Be a Lower Light

Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works 

and glorify your Father which is heaven.

  ~ Matthew 5:16 ~

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Last year I was called to be a ward missionary for my church, which has blessed my life immensely! My calling is to help bring others to the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to help people understand His divine mission and how His atonement can change and bless their lives.  During this past year, my testimony of Him and His divine calling has grown more than ever. I have seen many people come to know Him and have seen their lives not just change, but transform. My life was forever changed in September of 1981 when I gained a burning knowledge that He was/is my Savior. I became a new person and a committed disciple of His, and though I fall very short on a regular basis, I just keep trying. My blog is dedicated to discussing His work, His mission, and feeding His sheep. (John 21:15-17) One of the greatest events of my life was when He changed my heart and my life. There is no greater influence on mankind and nothing that will impact change in this world as Jesus Christ and His teachings. I know He is the Savior of the world and that following Him and trying to live as He did can transform our lives. 

President Ezra Taft Bensen, former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, put it best when he said:

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums.The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature." 

("Born of God," General Conference October1985) Click on the link below to read it in its entirety.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/10/born-of-god?lang=eng

Now to explain the name of my blog - Lower Lights Be Burning

Today in church, our teacher talked about the importance of the upper and lower lights in a lighthouse, and that both are necessary to be seen in order for ships to make it safely into harbor. Christ is the constant light in our lives that never goes out. He will always be there and shine to guide our way. We can help and assist others by being another beacon or "lower light" in helping people come to Him. She retold a story given by Elder Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Given at October 2012 General Conference. Here's the link to the talk in its entirety):

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-atonement?lang=eng 

"My message is directed to those among us who are suffering, burdened down with guilt and weakness and failure, sorrow, and despair.  

In 1971, I was assigned to stake conferences in Western Samoa, including the organization of a new stake on Upolu island. After interviews we chartered a small plane to Savai‘i island to hold a stake conference there. The plane landed on a grassy field at Faala and was to return the next afternoon to take us back to Upolu island.

The day we were to return from Savai‘i, it was raining. Knowing the plane could not land on the wet field, we drove to the west end of the island, where there was a runway of sorts atop a coral break. We waited until dark, but no plane arrived. Finally, we learned by radio that there was a storm, and the plane could not take off. We radioed back that we would come by boat. Someone was to meet us at Mulifanua.

Port of Savai'i

 As we pulled out of port on Savai‘i, the captain of the 40-foot (12 m) boat asked the mission president if he had a flashlight. Fortunately, he did and made a present of it to the captain. We made the 13-mile (21 km) crossing to Upolu island on very rough seas. None of us realized that a ferocious tropical storm had hit the island, and we were heading straight into it.

We arrived in the harbor at Mulifanua. There was one narrow passage we were to go through along the reef. A light on the hill above the beach and a second lower light marked the narrow passage. When a boat was maneuvered so that the two lights were one above the other, the boat would be lined up properly to pass through the dangerous rocks that lined the passage.

But that night there was only one light. Two elders were waiting on the landing to meet us, but the crossing took much longer than usual. After watching for hours for signs of our boat, the elders tired and fell asleep, neglecting to turn on the second light, the lower light. As a result, the passage through the reef was not clear.

The captain maneuvered the boat as best he could toward the one upper light on shore while a crewman held the borrowed flashlight over the bow, searching for rocks ahead. We could hear the breakers crashing over the reef. When we were close enough to see them with the flashlight, the captain frantically shouted reverse and backed away to try again to locate the passage.

After many attempts, he knew it would be impossible to find the passage. All we could do was try to reach the harbor at Apia 40 miles (64 km) away. We were helpless against the ferocious power of the elements. I do not remember ever being where it was so dark.

We made no progress for the first hour, even though the engine was at full throttle. The boat would struggle up a mountainous wave and then pause in exhaustion at the top of the crest with the propellers out of the water. The vibration of the propellers would shake the boat almost to pieces before it slid down the other side.

We were lying spread-eagled on the cover of the cargo hold, holding on with our hands on one side and with our toes locked on the other to keep from being washed overboard. Brother Mark Littleford lost hold and was thrown against the low iron rail. His head was cut, but the rail kept him from being washed away.

Eventually, we moved ahead and near daylight finally pulled into the harbor at Apia. Boats were lashed to one another for safety. They were several deep at the pier. We crawled across them, trying not to disturb those sleeping on deck. We made our way to Pesega, dried our clothing, and headed for Vailuutai to organize the new stake.

I do not know who had been waiting for us at the beach at Mulifanua. I refused to let them tell me. But it is true that without that lower light, we all might have been lost."

 Mulifanua Beach, Samoa

Elder Packer quotes a hymn called "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" and talks about how “Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world. As we fix our gaze on His teachings, we will be guided to the harbor of spiritual safety."  

 Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From his lighthouse evermore,

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

Dark the night of sin has settled;

Loud the angry billows roar.

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

 Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

 

I love this acapella group's version of this song

 

One of my favorite lines is "Trim your feeble lamp, my brother."  No one is perfect, and I am FAR from it (just ask my family), but I hope that my efforts, no matter how small, and my light, no matter how feeble, will testify of Him. As I go through my life, I am committed to be a "lower light" to help those who are searching to find peace and happiness through Jesus Christ.

He is the Light of the World