Hello!
Missionary work is still moving along here. We had a member referral first lesson which was sweet and a former investigator wants to meet with us. The Lord is helping us find people to teach. Leslie who is ready for baptism is very ill so we're praying for her to recover. The missionary work is beginning to brighten up here.
The solar eclipse today was nothing special from our perspective in Northern Ontario. It barely got darker outside. I looked up the definition of an eclipse and I found it interesting how the moon is classified as a "celestial body." I thought tehe your wrong it's a terrestrial body, we learn that in primary! Scientists refer to all bodies in space as "celestial bodies" so there you go.
Solar eclipses don't happen too often; more common I think, are "spiritual eclipses". You might see where this is going. Sometimes things obstruct our connection to celestial guidance (spiritual light). Jesus Christ is like the sun, and He is, the Son. Our physical eyes cannot look up at him, but it is by Him that we can clearly see everything else. One hard reality which comes from being separated from God is the tendency to let things get in between us and Christ. Sometimes the obstruction is subtle, it's hard to recognize at first, but it can quickly become a total eclipse (a total obstruction from the light). If you reach a "total spiritual eclipse" and stay idle in that darkness, then you will remain in that darkness. If you want to get out of darkness you need to get moving, just like the earth is always moving. Many of us have heard something like this, "An idle mind is the devils workshop."
Just like the sun is always in the sky, the Son is always there for us, His light is giving life to the universe, it's important that we place ourselves in a position to receive that light. Just as a plant's growth is hindered when shielded from the sun, so to does our spiritual growth suffer when we separate ourselves from divine light. Not all plants and not all spirits are the same, but all things NEED light to some degree.
From my study of the scriptures, I suspect that our placement in a particular kingdom of glory is dependent upon how much "light" is found in us. The 3 kingdoms are symbolized as the sun, moon, and stars, each possessing different degrees of light. We call them the 3 Degrees of Glory. Glory and light are very compatible, for now I would like to refer to the kingdoms as the 3 Degrees of Light. I suspect that heirs of the Celestial Kingdom are people who have been filled with an abundance of light through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, our placement in a kingdom is a reflection of how much light we have received. It is through Christ's grace and mercy and living righteously that we receive/increase in light day by day. That is why enduring to the end is a fundamental part of living the gospel. Many Christian churches follow the doctrine that believing in Christ's grace and mercy is all you need to be "saved". That's not what Jesus taught. It's true that only in and through Christ's grace and mercy can we be redeemed and glorified, a gift we cannot earn. We are completely saved by grace, we are lost without it. However, in order to be saved, we need to be changed. That mighty change from fallen/sinful to saved/celestial requires a considerable amount of time and a good use of agency on our part. Death does not cause an instantaneous internal transformation from sinful thoughts and desires to righteous and Christ-like motives and actions. That would defeat the whole purpose of God's plan for His children. In order to bring about a mighty transformation in us, God requires more than just an idle belief. We need to increase in light and love, grace by grace.
D+C (50:24) "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."
I'm so grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Without my knowledge of the restored gospel, I would not have been able to write the email I just did. Interesting.
Thank you for reading my rant about light, I just love talking about it!
Have a wonderful week!
Elder Johnson
Picture: Very green grass...because why not.
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