And There Was Light

Mid morning yesterday I was feeling down. I didn't quite know why and I was irritated with myself for feeling low. Yet, I couldn't seem to pep-talk myself out of it. I think I said a prayer. Anyway, during my self-wallowing, I recalled a book I'd recently purchased: And There Was Light, an autobiography by Jacques Lusseyran, a hero of the French Resistance in WWII. I picked it up and instantly was amazed with what I read. Despite his blindness, he had an amazing ability to sense actual light and to instantly discern good from evil. As I read, my eyes were lifted and I was pulled out of myself onto higher ground. I started thinking that the gift of sight is really an invitation to and a potential handicap for blindness. Jacques Lusseyran could actually perceive the loss of personal light if he was angry or afraid. I thought of the scripture: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). The quote by George Q. Cannon also came to mind about when we have the Spirit, we are happy, when we don't, we are not happy. (See complete quote below.)

Lusseyran talks about these truths as a real presence of light and that he could instantly perceive that light, or its absense, in others. I felt amazed and enlightened.

I was telling David this on our walk this morning. I told him how much I need inspired words, such as I had just read, constantly flowing through me because I get so down and lost without them. I loved his response: "It's your medication. Some people when they get down turn to medicine but you turn to inspired words, the words of God."

Neal A. Maxwell said, "Inspired words do matter." And how true that is. Without them, I am lost. With them I am found. They medicate me and lift me to levels I could not otherwise know.

George Q. Cannon said: "I will tell you a rule by which you may know the Spirit of God from the spirit of evil. The Spirit of God always produces joy and satisfaction of mind. When you have the Spirit, you are happy; when you have another spirit, you are not happy. The spirit of doubt is the spirit of the evil one; it produces uneasiness and other feelings that interfere with happiness and peace."