Today in Priesthood we sang one
of my favorite songs: 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 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 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 struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.
What does it mean to be a light for others to look to? Often when I think about
what it means to be a light for others I think about the importance of always
setting a good example. However, this morning I had the realization that being
a light means more than simply setting an example, it involves letting go of
our will. To really become a light unto the world, we have to willingly let go
of our will and place it on the altar of the Lord.
As a
missionary I learned this truth and offered my whole soul unto the Lord. In
order to serve to my greatest ability I had to let go of everything. I had to
let go of my inadequacies, my weaknesses, my fears, my desires, my wants, my
hopes, my dreams and ultimately my whole self. I had to give up all of these
things so that the Lord could make me a new creature and instrument in His
hands. I gave him my will, and he gave me His. By far it wasn't easy, but it
was necessary. I couldn't be the person the Lord needed me to be without
letting go. I had to live outside of my comfort zone to truly shine as a light.
I had to let go of all of my selfish thoughts to become selfless. But as I did
this, a change was wrought in my very nature, not just my behavior. Suddenly I
was able to truly love and serve others as a true disciple of Christ and
charity became a part of my nature.
This is
what it means to be a light in the world we live in. The world is greatly in
need of lights that are constant, and unwavering. The world needs lights that
are completely selfless in nature, not just temporary behavior.
Lights that will shine at all times and in all places, however hard the billows
may be raging.
As the Savior said:
And in the words of Paul:
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