"Christ Is The Light Of The World"--prayer meeting remarks

My notes from my message in prayer meeting on August 18th:

For my message today, I am focusing on two of the verses from the mission scripture of the month: 

D&C 84:45-46

45 For the ^aword of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is ^blight, and whatsoever is light is ^cSpirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

46 And the ^aSpirit giveth ^blight to ^cevery man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.

This connection between Christ and light is found throughout our scriptures.  In fact, “Light of the World” is one of the names or titles used to speak of our Savior.  In the topical guide under :  “Jesus the Christ; Light of the World” here is a sample of some of those other scriptures:  (check in your scriptures—there are many)

Sister Randall often speaks about the power and importance of light to overcome darkness and Christ as the source and power of that light in the “Go Forth Meetings.”  I tried to teach the basics of that concept to a Primary class of 9-year-olds a few years ago.  After teaching the principle that Christ is the light of the world, I handed each of my student a little tea light just like this.  This was mine from that lesson. In our Primary room, I had them each practicing turning their lights on and off.  Then—with the permission of the Primary presidency and their parents—we went on a field trip to the building member janitor closet which I had rearranged to make sure that we could all fit in there.  Once we were ready and all of the students had given their permission, we turned off the light and stood in a total darkness for about a minute.  Then I turned on my little tea light...and as light always does—it glowed in the darkness.  Then in turn, each of the students turned on their lights until each of their faces were reflecting the glow from their lights and those near by them. A simple object lesson but as we returned to the classroom and talked about the experience—you could tell they got it---at least for the moment—light overcomes darkness—Christ is the light of the world.  Through Him, we can receive light and overcome darkness.

This light is one of the signs of true followers of Christ.  It is the result of obedience to His commandments and is especially strong in covenant keeping member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I see it in your faces and in your lives as I observe and interact with you.  It is not your name tags but your lives which shine with this light.

I had an experience which illustrates this truth.  Years ago when we lived in Plano, Texas, I had been “roped in” to coach my daughter’s community 4^th grade basketball team.  We were very new to the area and did not know any of the girls or their families who had been assigned to our new team.  In a busy gym on the first day of practices, we were trying to gather our team in a corner to meet each other and review expectations, etc.  In the beginning chaos, I happened to glance up and saw a man and his young daughter entering the gym from a far door.  As his daughter appeared the right age, I waved them over.  As I did, I was struck by the light that surrounded them—even at that distance in the idle of that busy gym.  I am not going to lie—my first thought was “Shoot—I am seeing this because the spirit is telling me that they are ready for the gospel and I need to introduce them to the gospel.  How can I do that in the middle of this busy time for my family and coaching basketball?”  Not the best missionary attitude—But as it turned out—they were already members of the Church.  They had recently bought a home in Plano and had signed their daughter up for basketball to help her in the transition.  And actually a month later, they moved into their new home and into our own ward!

That was a powerful reminder to me.  I wanted and still want to have that same light with me.  I want to live my covenants in a way that identifies me as a follower of Christ whether I am at Church, at home, in my neighborhood or even or a loud and busy gym.

In closing, I will read the complete scripture in John 8:12.  

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the ^alight of the world: he that followeth me shall not ^bwalk in ^cdarkness, but shall have the light of life."

I testify Christ is the light of the world and through Him darkness is overcome.