Lead, Kindly Light

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday morning session of the October 2000 conference.

In the second area I served in as a missionary we walked much of the time to save miles on the mission car. We covered three towns, the branch was in the middle town and the other two were about thirty miles away to the north and south. As we'd walk home in the dark we often sang the hymn Lead, Kindly Light to calm our (my) nervous souls. I loved that hymn before my mission, I loved it while serving, and I've come to love it even more in the many years since I served. 

Sister Virginia U. Jensen, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency used this hymn as the theme of her talk. 

The light of Jesus Christ is stronger than any darkness we face in this life, if we have faith in Him, seek after Him, and obey Him.

 

I remember a line Lord of the Rings from Gandalf, referring to a darkness spreading over the land. When I heard it in the film I thought it perfectly described the last days when the wickedness and power of Satan would cover the world. We seem to be there.

 

We can find ourselves in places of darkness from time to time. We may wander into dark, spiritual caverns when we make foolish choices, admit harmful influences into our lives, or turn away from the light of the gospel to embrace the world just a little longer. It may seem harmless at first--just a little exploring, that's all. Before we know it, we become separated from the light and left in darkness alone. Why do we remain in darkness when such rescuing light awaits us? Let us bask in the warm and illuminating light provided by the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let the Savior's kindly light lead us one step at a time. Let covenants and commandments keep us safe as we follow the gospel pathway to our heavenly home.

With the world's path darkening by the day, and perversions and sin celebrated in the media, the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shines more brightly than ever. We can be safely led through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil by following the Good Shepherd's light to our eternal home.

We have children who have turned off the path, or are struggling to stay on the path, lured by the ways of the world. It grieves my heart when they turn from the light and blunder into the dark. I cling to the promise of the prophets and apostles that there is no one so far away in the dark that the light of the Savior's Atonement can't reach. 

Sister Jensen began her talk with a story about a ten year old boy who spent five days trapped in the pitch-black darkness of an abandoned mine. Now at the time of the talk he was Elder Dennis in Honduras "sharing a message of hope, salvation, and light."

What he teaches every day is the paradox he experienced as a young boy lost in a mine: that amidst the encircling gloom, amidst the darkest possible circumstances, it is possible to feel hope, peace, and comfort--all because of the light which is stronger than all darkness, the light of Jesus Christ.