Light

Just taking some moments tonight to think about His birth...after being ornery at the kids, my husband, fighting off a headache, looking at a messy house that smells like bacon grease, thinking about how I haven't even started wrapping...

The other night the Christmas tree was lit:

But it was time to go to sleep, so I unplugged the lights:

I stood at the bottom of the stairs for a minute thinking about the contrast between a beautifully lit tree and the darkness. Light is beautiful. It is happy, warm, comforting, expansive, bright, and hopeful. Darkness is difficult, suffocating, sad, fearful, and cold.

So many years ago, the prophets proclaimed that a new star would appear when Jesus was born. Similarly, the Book of Mormon tells us that a prophet had declared the signs that would let the people on the American continent know the Savior was born.

From the Book of Mormon, Helaman 14:3-6

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.

6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.

Those must have been absolutely amazing moments in time...moments of great light. No darkness! My writing and words do not even approach how much love I have for my Savior and for the incredible light he brings to my life. Darkness and difficulty are a part of life, but because He is the Light of the World, peace and joy are always possible. I can truly say that I have experienced that. Merry Christmas...what a blessing Jesus Christ's birth is.