Everlasting Light and Joy

President Nelson recently released a short video in which he gave us this invitation: “When so many around us are burdened with fear and uncertainty, I invite you to make room in your heart for those around you who may be struggling to see the light of the Savior and to feel His love. No gifts will mean as much as acts of pure love you offer to the lonely, the worn down and the weary. These are gifts that remind us and them of the true reason for the season: the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who was born to cast out all fear and bring everlasting light and joy to all who follow Him.” His invitation to us is to make room in our hearts for those struggling around us and show acts of pure love to those in need. As we do so, he suggests, we will help them come unto the Savior who can cast out their fear and bring light and joy to them. The challenge then is for each of us to come to soften our own hearts towards others and find ways to reach out as the Savior would.

As I think about how we can do this in practice, the example of Ammon comes to mind. He softened his heart towards the Lamanites because he was so converted to the Lord himself through his repentance. And then he did two key things as he sought to help them come unto the Savior: he selflessly served King Lamoni and his servants and he shared the words of the scriptures. Ammon told Lamoni, “I will be thy servant” and then he did just that. When the sheep were scattered he comforted the servants and helped them through a difficult situation.  Eventually Lamoni was so moved by Ammon’s example that his heart was opened to listen to his words. Then here is what Ammon taught: “He began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem…. he expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time” (Alma 18-36-38). He focused on the scriptures and getting Lamoni into the scriptures to hear the voice of the Lord. As he did so, his heart softened and Lamoni started to come unto the Savior, soon crying out, “O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi” (Alma 18:41). As he continued to turn to the Lord, he declared, “As sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name” (Alma 19:13). Ammon’s service and devoted teaching of the gospel from the scriptures guided Lamoni to find his Savior and partake of that everlasting light and joy. 

This evening I had the opportunity to attend an incredible choir/orchestra/symphony concert, and the grand finale was a rendition of the Little Drummer Boy. Sometimes I feel like that boy, that I have very little to offer or service to give compared to what others can and have done. But that drummer boy played his best for the Savior, and even if little compared to the great gifts of others, it was enough. And so I hope I can at least play my little drum too and even if my own service from day to day amounts to little, I hope it will guide others in some small way to come unto Him and find His "everlasting light and joy."