Continuing from Robert L. Millet’s book “The Holy Spirit:” (see previous post. . . ‘From Darkness to Light’)
. . . .Not long ago, while rereading Lehi’s dream as recorded in 1 Nephi 8, it occurred to me that what he saw in his dream represents the challenge of every person to come out of the darkness into the light. Speaking to his sons, Lehi stated that he saw “a dark and dreary wilderness.” And it came to pass that I saw a man and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me and bade me follow him. And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies. And it came to pass that after I had prayed unto the Lord I beheld a large and spacious field. And I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy”. (1 Nephi 8:4-12).
It may be helpful to liken Lehi’s experience to our own. As we travel the roads of a darkened world we receive the beckoning invitation to come out of the darkness unto Christ our Savior. As we have discussed, each of us is born with the Light of Christ, or Spirit of Jesus Christ, a moral monitor leading us directly toward greater light and truth; it helps us to reason, discern and know right from wrong. If we will hearken to this light we will be led either here or hereafter, to the covenant gospel and to the greater light of the gift of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 7: 16-19; Doctrine and Covenants 84:45-48). Prayer and searching and pondering on the things of substance lead us to Christ, of which the tree of life is a grand symbol. (1 Nephi 11:7, 21-22, 25; Jeremiah 2:13). Partaking of the powers of the Savior cleanses our souls, lifts our burdens and orients our minds towards eternity. We thereby become a peculiar, or purchased people, those called out of darkness into his marvelous light, (1 Peter 2:9). 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). ~ Robert L. Millet, The Holy Spirit (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019) 216-17
