Ever grappled with a huge decision and wished for the Lord to guide you? This episode shares how the divine light can guide us in making better choices, distinguishing right from wrong.
We delve into the concept of making and striving to keep covenants with the Lord, emphasizing how crucial this is in order to qualify for God's light. You will also learn about the profound impact our covenantal relationship with the Lord has on our access to His light and how our choices can influence our ability to feel the Spirit.
So, join us as we illuminate the path of walking in God's light and unravel the truth of His continuous guidance.
Ever grappled with a huge decision and wished for the Lord to guide you? This episode shares how the divine light can guide us in making better choices, distinguishing right from wrong.
We delve into the concept of making and striving to keep covenants with the Lord, emphasizing how crucial this is in order to qualify for God's light. You will also learn about the profound impact our covenantal relationship with the Lord has on our access to His light and how our choices can influence our ability to feel the Spirit.
So, join us as we illuminate the path of walking in God's light and unravel the truth of His continuous guidance.
Jennie Moss :
Hello and welcome to the Latter-day Ladies podcast. I'm your host and your friend, Jennie Moss, and today we're going to dive into walking in God's light. Hello and welcome back to the FSY series that we're doing here on the podcast. I think it's incredible that this entire pamphlet basically points every single element of standards back to Jesus Christ and back to our identity and purpose as children of God. One of our purposes is to seek to walk in the Lord's light.
Jennie Moss :
Recently, I've been grappling with a decision. It's not a huge one, but something that feels important to me right now. I've been thinking and praying about it and I realized I needed to slow down my conversation with the Lord and listen and look for His light. I was so busy presenting my ideas and counseling with what I thought that I didn't take time to see His insights and His side. I felt very unsettled but realized I couldn't find peace until I understood the whole picture. I was told to keep going and to wait for light to illuminate the entire situation. As I was writing this podcast, I kept thinking about that desire to figure the entire situation out and not realizing that I needed to look for the Lord's light to illuminate what the entire situation truly entailed From my perspective, I was unable to see all of the sides. I needed God's light.
Jennie Moss :
This teaching at the beginning of the section was a fantastic reminder to me. You make better choices when you can see things clearly. That's why light is so important. Light makes it easier to see the right path. Heavenly Father has given you access to heavenly light, the gift of the Holy Ghost, to help you see clearly what is good and bad, right and wrong. Elder Theodore M Burton said this " God's light is also the power to understand and comprehend all things. In other words, all kinds of light are related to intelligence and truth. End quote.
Jennie Moss :
That last section, end quote from Elder Burton reminded me of a situation that I was in the other day with my son. He was frustrated about something and was telling me about it. We were laying together in his bed and I said a little prayer and asked Heavenly Father what I should say as a response. He was very upset and all of a sudden I felt a little light bulb, a flash of light, as Joseph Smith would say. I asked him a question that had absolutely nothing to do with what he was talking about. He looked at me and said Mom how did you know? I said I didn't. Heavenly Father told me. He said yeah, I think that's what I'm really upset about. We were able to discuss his situation and find together some ideas and solutions to be able to move forward with what he was truly worried about. I'm so thankful for the Lord's light because in that situation there is no way I could have gotten from point A to point B without him.
Jennie Moss :
I need God in my parenting. Thinking back on the decision that I was previously talking about, that I've been trying to decide on, I realized that I was presenting it to the Lord like it was an emergency. But I realized that it wasn't an emergency to God. He was working in a very systematic way to help me understand and illuminate what I truly needed to do. But I needed to be patient and wait and receive more clarity and understanding.
Jennie Moss :
Light doesn't always come all at once. Sometimes it's little by little, but when we patiently trust the Lord, it will come. So how do we qualify for the Lord's light to lead us on our path? We qualify through our covenantal relationship with him. The FSY manual instructs quote Each week, during the sacrament, you renew your covenants, you express your willingness to keep the commandments and the Lord blesses you with the opportunity to have the Holy Ghost as your constant companion.
Jennie Moss :
It is one of his greatest gifts to you. End quote. We become eligible recipients of the Lord's light and spirit when we make, and strive to keep, covenants with the Lord, those covenants that we've made at baptism and in his holy temple. There is light also in those around us, those who have not yet covenanted with the Lord. That light is called the Light of Christ. At baptism we become eligible to have that light become our constant companion. The gift of the Holy Ghost. Elder Hills said this quote by using the light of Christ to discern and choose what is right, we can be led to an even greater light. The gift of the Holy Ghost end quote. It's so incredible to me that the Lord has blessed every soul on this earth when they were born with the light of Christ within them. Their light of Christ can give them the ability to see and discern the spiritual differences and strength that you have because you have made covenants with God. As you strive to worthily keep those covenants, others will be able to see and discern the greater light that you have because you have been given and have cultivated the gift of the Holy Ghost within you, your light can help illuminate a path back to the Savior for those who are looking around us.
Jennie Moss :
The FSY pamphlet continues, quote Making good choices improves your ability to feel the Spirit. There are many good and wholesome things in this world. Just as your body is affected by what you eat and drink, your mind and spirit are profoundly affected by what you read, watch and listen. To end quote Is there anything in your life or mind that is eclipsing our ability to feel the Spirit and see the Lord's light? We can all be affected by the ways that we choose to spend our time, whether it be the shows or podcasts that we consume, the people that we choose to be around or even the consumption of music. In our house, we've created a rule that if I'm listening to sad music, which I love so much, and it starts to affect me negatively after one song, I have to change it to an amp-up song. We've learned from past experiences that there will be times where I am not in the right place mentally to be able to listen to sad music and for it to not affect me negatively. I have also had to learn this lesson when it comes to TV shows.
Jennie Moss :
A few years ago, when I had my design business, I often watched a show in the background to keep me company while I painted or drew or designed something on the computer. I remember watching a show that was very popular at the time and I started to feel dull and my ability to feel the Spirit was lessening as I watched. It wasn't completely gone, but I felt it lessen. It was really hard for me to make the decision to no longer watch the show. A lot of people were talking about it and the fear of missing out felt particularly acute at the time. I remember when I finally chose to stop watching, I felt power and clarity with the integrity of that individual choice. It was a very small decision in my life, but it made a big difference.
Jennie Moss :
When we sacrifice to keep the Lord's commandments, especially the individual instruction that he gives us, he always returns that effort with so many blessings. The pamphlet continues, quote Make time for the Lord every day, learn of Him, always remember Him. Pray to your heavenly Father, steady the Holy Scriptures and the words of living prophets. Seek that which uplifts, inspires and invites the Spirit. End quote.
Jennie Moss :
Elder Hales explained this concept like this quote there is only one way you must learn to generate light each day by believing on Jesus Christ and following His commandments. I had the opportunity to learn more about my lungs. I became very aware that we cannot store oxygen. We cannot save the air. We need to breathe, no matter how hard we try. Moment by moment, breath by breath, our lives are granted to us and are renewed. So it is with spiritual light. It must be renewed in us on a regular basis. We must generate it day by day, thought by thought and with daily righteous action if we are to keep the darkness of the adversary away.
Jennie Moss :
I love this concept of consistently renewing our understanding of the Lord, studying their scriptures, connecting with him, making that time for him. It reminds me of that talk that Elder Uchtdorf gave when he talked about how we needed a daily restoration. We need that restoring power. So many times I would get frustrated at the end of the day because I felt like I spent all of my physical, emotional and mental energy on the things that were being asked of me. I always wanted to have more capacity within me, but I would lay in my bed and get frustrated that I was completely spent. And then the Lord taught me that it was much like the children of Israel when they received manna from heaven. It was given to them each day and they had enough to sustain them, but they could not save it for the next day. My offering was literally to give my all and then to trust that the next day I could give my all once again, because I was being sustained by the power of God. I now appreciate that feeling. When I lay my head down to rest and I'm exhausted, I appreciate the fact that my body has sustained me, my spirit has been strengthened and also is so tired and my mind is ready for sleep.
Jennie Moss :
The FSY pamphlet continues quote use social media to uplift. Social media can be a powerful communication tool If you use it. Focus on light, faith and truth. Don't compare your life to what other people seem to be experiencing. Remember that your worth comes from being a child of heavenly parents, not from social media. End quote. We can use social media for the tool that it's intended to be. We can use it to uplift. We can use it as a tool of light. It says that we focus on light, faith and truth. The people that we follow if they are people who are bringing light, faith and truth into our lives. We will be uplifted by the consumption that we have on social media. If we are producing content, if it is filled with light, faith and truth, we will also be edified and edifying others in the process. Social media is a tool that we can use to uplift others, but if it feels like something that is a weight, something that is not bringing you joy, I highly recommend just taking a couple weeks, deleting your apps, taking a breather and then coming back with fresh eyes and figuring out a new way for you to be able to use this as a positive tool in your life.
Jennie Moss :
I love this next section of the pamphlet. It says, quote seek wholesome experiences and real, lasting relationships. Be careful that your use of technology and media does not replace spending in-person time with family and friends. Social media and other technology can take up much of your time without giving a lot of value in return. Take a break from the virtual world and connect with people in real life. End quote. That is such a fantastic reminder and understanding that, although we have the opportunity to connect with so many people through technology and media, nothing can replace the joy that comes from connection in person. It can be hard to carve out that time in our own lives. We are busy. We've got so many things that we need to be doing, but I know that when I consistently reach out and try to spend time with the people that I love, it adds so much value to my life. I love this.
Jennie Moss :
Included promise blessing at the end of this section. Quote you can have the Spirit with you always. The Holy Ghost will bear witness to you of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He will comfort, guide, warn and sanctify you. He will help you recognize truth and see the good in the world. End quote.
Jennie Moss :
I know that the teenage years are very difficult. I remember struggling to understand what was true about the world, but also what was true about me, and I remember the power that came into my life when I started studying my patriarchal blessing and understanding and recognizing the truth that was in those words. We can direct our youth to living and walking in the Lord's light every day, to help them have the guidance and the comfort that they stand in need of right now. I love this quote from Elder Jeffrey R Holland. He says this quote this is a church of happy endings. Troubles need never be permanent nor fatal. Darkness always yields to light, the sun always rises. Faith, hope and charity will always triumph in the end. Furthermore, they will triumph all along the way, end quote. I know that as we strive and as we direct the youth to strive to walk in the Lord's light, we will be able to see the power come into us as we can see things more clearly and we are able to testify of the Lord because we have that consistent companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Jennie Moss :
I love this idea and I want to continue to remember how Elder Hale's taught that our lungs cannot hold in breath. We have to continue to keep breathing to be able to have the breath in our lungs, and it is the same with the light that we want to possess. We must continually feed our souls with good and righteous things. I love you guys. I hope you have an amazing day. If you liked this episode, please consider sending it to a friend or rating and reviewing our podcast. You can find all of our Christ-centered artwork on our website, the Latter-dayLadiescom, which links to our Etsy shop.