Light the world again

"Lighting the world will also light our world.  Only by putting the gospel into action by living it will we ever know how real it really is.  Only by setting that example can we light the way for others to know that for themselves as well."

The Christmas season is now in full swing upon us once again.  It’s time once more for yuletide cheer and merriment.  This is my favorite time of year.

Of course, along with the traditions we each practice with the season, we should always remember the reason for the season.  Good thoughts and deeds are always appropriate and even more so as we remember He who gave us the best example of good thoughts and deeds.

It was He who taught “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  To that end, last year the Church promoted a campaign aimed at sharing the light we have with everyone around us during the Christmas season.  Appropriately, it was called Light the World.

This year the Church has renewed that campaign.  And I can’t think of a more appropriate way to celebrate the real reason for the season.

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Learn it

As it did last year, Light the World focuses on individual action.  The Church provides leadership in the form of short videos explaining ways to light the world during each of the 25 days of Christmas.  These videos and the corresponding calendar show how we can individually light the world.

I just love this bare-bones campaign.  It fosters an effort that depends upon us for success.  And that encourages us to live the gospel — really live it by putting it into action.

The Master taught, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).  Our actions tell everyone who we really are.  For what will we be known?  Will those around us know us for the goodness we have?  How can that happen if we don’t share the goodness we have?

Lighting the world will also light our world.  Only by putting the gospel into action by living it will we ever know how real it really is.  Only by setting that example can we light the way for others to know that for themselves as well.

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Love it

I love the gospel more when I live to set that good example.  I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know God is good and will bless us abundantly.  That goodness is easier both to see and to feel when we actively participate in spreading that love to others.

People don’t light candles to hide them but rather to provide light so all may see (Matthew 5:15).  In like manner, we should freely bring goodness into the world so that others can see and feel the love of God in their lives.  When we do, we can’t help but love our lives more.

Just like last year, the Church has provided help with their Light the World calendar.  Each day has suggestions of ways to spread goodness and thereby light the world.  In addition, we can adopt our own ideas for action.

I’ve discussed previously my tradition of closing out the year by studying the Sermon on the Mount.  I’ve felt love in my heart grow as I’ve taken daily action in response to my Sermon on the Mount study.  Most of my actions have been small in nature, but the added light I feel inside of me has been substantial.  How can any honest soul not love that?

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Live it

That seems to be at least some of the intention behind Light the World, and I love it.  We make the gospel more real by actually living it.  And anyone who has read my posts since 2014 knows I’m all about real.

Of course, that reality doesn’t have to stop with the coming of Christmas Day, nor should it.  We can feel God’s love every day by continuing to share that love with others every day.  The Church’s Light the World calendar is a great aid during the 25 days leading to Christmas, but what’s to stop any of us from making our own calendar for every day of December and any other month of the year?  Only ourselves.

It’s only by living true principles that we come to feel their reality in our lives.  It’s only by giving love to others that we can feel the full extent of love in our own lives.  We can choose for ourselves what light we will give to others.  When we live true to that conviction to bring goodness into the world every day, we’ll have more joy in our journey.

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