Light Vs. Dark

One of my favorite quotes from Harry Potter says “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” I thought of this quotes as it reflects us when we have the light of Christ in our lives we can repeal the darkness that comes from Satan’s temptations. Elder Robert D. Hales said, “As children, we learned how to keep darkness away by turning on a light…We understood the physical law that is also a spiritual law: light and darkness cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Light dispels darkness. When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. More importantly, darkness cannot conquer light unless the light is diminished or departs. When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs…We are engaged in a battle between the forces of light and darkness. If it were not for the Light of Jesus Christ and His gospel, we would be doomed to the destruction of darkness.” We are here to live the Lord’s plan of happiness for us but Satan wants to distract us from that. We can fight off the darkness of Satan’s power through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Only then can we truly find the peace and happiness the Lord has in store for us.

The light of Chrsit is very symbolic as after the Saviors death there was three days of darkness on the American continent, we read that the Nephites were unable to even light a candle to dispel the darkness.  It is interesting how this is a symbol of the world in which the Savior does not exist.  When he returned, he brought light back to the world and dispelled the darkness.This can happen to us when we turn aways from Christ we lose that light and will find ourselves in darkness. But the best part of the Atonement is that no matter what we can always seek and find that light again. 

Patience

Hebrews 10:36 teaches us that if we are patience we can have the assurance that Heavenly Father will keep His promises to us. As I have gone through some major trials I find myself getting impatient as I want to see the trials come to an end but having patience is a big part of enduring to the end. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness.” It seems hard to comprehend that we can be happier if we learn to be patient especially during hardships. The trials that are quick and over within a short amount of time seem easier to handle as opposed to the drawn out trials that seems to have no end in sight. I have learned however that it is during the longer trials my patient is tested which allows for my faith testimony to grow. President Uchtdorf went on to say, “Patience-the ability to put our desires on hold for a time-is a precious and rare virtue. We want we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter. Nevertheless, without, patience, we cannot please God; we cannot become perfect. Indeed, patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace.” The Lord has always told us that He will keep His promises but it is on his time not ours. As I have learned to be more patient in recent trials I have found more things to be grateful for which has brought me the peace and comfort President Uchtdorf mentioned.  I will become a better disciple of Christ as I allow myself the patient needed to grow and reach my potential.