Easter Week: Saturday -- The Dark Day

God's word is a light unto our path.

The tomb was closed.  The Son of God had died.  The Light of the World had gone out.  Hope seemed to be gone.  What now?

Sometimes in our lives we have dark days.  It may seem that all of the light has gone out of our lives.  Hope seems gone, or at least very far away, and we ask ourselves, "What now?" 

The good news is that, unlike His followers on that dark Saturday, we know what happened on Sunday.  We know the tomb was opened, and that Christ had Risen.  The Light of the World still shines bright, and hope is NOT gone.  "...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."(Psalms 30:5). 

So, what now?  We hold on to the knowledge that there will be a morning.  Even if all we see is darkness, the light will come.  We search His words because we know that "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."(Psalms 119: 105).  We search His word, and then step forward, trusting in that light.

*Photo by Michael Mouritz on Unsplash

Nourish and Encourage

I was thinking this morning about how what I write might come across to others -- especially those who believe differently than I do.  While I do believe that there is doctrine and authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that is not had by other Christians, I do not believe that we, as people, are any better.  We are all children of God on a path of discipleship.  We all have the opportunity to study, or not -- to pray, or not -- to apply what we learn, or not.  

I am thankful for the people in my church who set such good examples for me, and I am equally thankful for those who do not belong to my church who set such good examples for me.  When I have gone through hard things, people in and out of my church have prayed for me, and I believe that God heard all of those prayers, and honored them.  

My cousin Mike and my sister Jenny
in 2009 (I think)

My cousin Mike, who is a Christian that does not belong to the same church as me, has been very thoughtful and supportive over the years.  He loves me, prays for me, and has sent me encouraging scriptures from his study of the Bible.  I am thankful for the light of our Savior that shines brightly through him, and that nourishes and encourages the light in me.  My sister Jenny, who does belong to my church is also a good example of a disciple of Christ.  My hope is that I will always encourage and nourish the light in others, and when I fail, that they will have the light needed to forgive.

In the end, we are all pilgrims seeking God's light as we journey on a path of discipleship.  We do not condemn others for the amount of light they may or may not have; rather, we nourish and encourage all light until it grows clear, bright, and true.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf