Week 25- The Entanglement of Light and Dark
Scriptures:
2 Ne 2
1 Ne 8
Alma 14
3 Ne 7
Moses 1
JSH 1: 15-17
General Conference Address:
“Out of Darkness and into His Marvelous Light.” Elder Robert D Hales CR 4/2002
Thought:
Whenever the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ enters someone’s life, the darkness will follow and will try to smother the light. Conversely, when darkness enters a life, the light will always be close and available for those who choose to seek it. The pattern of the day and night, or the seasons, teaches us this. So do the scriptures. Satan tries and tries to disrupt moments of illumination with doubt, temptation, and darkness. Expect it. Look for it. Prepare for it. Fight it. At some point, it will become almost funny to see how Satan will try to disrupt light and truth. As soon as you start sharing light, especially about the ongoing restoration, you’ll notice him trying to distract and interrupt. A phone will ring, an Amber alert will sound, an unexpected visitor will knock, etc. Once someone has committed to baptism or returning to church or going through the temple, the onslaught will be unleashed. There can be no faith until it is tried, and in the spirit of opposition in all things, it will be ever present. So prepare for it. Prepare those you’re teaching for it. Find ways to counter it. Share the light and chase away darkness!
Misc:
“Cold” is simply the absence of heat. Heat is created by vibrating molecules. Once the molecules stop vibrating, you reach absolute zero. Does it follow that darkness is simply the absence of light? Can you measure darkness, or do you have to measure the absence of light?
Invitation:
Reflect back on 3-5 times in the last month or so when you’ve seen darkness try to drown out light. What pattern do you notice? What discoveries did you make? Now write down 2-4 things you can do to better prepare for the ensuing darkness.