"Light cleaveth unto light"

Artwork by Katie Lee

I heard the panic as soon as I answered the phone. I jumped in my car and reached them a few minutes later. Still visibly shaking, they recounted their experience. Three mornings a week, these sisters met with a lady I will call Sally. Sally had heard the missionary lessons from at least eight sets of missionaries over the years, and these sisters were the most recent to teach her. They began by teaching her the lessons, but she asked if they could read the Book of Mormon together instead. She eventually asked if they could move their meetings from the church building to her home, so their meeting location changed without anyone else knowing.

Unbeknownst to these sisters, all kinds of questionable activity riddled Sally’s neighborhood. Following their meeting with Sally that morning, the police stopped these cute sisters, invited them to get out of their car, and asked to search their vehicle. In their innocence, they did not realize what was going on and asked the officers. Sally’s partner was a known drug dealer the police were watching. Over a few months, these sisters had established a consistent pattern of visiting this house three mornings each week at about the same time. The officers let the sisters go after a few minutes, but their detainment and search were enough to scare them.

With time to process, those cute sister missionaries began to recognize what Sally craved was light. Most of her world was dark and cold. The scriptures teach that “light cleaveth unto light” (D&C 88:40). The small light left in Sally yearned for the light radiating from those sweet sisters.

Light is one of the most essential things in all of nature. Light warms; light allows us to see. Light transports information and energy. Because of light, we can learn, grow, and progress. Remove light, and there is simply cold desolation. Without light, there is no life.

The word light is woven throughout D&C 88. From scripture, we learn physical light is symbolic of the spiritual Light of Christ (see John 8:12). But D&C 88 suggests there is an even greater connection.

“And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlightened your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings. Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is … even the power of God” (D&C 88:11-13).

Christ is the light, life, and power of all things. Only through the Light of Christ can we learn, grow, and progress. Remove Christ’s light, and we live in darkness, lacking guidance. Without the Light of Christ, there is no meaning to life.

I don’t know about you, but lately, I have felt as if “all things [are] in commotion” and “fear [is] upon all people” (D&C 88:91). I ask myself how I can find peace amid the chaos. I often find myself asking if I can feel His light? If not, then I know I need to make some adjustments to invite it in. His life-giving light is what brings peace and hope amid the mayhem.

President Nelson taught, “The increasing darkness that accompanies tribulation makes the light of Jesus Christ shine ever brighter“ (“Hear Him,” General Conference, April 2020). We need spiritual light if we are going to survive these difficult days. Can you feel the light in your life? If not, what can you do to invite it into your soul?