That Light Groweth Brighter

In his recent message in general conference, Elder Alexander Dushku spoke about receiving revelation and used an analogy relating pillars and rays of light to how we receive communication from God. He said, “The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ began with an explosion of light and truth!” He spoke of the darkness that Joseph experienced in the grove of trees as he prayed, and then continued, “a glorious brilliance fills the grove, scattering the darkness and the enemy of his soul. A ‘pillar of light’ brighter than the sun gradually descends upon him. One personage appears, and then another. Their ‘brightness and glory defy all description.’… And with that overwhelming burst of light and truth, the Restoration has begun.” Thus the Restoration of the gospel “began with a boy’s desperate prayer and a pillar of light.” That story, though, might cause us to question our own revelation if do not receive a similar kind of dramatic experience when trying to understand the things of God. Elder Dushku warned, “Sometimes faithful Church members become discouraged and even drift away because they haven’t had overwhelming spiritual experiences—because they haven’t experienced their own pillar of light.” He cited these words of President Spencer W. Kimball, “Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of revealed communication.” He also quoted this reflection of President Joseph F. Smith: “The Lord withheld marvels from me [when I was young], and showed me the truth, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.” Elder Dushku then commented, “That is the Lord’s typical pattern, brothers and sisters. Rather than sending us a pillar of light, the Lord sends us a ray of light, and then another, and another. Those rays of light are continuously being poured down upon us.” Often we are seeking for the single, grand experience of a pillar of light coming down upon us with unquestionable brilliance, but instead the Lord is sending us light one ray at a time as Isaiah promised: “Here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:13).

                  Elder Dushku’s analogy is very similar to what Elder Bednar taught about revelation and light. He said, “Revelation is communication from God to His children here upon the earth. Sometimes those messages come quickly and rather dramatically. I've compared that to a light being turned on in a dark room, where very suddenly the darkness is expelled and you can see everything in the room quite clearly and brilliantly. I would suggest that that pattern of receiving messages from God is more rare than common. A second pattern is when the light comes gradually, much like the rising of the sun. You can discern the increase of light on the horizon but never all at once. This pattern of revelation, I would suggest, is more common than rare.” Sometimes we can have a dramatic experience where light is suddenly given to us and we understand truth from God, as Joseph Smith did with his “pillar of light.” More often, though, light comes gradually and the Lord teaches us little by little, just come almost imperceptibly at first when the sun is just starting to rise. It comes then, as it were, one ray at a time. But the important part is that either way—whether the light all comes at once or whether it comes gradually—the net effect is the same in the end. The key for us is to seek to follow the light no matter how fast or slowly it comes to us. I love this modern day scripture from the Lord: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:24). The promise of the Lord is that light will come as we start to receive it. And if we continue in it, even if it only comes one ray at a time, then His promise is that it will continue to grow brighter and brighter until we are made perfect in Him. Elder Dushku testified, “That means, brothers and sisters, that in time and through “great diligence,” we too can have our own pillar of light—one ray at a time. And in the midst of that pillar, we too will find a loving Heavenly Father calling us by name, pointing us to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and inviting us to ‘Hear Him!’ I bear witness of Jesus Christ, that He is the light and life of the whole world—and of your personal world and mine.”