Lately I've been thinking a lot about a section in the Doctrine and Covenants (93) that talks a lot about "light and truth."Verse 28: He that keepeth [God's] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
Here's how I diagram that out:
29: Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be . . .
33: For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;
34: And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy. . .
36: The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth . . .
39: And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.
40: But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.
- Intelligence=what we were made up of from the beginning=the ideal thing for us to be composed of=light and truth.
- The more we obey God's commandments, the more light and truth we gain.
- The more we seek light and truth ("receive"/obey/learn about), the more we become composed of light and truth---made up of it---like God is.
- The higher the composition of light and truth in us, the closer we get to "a fullness of joy"--- because we're supposed to be, meant to be ("destined" to be? too dramatic?), beings of light and truth. Again, like God.
- Then in that last verse, related to how God would like us to be "brought up," the phrase "IN light and truth."
I'm kind of taken with that image right now. My kids walking around in this cocoon of light that can lessen the darkness around them. And as it surrounds them, it begins to soak into them---until they are actually glowing with the light themselves. It reminds me of a poem* I love that ends "He walked, himself at last, a man among men,/With such radiance that everyone looked up and wondered."
I'm not sure of all the ways to create this kind of all-encompassing climate of light and truth for our family, how to make it so pervasive that we begin to radiate it ourselves. In the usual ways, I imagine: music, kindness, learning, scriptures, prayer. But it sounds lovely, and I'd welcome any further suggestions.
* "A Journey," by Edward Field
I'll probably just seem like an idiot expressing this, but whenever I'm doing "better" at keeping the commandments and sincerelydoing what I feel I'm being led by the Spirit to do, I feel light-er. Almost that I'm somehow made of finer stuffs. That on a molecular level I've become more light and truth. Maybe it's just that I feel better/happier because I'm able to accept and feel God's love for me.
ReplyDeletediopi.
diopi was my word verification. I think I'll add my word verification to whatever comment I make from now on.
ReplyDeletecusigh.
nifyink!!!
ReplyDeleteHave you read Allen Fletcher's book on light? It's called "A Scriptural Discussion on (or of) Light." I think you'd love it, especially thinking about all the things you are...Al is a retired Canadian CES guy that is very smart. Last night's rain and hail...
ReplyDeleteI loved your light pictures. So fitting.
Beth, you bring me joy. Let's hang out.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn, I think you're actually doing a great job surrounding your children with light. I say this because of how much I and my kids love hanging out with you guys. You do radiate love and kindness and light.
Also, don't you still nap in sunshine? It's one of life's simple pleasures.
I love this thought, the description of the cocoon is so cool. And comforting too, to think of sending our kids out to deal with the worth swathed in light and truth. And then at some point, so imbued with it that they will not just deflect stuff, but improve and lighten what's around them. Oh, that's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with Beth. When I'm doing right I do feel lighter. Really. I don't understand it.
What a lovely poem you referenced. Thanks for that, and thanks for this post.
ReplyDeleteI also like a related verse that comes a few sections earlier (88:40) that talks about the way that "light cleaveth unto light" and intelligence to intelligence, etc. It make me want to be all those things so that I can have all those things (and all those people) close around me.