In Search of Light
A resent article in the Ensign authored by Elder Packard, Mary's seminary teacher, has focused my interest on better understanding the Light of Christ. For many years I have known that the Light of Christ, Faith, and Priesthood are the power by which God accomplishes His work and controls the Universe, but I have never understood how these powers are related. Furthermore, I have known, ever since I wrote Cut-to-the-Quick, that the Light of Christ is extremely important in providing each and every human being with a conscience which without error provides truth and light which manifests itself as guilt when one considers using agency to make a wrong choice.
Since reading Elder Packards article I have discussed this subject with two home teaching families and as part of family home evenings with Jim and Jane Davis, with my son Troy and his family and with seniors from our ward. In order to describe what I have learned from them and from a conversation with Dan Davis, I will pose a number of questions that need to be considered by readers of this document and then I will attempt to answer each of these questions.
1) How do the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ differ and what is the purpose of each?
2) How does God communicate and how does Satan communicate and what restrictions are placed upon Satan?
3) How are our "Intelligence" and the Light of Christ related?
4) What is the connection between the three sources of divine power Priesthood, Faith, and the Light of Christ?
5) What is necessary to reach the Celestial Kingdom?
Question 1): The Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ are different entities and have different missions. The Holy Ghost is a spirit son of our Father-in-Heaven and is a witness of Christ, a testifier of His Gospel and of good works, and a Comforter to the honest of heart. The Light of Christ, on the other hand, is an essence that fills all space, it is everywhere. The Light of Christ allows two way communication between God and man and allows Christ to exercise influence on all forms of matter throughout the Universe. This influence represents the power that is inherent in the Light of Christ. The Light of Christ provides discernment between truth and error and is available to all of God's children except Satan and his angles and those few mortals who have denied Christ after having a sure witness.
Question 2): God communicates to mortals and to all forms of matter through the Light of Christ. That communication is continuous and instantaneous. Mortality is a spirit housed in a body of flesh and bones. The flesh and bones are referred to as the natural man and this natural man is an enemy to God. In other words, the natural man is subject to Satan's influence. It is through the natural man that Satan communicates his deceptions. The spirit, on the other hand, is not directly subject to Satan's influence but instead communicates with Deity through the Light of Christ. The evil thoughts that occur are Satan's influence on the flesh aspect of the brain. The spirit aspect of the brain or intelligence, which has existed throughout eternity, communes with Deity through the Light of Christ and receives truth and light. This truth and light represents the conscience which when obeyed keeps the natural man out of trouble. Satan's deceptions, acting through the weakness of the mortal flesh, cloud the decision process and if enough wrong choices are made, seems to replace the light with darkness, allowing Satan near complete control. If the natural man listens to the spirit before exercising agency and chooses the right, then sanctification can take place. The alternative is bondage. It is important to know that Satan's influence is necessary for salvation of mankind, but that his influence is restricted to this earth.
Question 3): Man's "intelligence" is eternal and is the receiver/analyser/transmitter which allows communication with Deity through the Light of Christ. Clearly, the Holy Ghost is able to use this communication tool in order to accomplish His mission. When communication is received, it is not always clear which of these two forms of divine communication is operative since their influence can overlap. This is especially true for those having the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Question 4): The Light of Christ has influence over all forms of matter throughout the Universe. This influence represents the power that is inherent in the Light of Christ and this understanding provides the connection between Priesthood, Faith and the Light of Christ. God the Father has the Priesthood which He can use or which He can delegate to worthy individuals; who acting with God given Faith can cause the Light of Christ to carry out any divinely approved mission. A resent example, March 2005, will illustrate the use of these God given powers: Sheryl, a very good friend of Mary, told me about her mother's heart operation. This lady was given about 1 chance in 10 of surviving the operation but would surely die without it. She is her Ward's Relief Society president and asked her Bishop to give her a Priesthood blessing the night before the operation. In that blessing she was promised that she would survive the operation and would be able to assume normal activity. Sheryl was amazed. Her mother, on the other hand, said that she had Faith that the promise in the blessing would be fulfilled. The operation was performed and the Light of Christ directed the elements in her body and the hands of the surgeon and the operation was a success. Sheryl's mother is now active again in her calling as Relief Society president and Sheryl is happy but still amazed. Such are the powers of Heaven.
Question 5): Sensitivity and obedience to the Light of Christ is the pathway to charity and to the Celestial Kindgdom. Faith, Hope, and the Holy Ghost are necessary for the accomplishment of this lofty goal.