Heather's Christmas talk on Light

 

Hello Brothers and sisters, My name is Heather. My family is newish to the ward. We moved here about 5 months ago. My husband Troy gave a talk a few weeks ago where he introduced our family so I wont do that again, but we are still learning names so please come say hi to us. And if you’ve introduced yourself already, come do it again, because we are trying to get to know everyone.

I think one of the best ways to get to know people is through serving in callings. I was recently called to serve in the Young Women’s and I absolutely love getting to know your daughters. These young women are amazing and I love them so much already. A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to teach a lesson with them for the first time. As a group, I had invited them to share a favorite scripture that was meaningful in their life and brought them strength. It was a beautiful experience to hear them talk about their relationship with the scriptures. These girls know the scriptures and they love them. There is something magical about hearing the word of God being spoken by Young Women.

There was a moment during the lesson that I have not been able to stop thinking about since it happened. I hope that Alisha Capps doesn’t mind me sharing this with you, but when she shared with the class, I was deeply touched. The scripture she chose was one that I am very familiar with and is very simple. It is only 4 words. When she was asked for her favorite scripture was, she answered very simply, “Let there be light.” 

I have always considered this scripture in the context of the creation of the earth. God separated the light from the darkness and this scripture described that event. But since the lesson I’ve begun to think that there is so much more than I had previously thought about. The scripture can be found in both Genesis 1 and in Moses 2. I found it significant that this phrase is the very first time that we hear the voice of God in scripture. The very first thing we have recorded that he said was, “Let there be Light”. Also, I have always thought of the first commandments that God gave were issued in the garden of Eden to Adam and Eve. As I have thought about this scripture I have begun to feel that perhaps I should consider this a commandment from Heavenly Father: “Let there be light.” During the lesson Sis Greenfield commented that she particularly loved the word, “Let” and I agree. The word “Let” implies agency. It implies acceptance and to “allow there to be light”.

A few days after the lesson is when Bro Palik called and asked me to speak on the Light the World Initiative that the church does each year.

Now I will make a confession: I have struggled with feeling the Christmas spirit this year. I have been really strugglings. I have felt overwhelmed and discouraged and withdrawn. My heart has felt heavy and not very joyful. Like many of you, I signed up for the Light the world reminders where they send you daily suggestions of acts of kindness. On Dec 1 the first suggestion was to send a text telling someone why you were grateful for them. As the day went on my phone bing-ed with sweet little messages from family and friends. Instead of feeling grateful that they would write to me I felt skeptical and a bit like Ebenzer Scrooge. I thought, “Oh you are just checking the box”. You don’t really mean it. I know it terrible but that was how I felt. The next day’s suggestions was to make a tribute to someone who was a Christlike example in your life on social media. I saw the sweet posts people shared about their parents or friends and all the heart emoji’s and I scrolled past it as fast as I could. I thought, “Ya, love, love, love. Y’all love each other. I get it. Ba hum bug”

The next day, I have a friend Bee who posted a picture online with the hashtag #LightTheWorld. It was a picture of the inside drum of her laundry washing machine. The inside of the tub was filled with shards of broken china. Intrigued, I clicked on the picture. I read her story of how she had embarrassingly managed to absent mindedly put one of her nice plates into the laundry and started it. Not only had it broken the plate but the broken glass had swished around with her clothes and the smallest shards had gone down the small drain holes making a disaster of everything. With a mixture of humor and self depreciation she said she hoped to brighten our day with her misadventure. #Light the World. I found myself smiling despite myself and I felt my little Grinch heart start to grow 3 sizes. I could totally relate to her! It was like seeing myself. I can’t tell you how many times I have accidentally melted Tupperware and even this week I was driving around with pizza on top of my car. I realized I had been feeling so sad and alone and I was struggling to relate to messages of happiness and joy. But boy could I relate to that broken plate! And her willingness to share it with me was exactly what I needed. It was something I could connect to.

I know he wasn’t talking about broken plates when he said it, but there is a quote from Ernest Hemmingway that I deeply love. It says, “We are all broken. That is how the light gets in.”

Truly it is often in our moments of brokenness that we are the most receptive to our Heavenly Father. In those vulnerable times, and even in those times that seem the darkest is when the light of our Savior’s love can seem brightest. After all, Christmas lights are much prettier at night. Mistakes, hardships, and weakness are often great oppurunities for an increase of understanding and kindness. They can be the gateway for greater closeness with Heavenly Father with others.

A week ago I had a situation at work where I had some reports that I needed from someone that were severely over due. I has sent what I thought was a very friendly reminder that I needed the paperwork, but the response that I got in return really put me back on my heels because it was so angry and hostile. I was totally shocked and then I felt a flash of the natural man surge up in me. I was offended and upset, and worst of all I absolutely knew that I was in the right and they were in the wrong. I’ve learned over time that one of my most dangerous emotions and my biggest red flags in when I have absolute and prideful certitude of my own correctness. I was tempted for a moment to respond in kind with anger and indignation. Then I remembered Alisha saying, “Let there be light”. So I took a breath and said a little prayer. Instead of anger I simply wrote, “What can I do for you? How can I help?” About an hour later I got the response, “No, I am sorry. I am overwhelmed and having a hard time. I took it out on you and I shouldn’t have. I will get it done. I just need more time.” I sat and thought, how often have I done the same thing, where I have taken something out on a friend, a loved one or complete stranger. I felt a closeness to her because I understood her.

Many years ago I was very active in yoga. My favorite part was at the end of each class we would put our hands together by our heart and say, “Namaste”. There are many cultural meanings to that phrase, but the translation I love the most is: “The light within me bows to the light within you.” Or “The light within me honors the light within you.” In that situation at work I felt in that moment that the light within me was able to bow to the light within her.

One of my very favorite Scriptures in D&C 88:40. I love this scripture so much that it is the signature on all my emails. It says: ““For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light” My favorite line has always been that Light cleaveth unto light. When we are kind, we give space for other’s to be kind. When we are brave, we give permission for others the be brave. When we are honest, or forgiving, when we are authentically ourselves, when we let our light shine, we make it is easier for others to do the same. The light of Christ is contagious. Light cleaveth unto light.

My Christmas prayer for you, and for me is that we “Let there be light”. Whether it is through broken plates in washing machines, or texts of gratitude, or swallowing our pride, or just not giving up may we light the world.

I bear you my testimony…