Light unto the World

Who is the light of the world? There are many who claim to be a light unto the world and for your money salvation is secured? Almost an endless supply of teachers, preachers, prophets, priests, or kings are available from which to choose. They claim power and declare that God has given them authority to lead. In addition, they assert and regularly remind you that they cannot lead you astray … that's impossible! … however that works out?!?! 

They set themselves up for a light unto the world that they may get gain and praise. And then they require followers to follow them without questioning, faithfully pay tithes without accounting for where it was spent, and attend meetings. Followers are required to answer a list of questions “correctly, as viewed by church leaders” in order to qualify to be baptized in the LDS Church, participate in priesthood or ordinances, or enter the temples, which is taught to be absolutely essential to be saved. But, what light do we follow? Men? Peers? Money? Popularity? Fun? Satan? Christ? Rather than looking for a “Sunday School” answer, it may be helpful to determine who we actually follow? Who do we talk to and get answers from? By our results, what has taken precedence? What light is within us?

 

"He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion." (2 Nephi 26:29)

"And now, remember the words of him who is the life and light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Amen." (D&C 10:70)

"And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness." (Alma 38:9)

John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

D&C 93

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;

2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;

3 And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one—

4 The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men.

5 I was in the world and received of my Father, and the works of him were plainly manifest.

6 And John saw and bore record of the fulness of my glory, and the fulness of John’s record is hereafter to be revealed.

7 And he bore record, saying: I saw his glory, that he was in the beginning, before the world was;

8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation—

9 The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men.

10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him.