Sunday Lesson: May 1st

Our RS President, Marty Rozeski, gave our lesson on this fast Sunday. She chose her lesson from a recent conference talk from October 2015 by Elder Vern P. Stanfill, Choose the Light. In his talk Elder Stanfill tells a story of when he and his wife were excited to go on a bike ride with friends that would include deep canyons and long tunnels through the mountains. They prepared themselves with lights strapped to their helmets and bicycles because they had been warned than the tunnels would be very dark. 

When they started into the tunnel, however, their anxiety increased as their little lights were engulfed with the darkness. Elder Stanfill says, "Finally, after I did express my discomfort to those around me, I was able to draw closer to the more powerful light of a friend. In fact, everyone in the group began to form a tight circle around him." They pushed on into the darkness of the tunnel and after a very long time they finally saw a pinpoint of light. Elder Stanfill immediately began to feel reassured. 

The bikers felt confident before the bike ride that all would be well. He soon felt surprised and afraid and eventually asked for help in the tunnel. He received help and soon his confidence was restored. This is much like faith. We often will have experiences that challenge our faith, we will feel surprised and afraid, need to ask for help from our Heavenly Father or from others, and then when we receive that help our faith is restored. If we don't ask for help we will soon be driven from the light.

Elder Stanfill gives us three lessons from his experience in the tunnel. First no matter how intense the darkness of doubt, we choose how long and to what extent we allow it to influence us. We have the choice to decide how things will influence us. We can also receive help from the Savior and those around us. Elder Stanfill teaches, "While we are struggling in the darkness, there is nothing wrong with relying temporarily upon the light of those who love us and have our best interests at heart." He also says, "Just as I was embarrassed in the tunnel, we might feel too embarrassed to ask for help when we doubt. Perhaps we are one to whom others have looked for strength, and now we need help. When we realize that the light and the comfort of the Savior can extend to us are far too precious to lose to pride, then inspired Church leaders, parents, and trusted friends can help. They stand ready to assist us in gaining spiritual assurances that will fortify us against challenges of faith."

The second thing Elder Stanfill teaches is that we must trust in the Lord in order to develop spiritual strength within ourselves. At some point we have to act upon our faith and and do the work the Lord has asked us to do. Keep the commandments, search for answers in the scriptures and expect that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us to lift us from the darkness if we draw near unto Him. Elder Stanfill advises us to, "remember the spiritual blessings and feelings that have penetrated our hearts and lives in the past and place our faith in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ." 

Third there is no darkness so dense, so menacing, or so difficult that it cannot be overcome by light. Elder Neil L. Andersen recently taught: "As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for the righteous. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight."

We have the power to choose belief over doubt. With Heavenly Father's help, and our obedience to His commandments, we can choose the light of the Savior and share that light with others.