Primary 136 - Light and Dark


Class, 

Our Lord's example should be written in the fleshy parts of our hearts and that should lead us to follow and obey the Savior and His ambassadors, the Apostles. The Apostle Paul wanted us to not just keep the gospel written on paper outside of us but written on our hearts. He then showed how Israel was led over and over through history how Christ or the Messiah was going to lead us through the Spirit and creat spiritual knowledge through trials. They faced ten plagues, passed through a river as if on dry ground, shouted hosannah and a city's wall fell. All the time they didn't need a sword or shield as the God of heaven was their guardian angel.

Are we not also led by the Spirit and do we not see how He is a part of our lives daily? We know that sometimes it takes stepping back and looking at His care and constant guidance.

That leads to our next point. Are we blinded by a vail as the Vail of the Spirit or do we hinder ourselves because we refuse to see the beauty and magesty of the scriptures and words of the prophets? The Lord put a vail over our spirits for our good but it was meant to be removed. If we stayed in the chrysalis of transformation about us we would never see how we have changed by the Spirit or how it has changed others. When we break free from trial and hard times we see like a butterfly our magnificent strength that came from our trials and bondage that come from sin and pain. We should desire strength in our trials to endure to the end. Yes that leads to more trials but we now see farther and understand more because of it.

Metemorohos means changed or transfiguration. Metamorphic means denoting or relating to rock that has undergone transformation by heat, pressure, or other natural agencies, e.g. in the folding of strata or the nearby intrusion of igneous rocks. We should be soft and pliable, changeable. It's not always easy and it can hurt but like a immunization shot the pain is relatively small compared to what we could experience if we had no change of body or spirit

We must realize that through our experience, the most powerful sin and darkness flies at the mere sight of a matches or candles light. There is no contest, no debate. Darkness must flee. Darkness can only exist in our life when it's invited. The light must be removed. Now light will show the things that need improvement. If our heart were compared to a dark house the greater and greater light will show us what we can do to bring more and more light. This light of Christ will shine through the windows of the soul; our countenance. That light will bring about a change that will go from person to person.

How are our hard hearts and stuff necks changed through the metamorphosis of the Spirit? Are we diving into the fire  of the Spirit of God and whispering wind of the Holy Ghost or do we seek the pain from the burn of sin and it's confusing whirlwind of the enticing of Satan? We must decern, judge, who is in our lives, what we read, watch, listen to. If it doesn't shine a light, we need to remove it. 

Paul caught the vision and acted on it and he could not be diswayed from the vision that called him to be both a deciple (student of the Savior)  and Apostle (example of the Savior). Each time an experience kills us we need to rise and be a new person changed (metamorphed) by both the experience and by the Savior who raised us from our experience no matter how deep or dark; no matter how painful. We need to let the Savior's Atonement be a companion in our life and let the Savior's sacrifice be more reverenced in our trials.


In the talk, The Savior’s Four Gifts of Joy by the Prophet, President Nielsen tells us that the Greek word metamorphosis a change of mind. We would think of it as a correction of course or direction.

Students, strive to win the race or win the fight. Greeks strive for a temporary trophy. God is offering a eternal one. Work for it. Strengthen your heart, your testimony, your love of the Savior. You can do it. In your weaknesses pray for strength and study the scriptures for answers. You guys are awesome.

Brothers Bingham and Brother Quan

Challenges
2 Corinthians 8-13

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