The Father of Lights

Speaking of the revelations to be published in the Book of Commandments, the Lord said to the elders of His church: “For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them, and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights.” This appears to be a paraphrase of the words of James: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). The word light is used frequently in the scriptures, but it is only plural a handful of times. I believe that what is meant here in these two verses by lights are the physical lights the Lord has created. We have these words in one account of the creation: “And I, God, said: Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years; And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth; and it was so. And I, God, made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and the greater light was the sun, and the lesser light was the moon; and the stars also were made even according to my word” (Moses 2:14-16). The Lord created the sun, the moon, and the stars, and so He is the Father of all these lights. The Lord also said to Abraham as he received his incredible divine lesson on stars in the universe: “This is Shinehah, which is the sun. And he said unto me: Kokob, which is star. And he said unto me: Olea, which is the moon. And he said unto me: Kokaubeam, which signifies stars, or all the great lights, which were in the firmament of heaven.” The Savior is the Father of Lights because He created all the stars in the firmament of heaven. Abraham also learned, “Kolob is the greatest of all the Kokaubeam that thou hast seen, because it is nearest unto me” (Abraham 3:13, 16). Kolob is of course a symbol of the Savior Himself who is the Light. Thus He is the Father of lights (plural) because He created them all, and He is the Light (singular) because in His perfection He is the embodiment of light. As He declared in our dispensation, “And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:2).

In the “olive leaf” revelation we have these powerful words which further teach us about the Savior and light: “Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:5-13). He created the sun, moon, and stars and their physical lights, and He also gives us spiritual light which enlightens our eyes and quickens our understanding. His light is in all things and sent forth to fill the universe. He introduced Himself in another revelation with these words, “Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I Am, even Jesus Christ—The light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not” (Doctrine and Covenants 39:1-2). We must learn to come unto that light, even Jesus Christ, and come out of the darkness. He invited Nicodemus with these words: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light” (John 3:19-21). As we come to the light, seeking to do the works of Him who is the light of the world and the Father of lights, we have this promise from Him: “The veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am” (Doctrine and Covenants 67:10).