The Light of Everlasting Life

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

The marvelous light of Godliness

Dispels the darken clouds above

  And fills the vast barrenness     

Of my soul with peace and love

There is a distinctive, penetrating, and permeating light that gives life to all things and to all beings, including you and me.  Scientists try to describe this light in physical quantum terms, but fail to fully grasp its full purpose, meaning, and source.  This is a light, a power that indwells us in addition to our own personal spirit.  Its reference in the Bible is often obscured by multiple interpretations of “the Spirit of the Lord” which in some places means the Lord’s actual spirit; or in other places, the Holy Ghost; or in some cases “the light of Christ.”  John 1:9 comes closest to its essence by describing it as, “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:9

In our day a modern text of divine doctrine and revelation has revealed more regarding this all-encompassing subject. “ … 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. 8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; 9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; 10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. 11 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; 12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—  13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.” Doctrine & Covenants 88:7-13

What a grand, beautiful, and glorifying doctrine of deity’s power and all-encompassing awesomeness. Our meditative verse describes this light of everlasting life based on the Book of Mormon text describing the conversion of a King in ancient America.  The verse gives way to a personal supplication for this light to burn away earthly fears and cares while bestowing peace and bringing fullness and wholeness. 

As the veil of fear is cast away

And the Spirit enlightens my mind

Heavenward I implore and pray

That my life in God will be aligned

The light of everlasting life

Burns warmly within my soul

It gives me power over the strife

Bestows its peace and makes me whole

The Light of Everlasting Life

Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—

Book of Mormon   Alma 19:6

The marvelous light of Godliness

Dispels the darken clouds above

  And fills the vast barrenness     

Of my soul with peace and love

As the veil of fear is cast away

And the Spirit enlightens my mind

Heavenward I implore and pray

That my life in God will be aligned

The light of everlasting life

Burns warmly within my soul

It gives me power over the strife

Bestows its peace and makes me whole

      Shielded from sin by Godly behavior

I make my life a sacred offering

Giving it freely to my Savior

And denying death its sting

I kneel before God’s throne

And confess all that I have done

Asking Him make me His own

By the Atonement of His Son

  

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Justice, Mercy, and Grace

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

We live in a universe of consequence

Impacting behavior both good and bad

Rewards that justice and mercy dispense

And which determine if we’re happy or sad

Our verse begins with the eternal truth that, “We live in a universe of consequence.”  While we are generally free to do what we want, we are not free of the consequences of our actions.  Such are the dynamics of justice and mercy.  They are forever in a ballet of balance.   Notwithstanding, when caught in wrongdoing or error, we sometimes try to resist the consequences, or pretend that they will not catch up to us.  The Apostle Paul teaches us otherwise, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Bruce R. McConkie, a modern-day Apostle taught: "As justice is the child of the fall (of Adam), so mercy is the offspring of the atonement." Elder Tad Callister of the Council of the Seventy appended, “We might further add that grace is the offspring of mercy.”

We have set to verse these divine principles in our weekly meditation.  Herein we testify of God’s justice, mercy, and grace.

The sanctuary of Christ’s atoning embrace

Is available and offered to all God’s children

Who enter the gates of justice, mercy and grace

And find their salvation and redemption within

Justice, Mercy, and Grace

And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.  And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Book of Mormon    Alma 34:15-16

We live in a universe of consequence

Impacting behavior both good and bad

Rewards that justice and mercy dispense

And which determine if we’re happy or sad

Such are the dynamics of mercy and justice

Forever weighed in an economy of balance

With justice making insistent requests

That its demands be met without hesitance

But justice can be overpowered by mercy

According to Father’s compassionate plan

For Christ’s atonement bought amnesty

For every penitent woman and man

Mercy encircles us in arms safe and secure

When we humble ourselves and truly repent

 But, the demands of justice we will endure

If to Atonement’s mercy we give dissent

The sanctuary of Christ’s atoning embrace

Is available and offered to all God’s children

Who enter the gates of justice, mercy and grace

And find their salvation and redemption within

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Look to God and Live

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

With regard to God’s desire to bless His children with all that He has - His willingness to endow us with His power, His love, His compassion; His readiness to strengthen us in moments of weakness; to instruct us in our ignorance, and comfort us in pain, we live, as saying goes, “far below our privileges.”  The artist, Greg Olsen, in his painting, “O Jerusalem!” captured these emotions on canvass as Jesus sits on the Mount of Olives looking across the Kedron Valley to Jerusalem and says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37)

Once, as the tribe of Israel wandered in the wilderness and as they lost sight of God and His ways, they were beset by poisonous snakes.  Moses petitioned God for help and was told to erect a bronze serpent upon a staff.  They were told that if they were bitten all they needed to do would be to look upon the brazen serpent and they would not die. (Numbers 21:8)  The powerful symbolism of Christ, the cross, and the Atonement carries through the generations.  The message is “look to God and live.”  We are left to wonder how many Israelites said, “I will not,” and died.

How sad it is when, in our own lives or those of our family and friends, we experience or see the results of “…ye would not!”  There are times in our stubbornness or lack of faith that we go down bumpy, crumbling roads of our own construction, making our own unenlightened decisions, doing our own thing. Then, when God reaches out to us and offers us hope and salvation by gathering us under His wings, or asks us to look to Christ and live - to save us from ourselves, our own misjudgments, and our sins that we say to Him, “I will not!”

Thankfully, there are other times when we are more inclined to heed His call and be “gathered under His wings,” and seek out His healing and protecting balm.  When in the jaws of anguish and pain, feeling as if we are dying spiritually or emotionally, we may remember Him and His sacrifices and Atonement for us – in those moments we look to God and live.

It is not just individuals, but also nations that, now more than ever, must look to God and live.  Now more than ever, nations seem to be moving away from God’s protective wings.  I fear the day when those who “will not” will be more than those “who will” follow the Lord.  I fear that we in this nation are becoming a nation that says, “I will not” believe in God, nor in His promises, nor obey His commandments, nor accept His love.  More are saying “I will not care for the poor and needy.”  “I will not observe the Sabbath and keep it holy.” The day will come when God will have heard enough, “I will not.”  In that day, He will say, as He has promised, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Matthew 23:38

Until that day…

. . .  let us keep our eye singled

Upon the covenants of the Lord

And with celestial saints be mingled

And sing His praise with one accord

May we live forever by His grace

Let us faith and obedience give

In the safety of His embrace

Let us look to God and live

  

Look to God and Live

And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.  For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.  And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.  O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.  And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.

Book of Mormon   Alma 37:43-47

Look to God and live

The simplest command

That He can give

To mortal man

Yet so few are obedient

To His simple request

Lacking the ingredient

Of faith in Him to be blest

Many become idle and slothful

Due to the easiness of the way

Never worshipful, nor thankful, nor mindful

That by simple obedience they might win the day

As it was with our fathers, so it is with me and you

We live below our blessings and oft refuse to give

Gratitude and thanks that is justly due

And thus we fail to look to God and live

Therefore, let us keep our eye singled

Upon the covenants of the Lord

And with celestial saints be mingled

And sing His praise with one accord

May we live forever by His grace

Let us faith and obedience give

In the safety of His embrace

Let us look to God and live

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Oh That I Were an Angel

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

Oh, to be more than I am.  

Ever wish to be more than you are?  As children we would often pretend to be someone of great accomplishment or have power beyond our own.  We would create an imaginary world in which we were the main character and do wonderful things. 

As adults we sometimes think what it would be like to be a child again.  Or, we consider what it will be like or how much happier we will be when or if such-and-such happens in the future.  These are usually innocent pastimes.  They become debilitating only when we take up residence in those unreal habitations of the mind.

Yet, in many ways we are more than we are.  The God who says he knew us before we were born  (Jeremiah 1:5), and to whom we shouted for joy before this earth was made (Job 38:1-7) must therefore be aware of much more about us than we do, with our limited memory of living with Him before we came here to earth.  Veiled from our memory are our experiences as angelic soldiers in heaven’s army where we fought against the forces of darkness and lies and perversions of truth.  (Revelations 12:7)  Yes, indeed, we are more than we are.  Now and then we may get a glimpse or have an experience that reveals that there is more to us – more memories, more knowledge, more experiences, and evidences of more strength and power hidden behind a veil of forgetfulness.  

There will come a day when, as Paul says, we will be known as we are (truly) known (1 Corinthians 13:12).  That will be a day when veils are parted and our complete and true identity will be reflected to us and the world.  Meanwhile, it remains important to (1) know something about who we were, (2) know who we are now – our strengths and limitations, and (3) continue to create ourselves in the image of our Heavenly Father – becoming what we are divinely ordained to become.

Today, we share the reflective experience of a young man who, like us sometimes, dreamed of being more than he is.

O that I were an angel

And be more than I am

I’d shake the powers of hell

And make of it a sham

O That I Were an Angel

O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!  Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption,  that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.  But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.  I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction… Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?….For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

Book of Mormon    Alma 29:1-4, 6, 8

O that I were an angel

And be more than I am

I’d shake the powers of hell

And make of it a sham

With God’s trump I would speak

Loud enough to shake the earth

Declaring repentance for all to seek

Proclaiming redemption and rebirth

With a voice of booming thunder

I’d declare redemption to all

Driving wickedness and sin asunder

Redeeming sinners from the fall

But do I sin in my desire

For I’m not an angel but a man

And ought not be higher

Than the station in which I stand

Why should I plead or desire for more

Than that with which I’ve been allotted

Patient and content with what’s in store

And stay the course which God has plotted

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

The Day of this Life

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

January 1, 2016 New Year’s Day, is a special day.  Some of us will look forward into the new year and set goals and resolutions.  Some will look backward into the old year and maybe even further back into other years reflecting on special moments or seeking for answers to unresolved issues or unmet goals.

Regardless of our perspective, it is a truth that we only have this one day – the day of this life in which we can actually perform our labors.  We can and should plan for tomorrow, but we cannot live there until tomorrow.  Yesterday’s allocation of time came and went.  We can reflect on it, learn from it, but neither can we live in it – only the day of this life is given to us to live, to love, to learn, to forgive, to work and to serve.

For all of us, our days here are numbered and then we will transition to another place for a while.  For some of us the number of days will be few.  For others there will be many days ahead.  Still, there is only one day that really counts – only one day that is of supreme importance. It is the day of this life - today.

The first meditation of this new year reminds us that:

Today is the time in which we have to live

Tomorrow’s promise may never be attained

Today is the time to consecrate and give

Ourselves to God and all He has ordained

The Day of this Life

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.  And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

Book of Mormon   Alma 34:32-33

There is a day to perform our labor

And a time none can be performed

It is the day of this life we must savor

As prophetic witnesses have informed

If we don’t improve in the day of this life

Then cometh the night when it’s too late

To overcome our tribulations and strife

And we succumb to our troubles and fate

This is a day not to postpone or procrastinate

Repentance until the end when time is no more

The day of this life is the day to celebrate

Preparations for eternity and all it has in store

Today is the time in which we have to live

Tomorrow’s promise may never be attained

Today is the time to consecrate and give

Ourselves to God and all He has ordained

Larry Doyle Crenshaw