is of the Andromeda galaxy in visible wavelength light (what we can see):
And these pictures are of that same galaxy in multitudes of other wavelengths that we cannot see but which have been colored such that we can see them. You can see that as “more” and “varied” light is brought into the picture, greater detail (knowledge) is revealed.
Likewise, spiritually, we almost always see only a small portion of what the Spirit can provide. It’s a continual process to gather more light and act upon it. And then, one day, we will receive a fullness of that light.
24 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. (D&C 50:24)
48 …that when he [Christ] shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is;… (Moroni
I've been told that this last post was somewhat of a "rambling" entry. Admittedly, it does kind of go on. The main point was that light leads to truth. The more light we have within ourselves, the better we see what is the truth around us, and the less we are deceived.
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