THE HOPE OF GOD'S LIGHT Summary

183rd Annual General Conference of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Sunday morning April 7, 2013

Key Doctrines: President Uchtdorf skillfully contrasted dark and light, good and evil and explained our chance to choose light and good. He also invited all men to remember their own worth and the worth or others: how God sees us and them.

Several stories he told taught us how to seek God’s light and where to begin when confronted with “constant unrelenting contact with evil.” He suggested, “ First, start where you are. ... We don’t have to wait to cross the finish line to receive God’s blessings. Second, turn your heart toward the Lord.... Ask [in pleading prayer] that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light. Third, walk in the light. ... Rise up and become the person you were designed to be. ... The gospel, ... teaches us the things we must know, do, and be to walk in [the Savior’s] light.”

Favorite Quotes:

“From time to time our lives may seem to be touched by, or even wrapped in, darkness. Sometimes the night that surrounds us will appear oppressive, disheartening, and frightening. ... I testify that with Christ, darkness cannot succeed. Darkness will not gain victory over the light of Christ ... Darkness cannot stand before the brilliant light of the Son of the living God!”

“Even after the darkest night, the Savior of the world will lead you to a gradual, sweet, and bright dawn that will assuredly rise within you.” 

“The best path for healing [is] to understand and accept that darkness exists—but not to dwell there. Light also exists. ... Resist the temptation to spread the darkness.”

“God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things (Doctrine and Covenants 88:11–13).” 

“We don’t have to wait to cross the finish line to receive God’s blessings. ... The perfect place to begin is exactly where you are right now. ... The very moment you begin to seek your Heavenly Father, in that moment, the hope of His light will ... awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul (Alma 34:31). The darkness may not dissipate all at once, but as surely as night always gives way to dawn, the light will come.” 

“Lift up your soul in prayer and explain to your Heavenly Father what you are feeling.”

“Ask that your ears may be opened, that you may hear His voice.  Ask that your eyes may be opened, that you may see His light.” 

So What?

Isaiah 28:14 teaches us to sing in the darkness that will precede the Second Coming. I loved President Uchtdorf’s teaching about how Saints without power sang hymns, that they knew the words and tunes to. He says, “In the midst of great darkness, these beautiful, wonderful Saints had filled ... and our souls with light.” When I heard this talk I committed to learn more hymns and to sing them more often.