Light of Christ

I had another interesting institute class this week with Brother Peterson. The topic this week was the ancient creeds of Christianity and their interpretations of the godhead. The part that was so fascinating to me was how closely we really believe in similar notions to the Trinity. The Trinity in its original meaning were that the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost were all made of the same logos, substance, matter, intelligence, spirit but they were not the same being or personage. In our own faith, we believe in a similar notion.

There were a few analogies that really resonated with me through the night. God is everywhere. This idea comes from the fact that when Joseph saw God the Father and the Son in the grove, their glory was so bright that it almost consumed the grove. The resurrected body is this perfect container or tabernacle but it is not a confining or impermeable box. Our bodies are similar in this regard because in this way the spirit of God or light of Christ can enter us or leave us. The glory of God or the intelligence or spirit that makes up God is in all things. It is in the earth, all matter, and in this way He is in all things, through all things, and is a part of all things. Everything is a part of this spiritual connection. In fact, in the early days of the church there was debate on the difference between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost. The former being this logos or matter that is in everything and everyone and the Holy Ghost is the being which testifies of truth.

This also brings in the concept of time. If God is not bound by a physical tabernacle in the way that His glory or spirit is fully encapsulated then he can be really everywhere and anywhere at once. He radiates past and through all aspects and corners of the immensity of space and time. However if we are too made of this matter or spirit or logos, then how does one grow from grace to grace? The answer lies in faith becoming knowledge and the idea of light.

What is the purpose of light? The purpose of light is to illuminate or create comprehension or knowledge. Comprehend is not only to mentally grasp something but to include or gather something physically. What if light was not only able to illuminate physical things but extend that to motivations, actions, perspective, or time? What if there was so much light that all shadows were gone? You would be able to see perfectly. We also are not trying to gain or gather more light but we are trying to release it or have it revealed from within us. Again, god is in all things so think of a light bulb in the sense of how it the design of them has changed. The outside of the glass is coated with a thin film of material to make it stronger but it is still porous enough to let the light come through. In the original designs however, it was simply pure clear glass. The light produced was so bright that it was impossible to look into them directly for extended periods of time. The light inside the bulb however was always the same - the outside coating was the only thing that was different.

If we have more light or share more light than others it is not that our spirit is any different or made of any different material but it may be because the light we have inside is coated to different degrees. The more willing we are to accept that light and are not afraid of it, the more we are able to see and comprehend. The fullness however will not be obtained in this life but it is in the next. Sections 88 and 93 of the Doctrine & Covenants are great reference points to study these concepts.