The Savior spoke frequently of hearts that could know and feel, ears that could hear, and eyes that could truly see, President Thomas S. Monson, first counselor in the First Presidency, said Sunday morning.

"Each of us knows those who do not have sight," he continued. "We also know many others who have their eyesight but who walk in darkness at noonday. These in this latter group may never carry the usual white cane and carefully make their way to the sound of the familiar 'tap, tap, tap.' They may not have a faithful seeing-eye dog by their side nor carry a sign about their neck which reads, 'I am blind,' but blind they surely are.

"Some have been blinded by anger, others by indifference, by revenge, by hate, by prejudice, by ignorance, by neglect of precious opportunities," noted President Monson. "Of such the Lord said, 'Their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.' " (Matt. 13:15.)

President Monson related the account of his visit to a stake conference many years ago. A counselor in the stake presidency was blind, however "he functioned beautifully, performing his duties as though he had sight."

It was a stormy night, President Monson recounted, as they met in the stake office on the second floor of the building. Suddenly, there was a loud clap of thunder. The lights went out. President Monson instinctively reached out for the sightless leader and offered to help him down the stairway. "I'm certain he must have had a smile on his face as he responded, 'No, Brother Monson, give me your arm, that I might help you. You are now in my territory,' " President Monson said.

"The storm abated, the lights returned, but I shall never forget the trek down those stairs, guided by the man who was sightless, yet filled with light."

President Monson spoke of the fisherman Simon, better known as Peter, chief among the apostles. "Doubting, disbelieving, impetuous Peter, in fulfillment of the Master's prophecy, indeed did deny Him thrice. Amidst the pushing, the jeers and the blows, the Lord, in the agony of His humiliation, in the majesty of His silence, turned and looked upon Peter."

At that moment, said President Monson quoting one chronologist, " 'It was enough. Peter knew no more danger, he feared no more death. He rushed into the night to meet the morning dawn. This broken-hearted penitent stood before the tribunal of his own conscience, and there his old life, his old shame, his old weakness, his old self was doomed to that death of godly sorrow which was to issue in a new and nobler birth.'

"The Apostle Paul had a similar experience to that of Peter," President Monson explained, and then noted that "Simon the fisherman had become Peter the Apostle. Saul the persecutor had become Paul the proselyter.

"The passage of time," President Monson emphasized, "has not altered the capacity of the Redeemer to change lives."

President Monson spoke of Walter Stover, who was born in Germany, embraced the gospel and came to the United States. After World War II, he was called to return to Germany, where he directed the Church in that nation and "blessed the lives of all whom he met and with whom he served."

With his own funds, he constructed two chapels in Berlin, planned a gathering of members in Dresden, and even chartered a train to bring them from throughout the land so they could meet, partake of the sacrament and bear witness of the goodness of God to them.

"At the funeral services for Walter Stover, his son-in-law, Thomas C. LeDuc, said of him, 'He had the ability to see Christ in every face he encountered, and he acted accordingly.' "

Continuing, President Monson related the poignant account of Meli Mulipola, a member in the Pacific islands who was blinded one day while working on a pineapple plantation. He came to see President Monson, who was visiting among the islands, to seek a priesthood blessing.

"His wish was granted. Tears streamed from his sightless eyes and coursed down his brown cheeks, tumbling finally upon his native dress. He dropped to his knees and prayed, 'Oh, God, thou knowest I am blind. Thy servants have blessed me that if it be thy will, my sight may return. Whether in thy wisdom I see light or whether I see darkness all the days of my life, I will be eternally grateful for the truth of thy gospel which I now see and which provides me the light of life.'

"He arose to his feet, thanked us for providing the blessing, and disappeared into the dark of the night. But his presence I shall never forget. I reflected upon the message of the Master, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.' " (John 8:12.)

President Monson then spoke of today as "a day of temple building. Never before have so many temples been erected and dedicated. President Gordon B. Hinckley, God's prophet on this earth, has a vision of the vital ordinances performed in such Houses of the Lord. Temples will bless all who attend them and who sacrifice for their completion. The light of Christ will shine on all — even those who have gone beyond.

"On this Easter morning and always, may our light so shine that we glorify our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, whose name is the only name under heaven whereby we might be saved."