Words of the Lord are source of light
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The Lord is the true light whose Spirit "enlighteneth every man" and shows in the countenances and eyes of His faithful disciples, said President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency.
President Faust explained that those who truly repent receive the Spirit of Christ and are baptized into His Church. Then hands are laid upon their heads and through the priesthood of God they receive the Holy Ghost.
"The Holy Ghost gives worthy saints both spiritual guidance and protection," said President Faust during the Saturday morning session of conference. "It increases our knowledge and understanding of all things. This is of immense value at a time when spiritual blindness is increasing."
President Faust said secularism — defined as "indifference to or rejection or exclusion of religion and religious considerations" — is expanding in much of the world today.
"Secularism does not accept many things as absolutes," he said. "Its principal objectives are pleasure and self-interest. Often those who embrace secularism have a different look about them. As Isaiah observed, 'The show of their countenance doth witness against them.' "
Yet despite the expansion of secularism, many people hunger and yearn for the things of the Spirit and want to hear the word of the Lord.
"Where can we hear the words of the Lord?" asked President Faust. "We can hear them from our prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the other General Authorities. We can also hear them from our stake presidents and bishops. Missionaries can hear them from their mission presidents. We can read them in the scriptures. We can also hear the still, small voice which comes through the Holy Ghost.
"Hearing the words of the Lord lifts us out of spiritual blindness 'into his marvelous light.' "
Church members can keep such light shining in their own eyes through their discipline, dedication and consecration to important absolutes, President Faust said.
"The foremost of these absolutes is that there is a God who is the Father of our souls to whom we account for our actions," he added. "Second, that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Third, that the great plan of happiness requires obedience to God's commandments. Fourth, that the greatest gift of God is eternal life."
Other blessings, said President Faust, add further light to the eyes. Gifts of the Spirit such as joy, happiness, fulfillment and peace are gifts from the Savior that flow from the power of the Holy Ghost.
President Faust spoke of many "blockbuster" beliefs — some unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints— that are based on faithfulness. Such beliefs include:
1. God and His Son are glorified personages. "We know this because Joseph Smith saw Them, They talked to him, and he talked to Them."
2. Temple blessings which seal husband and wife together for eternity. "Children and posterity can be linked together by this sealing."
3. Every worthy male member of the Church can hold and exercise the priesthood of God. "He can exercise this divine authority within his family and in the Church under call by one who has authority."
4. Additional holy scriptures include: the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.
5. Living apostles and prophets speak the word of God in our day, under the direction of President Gordon B. Hinckley "who is the Prophet, Seer and Revelator, the source of continuous revelation in our time."
6. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is available to all members.
7. The ennobling of womanhood. "Women have full equality with men before the Lord. By nature, roles of women differ from those of men. This knowledge has come with the Restoration of the gospel in the fulness of times, with an acknowledgment that women are endowed with the great responsibility of motherhood and nurturing.
"More opportunities have come to women since 1842 when the Prophet Joseph Smith, in the name of God, turned the key in their behalf than from the beginning of humankind on the earth."
President Faust shared the experience of a young student nurse named Constance who was assigned to try to help a woman who had injured her leg in an accident. The woman refused medical help because she had had a bad experience with someone at the hospital. The reclusive woman would not initially allow Constance into her home. Her injured leg became worse. She began allowing into her home Constance, who began treating the leg. The woman eventually agreed with Constance's suggestion to seek treatment at the hospital. When Constance visited the woman in the hospital, the woman asked the young student nurse what religion she belonged to. Constance answered The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "I knew it," the woman replied. "I knew you were sent to me from the first day that I saw you. There was a light in your face that I had noticed in others of your faith. I had to put my trust in you."
The woman's leg healed, President Faust said. Members from the ward where the old woman lived remodeled her house and fixed up her yard. The missionaries met with her and she was soon baptized. "All of this because she noticed the light in that young student nurse's face."
Service in the Church is a marvelous blessing and privilege that brings light to eyes and countenances, President Faust said.
"Words cannot express the blessings that come to us through service in this Church," he added. "The Lord promises that if we magnify our callings we will find happiness and joy."
It was Alma, said President Faust, who asked if "we have received His image in our countenances."
A "sacred light" enters eyes and countenances "when we have a personal bond with our loving Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior and Redeemer. With this bond our faces will mirror that sublime assurance that He lives," President Faust said.
Testimonies come through revelation.
"This testifying revelation came to my heart as a young boy," the Church leader said. "I do not recall any specific event that prompted this confirming revelation. It just seemed always part of my consciousness. I am grateful for this confirming knowledge that has made it possible to handle the vicissitudes of life which come to all of us."
