Patterns of Light - Elder David A. Bednar

Boyd K. Packer "The Light of Christ"

The Light of Christ is defined in the scriptures as “the Spirit [which] giveth light to every man that cometh into the world”; “the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed”.

And the Light of Christ is also described in the scriptures as “the Spirit of Jesus Christ”, “the Spirit of the Lord”, “the Spirit of truth”, “the light of truth”, “the Spirit of God”, and “the Holy Spirit”. Some of these terms are also used to refer to the Holy Ghost.

Conscience affirms the reality of the Spirit of Christ in man. It affirms, as well, the reality of good and evil, of justice, mercy, honor, courage, faith, love, and virtue, as well as the necessary opposites—hatred, greed, brutality, jealousy. Such values, though physically intangible, respond to laws with cause-and-effect relationships as certain as any resulting from physical laws. The Spirit of Christ can be likened unto a “guardian angel” for every person.

The Spirit of Christ can enlighten the inventor, the scientist, the painter, the sculptor, the composer, the performer, the architect, the author to produce great, even inspired things for the blessing and good of all mankind.

This Spirit can prompt the farmer in his field and the fisherman on his boat. It can inspire the teacher in the classroom, the missionary in presenting his discussion. It can inspire the student who listens. And of enormous importance, it can inspire husband and wife, and father and mother.

This inner Light can warn and guard and guide. But it can be repulsed by anything that is ugly or unworthy or wicked or immoral or selfish.

The Light of Christ existed in you before you were born, and it will be with you every moment that you live and will not perish when the mortal part of you has turned to dust. It is ever there.

Every man, woman, and child of every nation, creed, or color—everyone, no matter where they live or what they believe or what they do—has within them the imperishable Light of Christ. In this respect, all men are created equally. The Light of Christ in everyone is a testimony that God is no respecter of persons. He treats everyone equally in that endowment with the Light of Christ.

It is important for a teacher or a missionary or a parent to know that the Holy Ghost can work through the Light of Christ. A teacher of gospel truths is not planting something foreign or even new into an adult or a child. Rather, the missionary or teacher is making contact with the Spirit of Christ already there. The gospel will have a familiar “ring” to them. Then the teaching will come “to the convincing of [those who will listen] that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations”.

From an address given on June 22, 2004, at a seminar for new mission presidents, Missionary Training Center, Provo, Utah.What Everyone Called to Preach the Gospel, Teach the Gospel, or Live the Gospel Should Know

See the Full Speech HERE

The Light of Christ

The Light of Christ has both natural and redemptive functions. *Elder Parley P. Pratt explained: “It is, in its less refined existence, the physical light that reflects from the sun, moon, and stars, and other substances, and, by reflection on the eye, makes visible the truths of the outward world. It is also in its higher degrees the intellectual light of our inward and spiritual organs, by which we reason, discern, judge, compare, comprehend, and remember the subjects within our reach. Its inspiration constitutes instinct in animal life, reason in man, and vision in the prophets, and is continually flowing from the Godhead throughout all his creations”. The Holy Ghost is a male personage of spirit and, like the Father, can be in only one place at a time. He draws upon the Light of Christ to communicate sacred truths and to dispense spiritual gifts to myriad beings separated in time and space.

From the Book “LDS Beliefs 

*Pratt, Parley P. Key to the Science of Theology; 
A Voice of Warning. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1978

The Light of Christ

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.257-258

There is a spirit-the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Christ, the light of truth, the light of Christ-that defies description and is beyond mortal comprehension. It is in us and in all things; it is around us and around all things; it fills the earth and the heavens and the universe. It is everywhere, in all immensity, without exception; it is an indwelling, immanent, ever-present, never-absent spirit. It has neither shape nor form nor personality. It is not an entity nor a person nor a personage. It has no agency, does not act independently, and exists not to act but to be acted upon. As far as we know, it has no substance and is not material, at least as we measure these things. It is variously described as light and life and law and truth and power. It is the light of Christ; it is the life that is in all things; it is the law by which all things are governed; it is truth shining forth in darkness; it is the power of God who sitteth upon his throne. It may be that it is also priesthood and faith and omnipotence, for these too are the power of God.

This light of truth or light of Christ is seen in the light of the luminaries of heaven; it is the power by which the sun, moon, and stars, and the earth itself are made. It is the light that "proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space." It is "the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things." It is the agency of God's power; it is the means and way whereby "he comprehendeth all things," so that "all things are before him, and all things are round about him." It is the way whereby "he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things." Because of it, "all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever." (D&C 88:6-13, 41.)

Thus, when the Mosaic account of the creation says that "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2), and when Abraham records of those same events that "the Spirit of the Gods was brooding upon the face of the waters" (Abraham 4:2), the revealed word is speaking of the light of Christ. And when Job says that "by his spirit [the Lord] hath garnished the heavens" (Job 26:13), and the Psalmist explains that all things were created because the Lord sent forth his spirit, by which also he "renewest the face of the earth" (Psalm 104:30), both are teaching the same truth. Creation itself came by the light of Christ.

The light of Christ is neither the Holy Ghost nor the gift of the Holy Ghost; but that member of the Godhead, because he along with the Father and the Son is God, uses the light of Christ for his purposes. Thus spiritual gifts, the gifts of God meaning faith, miracles, prophecy, and all the rest-come from God by the power of the Holy Ghost. Men prophesy, for instance, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And yet Moroni says: "All these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ" (Moroni 10:17), meaning that the Holy Ghost uses the light of Christ to transmit his gifts. But the Spirit of Christ, by which the Holy Ghost operates, is no more the Holy Ghost himself than the light and heat of the sun are the sun itself.