The Light We Leave On...

I was asked to give a talk at church a few weeks ago. It was a tender experience to study and prepare the talk. I know I had Heavenly help and for that I am so grateful. So in case you missed it... 

Of course reading it won't be the same as hearing me deliver it, but it does have some inspiring quotes and personal stories.

The Light We Leave On

Good morning, Brothers and Sisters,
(Brief introduction)

Advice from my son (Christopher) – share a few “P’s” and a “Q” or a few “Q’s” and a “P”

I was asked to share a message from Doctrine & Covenants 88, also known as the "Olive Leaf."

Section 88 is an inspiring revelation on the Light of Christ. It’s a guidebook for understanding God’s power. It’s a revelation that can be read over and over, and each time something more can be learned. It’s an introduction to the School of the Prophets, which was the precursor to the temple. This section is a glorious promise of light, power, and joy after the depressing and frightening section on war just received. It contains two revelations that were received over multiple days. It instructs the Kirtland saints to form a School of the Prophets, and learn of God together.

This section extensively explores the Light of Christ, emphasizing its role as the source of all truth, life, and the governing principle of the universe. The word "light" appears 17 times in this section. And I might add in total the word “light “ appears 535 times in the scriptures.

As a child, I was afraid of the dark. I lived on ranch with no streetlights, no glow from nearby buildings—no light pollution at all. When night fell, it fell completely. It was the kind of darkness where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

When the lights were turned off inside the house, my imagination would take over, and every creak or shadow became something to fear. Of course, pulling the covers over my head helped a little! Even the glow from a small nightlight would calm my fears.

How I loved to look out the window and a see a brilliant starlit sky. Millions of them placed there by Heavenly Father. There are a very few places you can go these days to see that kind of sky.

Sometimes when our parents went away for the evening we would turn on every light in the house! There was one thing that could always get my Dad worked up (and he was so patient)—coming home at night and finding that all the lights in the house were left on. (Is that still a thing, Dads?)

My siblings and I would hear him drive up and scramble to flip the switches before he got inside the house. With seven children to provide for, saving a few pennies on the power bill was always on his mind. I have come to realize that I may never fully outgrow my fear of the dark…

As adults we face different kinds of darkness:
-- uncertainty
-- loss and grief
-- loneliness
-- sin
-- financial insecurity
-- or simply the unknown

But Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

As I mentioned earlier, Section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants is filled with many references about light.

In verses 6-13, the Lord teaches about the Light of Christ.

Verse 11.. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;

I love this verse because it reminds me that Heavenly Father is not distant. We are always surrounded by reminders of the Light of Christ.

His light is all around us—in the beauty of the earth, sunlight breaking through the clouds, even the glow of a campfire, in quiet thoughts, and in the whisperings of the Spirit.

Elder Hales taught: When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart… When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs. (“Out of Darkness into his Marvelous Light,” Ensign, May 2002)

When my sons were young I taught them a song written by Janice Kapp Perry called “My Own Little Lamp.” I have a recording of my son Mark singing that song that I cherish.

“I need to have my own testimony to be sure that the gospel is true
It’s a blessing to have parents who are certain of the of the truth
But I need to know it too
I need to have my own testimony to be able to stand for the right
I know there may come a time when I will have to walk alone and I can’t live on borrowed light
I must ask the Lord
I must make a choice to listen to His gentle voice
And then I will know that these things are right
And my own little lamp will be filled with light”

Elder Heber C. Kimball shared this counsel in 1868 and it has been repeated by modern day prophets:

The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. [Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967), pp. 446, 449, 450]

I certainly agree that we cannot live on borrowed light alone. Like my young sons, we may have relied on borrowed light. And throughout my life I know I have occasionally still needed that borrowed light. I also know that borrowed light can expire.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-14 says;
To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.”

The spiritual gift “to believe on their words” can be like borrowing a flame to light a spiritual fire, to ignite our own testimonies. There is no need to return the flame; no one comes asking for it. We just need to have oil in our own lamp and keep fueling the fire.

President Thomas S. Monson pointed out, “If you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself.” How can we keep that light of truth glowing within us? Sometimes I feel like a dim lightbulb. How do we grow brighter? (Thomas S. Monson, “For I Was Blind, but Now See,” Ensign, May 1999)

Just as the sun daily covers the earth and sustains life, we can daily brighten the light within us when we choose to follow Jesus Christ.

A drop of sunshine is added every time we seek God in prayer, study the scriptures, act on guidance and revelation from our living prophets, obey and keep the commandments, and attend the temple. His light is enhanced with forgiveness and every time we serve one another as the Savior did.

There is sunshine in your soul every time you share the gospel and bear your testimony.

It’s been many years since someone shared the gospel with me.

Doctrine & Covenants 88:46 has always had special meaning for me.
“And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.”

What a beautiful promise: “The Spirit giveth light to every man” (and woman)… how grateful I am for the Light of Christ, that spiritual influence that inspired and enlighten me, guiding me toward the truth.

I didn’t get there alone. Along the way there were people who were quietly and faithfully sharing the light of Christ. I’m so grateful for my sister, who introduced me to the gospel. I’m grateful for the missionaries who answered the call to serve for two years. For my friends Richard and Judy, they took me under their wing and never gave up on me. And for many other kind and caring members of the ward, including my future in-laws. I have had such a wonderful life since that day.

As Jesus Christ becomes the focus of our lives, what we desire, and how we desire it, is forever altered. Conversion changes everything! It changes our nature “that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” It changes how we spend our time, our resources; what we read, watch, listen to, and share.

We need to infuse the Light of Jesus Christ into every corner of our lives.

(Alma 9:16 – Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God,
which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, …)
Thou Art the Christ (Matthew 16:16) | Sister Wright | April 2025

With permission I want to share an experience my aunt and uncle had with feeling the light of Christ. They had a week off from work and thought they might drive somewhere and do some camping. A friend suggested they visit Utah, it would be a relatively short drive from California and there would be plenty of beautiful areas to camp. On the way to Salt Lake they stopped to get gas and my uncle saw a brochure about Temple Square. They stopped and walked around admiring the flowers, and the beauty of the temple. They felt something they hadn’t felt before. The missionaries saw them and answered a few questions. Then they decided to walk around the grounds one more time. The missionaries saw them again and suggested they walk around the for a third time! That experience touched them so deeply that they wanted to know more. The missionaries explained how they could contact missionaries in their hometown.

My aunt and uncle spent the week reading the Book of Mormon and being taught by the missionaries. They told them they wanted to be baptized. The missionaries were stunned but grateful, and just a week after my aunt and uncle returned home from Salt Lake City, they were baptized. It the shadow of the temple and around Temple Square the light of Christ was opening their hearts, helping them recognize truth, and it change their lives. My uncle has passed and Aunt Kay is 85 years old now. Her life has not always been easy but she has been a faithful member of the Church. She’s an inspiration to me and has shared her light with countless others. I talked to her last week and she ended our conversation with her testimony.

She expressed gratitude for the Gospel and said she would not have been able to endure her trials without it. Aunt Kay said her trials were “stepping stones” to miracles.

I would like to share a few thoughts I have had with the youth and Primary children too. When you walked into your school last week you might not have been carrying a flashlight or wearing a glowing shirt—but you can still shine. I work at a school and I know firsthand what a difference you can make by letting the light of Christ shine through you.

The Savior taught that we are the light of world—not because we are perfect, but because we carry His light in us. And school is one of the best places to let that shine. (Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14)

Share your light with a smile, something as simple as a kind face.
Speak Kindly. Words carry light or darkness. Let yours lift others.
Include the Lonely. The Savior cared about the “one.”
Be Honest. Be Brave. Choosing what’s right even when it’s hard is a powerful light.
Pray for Guidance. Ask Heavenly Father each day, “Who needs MY light today?—and watch what happens.

Let your light so shine… (Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”)

You might be the only light someone sees that day. Don’t hide it. Choose to shine a little brighter.

I love this sweet Primary song:
“Shine On”
My light is but a little one,
My light of faith and prayer;
But lo! it glows like God’s great sun,
For it was lighted there.
I may not hide my little light;
The Lord has told me so.
’Tis given me to keep in sight,
That all may see it glow.
Shine on, shine on, shine on bright and clear;
Shine on, shine on now the day is here.
(Children’s Songbook, 144)

Shine on!

Doctrine & Covenants 88:13 says, “The light which is in all things... giveth life to all things”

In the words of Elder Holland:
“My declaration is that this is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need...There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the "light that is endless, that can never be darkened." It is the very Son of God Himself. In loving praise far beyond Romeo's reach, we say, "What light through yonder window breaks?" It is the return of hope, and Jesus is the Sun. To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve.” ("An High Priest of Good Things to Come," Ensign, Nov. 1999)

I still smile when I think of Dad and those lights we left on in my childhood home. I became more respectful and made sure I flipped off the switch when not in a room. But the light of Christ is always on. It doesn’t flicker. It doesn’t burn out. It’s the Light we want to leave on. It’s a constant gift—meant to guide us, warm us, and help us see.

His light will lead us safely home. I’m grateful for my Savior. He is our light… His light will never dim. His love for us is eternal.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Eileen Federer Williams
August 17, 2025