What does it mean to search diligently in the light of Christ? Logically, it makes sense to search for something that is lost or even searching the scriptures, but how do you search the light of Christ?
A simple and yet illuminating story might help us to understand at least one way to search the light of Christ.
The other day I found a picture online, and I grabbed a screenshot of it so that I could text it to someone. I immediately felt that I shouldn’t send it. I dismissed it, rationalizing that it was not that big of a deal and it would not be taken the wrong way. But if I am honest, deep down I knew that this person could take it differently than I intended, and to be safe, I shouldn’t send it. But I had already rationalized it away and I hit send. Later, I got a text back from this person and sadly they had misunderstood my intentions. I felt so bad and my mind was immediately brought back the feeling that the spirit, or light of Christ, which is my conscience, gave to me, to not send it. I apologized and explained my intentions and it was fine, but it was a very recent and vivid example of how we need to search diligently in the light of Christ.
Part of searching the light of Christ is identifying its voice amongst the other voices in our thoughts. The word diligent is defined by Dictionary.com as:
1. constant in effort to accomplish something; attentive and persistent in doing anything.
2. done or pursued with persevering attention; painstaking
The last word “painstaking” is great because shifting through our thoughts must be done carefully and thoroughly, but it also must be a constantly and persistently.
Another aspect of searching diligently the light of Christ, is listening, pondering, and meditating. In our busy world, the adversary wants to keep us so busy that we do not have time to just listen to the spirit.
In a revelation given to President Joseph F. Smith, we are taught beautifully about pondering and letting the spirit teach us.
“On the third of October,” writes President Smith, “in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures;
“And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world. …
“As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me.” (D&C 138:1–2, 11.)
What a powerful experience! If we want to be taught by the spirit, we, too, must put in the effort to be quiet, ponder, and listen. We should also spend more time thinking about our Savior and His atoning sacrifice for us, which fills our souls with gratitude and love which creates a fertile ground for revelation. I have a renewed determination to search diligently in the light of Christ, both in hearing, identifying, and obeying the voice of the spirit in my mind and heart, and in spending more time pondering and listening. Will you join me??!
Craig
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