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Finding Light in a Dark WorldJames E. Faust
© 1995 Deseret Book CompanyAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permissionin writing from the publisher, Deseret Book Company, P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130. This workis not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed hereinare the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church or of DeseretBook Company.Deseret Book is a registered trademark of Deseret Book Company.
Preface
James E. Faust,
Finding Light in a Dark World 
( 1995)
 
ixPrefaceixSince becoming a General Authority in 1972, I have had the opportunity to meet with Latter-day Saints inmany nations. In doing so, I have seen the countless ways in which faithful members of the Church areworking to find light in this ever-darkening world. Good people everywhere are reading the scriptures,studying the gospel, teaching others, and rearing families, often serving without attention or recognition asthey brighten the lives of those around them.ixIn this book—a collection of some of my recent general conference addresses and other speeches editedfor the benefit of the reader—I have tried to define the light of the gospel and to suggest some ways in whichwe might seek that light.ixAncient and modern revelations proclaim Jesus Christ to be the Light of the world. Accordingly, the firstsection of this book focuses on our need to build stronger testimonies of our Savior, Jesus Christ, "the trueLight, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).ixThe second section of the book shows several ways in which we as Latter-day Saints may serve asexamples to those around us, thus radiating the light of the gospel: by honoring the legacy of those who havegone before, by performing service and standing for truth in our communities and nations, and by followingthe example of our Savior in great and small ways.xThe concluding section of this book discusses the responsibility of parents to "bring up your children in lightand truth . . . , according to the commandments" (D&C 93:40,42). It is my firm belief that there is no more important human effort. Because each family member has the opportunity to seek the light of the gospelthrough righteous living, I have devoted specific chapters to discussing the duties and challenges of youngpeople, priesthood holders, mothers, and fathers. And because keeping the Sabbath day holy is a familyduty, a chapter addresses that important and sacred topic.xIt is hoped that in these pages the reader may find some messages that will strengthen resolve, buildtestimony, and encourage good works. May the Lord bless you in your efforts to live worthy of his promise: "If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness inyou; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things" (D&C 88:67).© 1995 Deseret Book CompanyPrinted from Gospelink.com
"The Prints of the Nails in His Hands"
James E. Faust,
Finding Light in a Dark World 
( 1995)1Part One3The Light of the World:Jesus Christ, Our Savior 3Chapter One
 
3"The Prints of the Nails in His Hands"3Imagine with me that we are going to meet the Savior of the world. Imagine further that we are among theNephites round about the temple in the land Bountiful on the American continent just after the Savior'scrucifixion in Jerusalem. Imagine further that we have received the sign concerning his death, and while wewere thus conversing together we "heard a voice as if it came out of heaven" which we could not understandeven though "it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, . . . it did pierce [us] to thevery soul," so much so that there was no part of our bodies that did not quake, causing our "hearts to burn"(3 Nephi 11:3). We heard the voice a second time and we "understood it not" (verse 4).3 - 4The third time, we look upward from whence the sound comes. This time we are able to "understand thevoice" and it says, "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him" (verses 6-7). As we look up, we see "a Man descending out of heaven." He is "clothed in awhite robe," and he comes down and stands among us (verse 8). We are frightened. Many of us think it is anangel who has appeared. But he stretches forth his hand and says: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom theprophets testified shall come into the world" (verse 10). He continues: "And behold, I am the light and the lifeof the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified theFather in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all thingsfrom the beginning" (verse 11).4When we hear this, we fall to the earth because we remember that it was prophesied that Christ wouldshow himself unto us after his ascension into heaven. Now we must be sure. There have been many falseChrists who have come. How can we know? We remember scriptures that tell the manner of his crucifixion,and he invites us to come forth "that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel theprints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world" (verse 14).4At first we are reluctant to do this. It is too personal, too indelicate, to touch another person's body to satisfyour curiosity. Others are getting in line. In the end, our curiosity gets the best of us, because we feel we mustknow. Is this personage really the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, who received these marks he offers to show uswhen he was crucified in Jerusalem?4We are excited. Our hearts pound within our breasts. Could this possibly be the Son of God, the sovereignof the world? The line we are in moves forward, and we walk up to him. As we have been invited to do, weare among those who thrust their hands into his side and feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in hisfeet. "One by one" we go by him, and then we "know of a surety" that it is he "of whom it was written by theprophets, that should come" (verse 15). All doubt has disappeared.4Having thus witnessed for ourselves, how should we express ourselves? We are so humbled we feel wemust say, "Hosanna!"
Hosanna
in the Hebrew means "please save us." And then we say, "Blessed be thename of the Most High God!" and we "fall down at the feet of Jesus, and . . . worship him" (verse 17).4 - 5There is one of us in the multitude who is called up to meet the Savior. His name is Nephi. We wonder,how will he greet the Savior? Will he shake hands? Will he bow? What would be appropriate? We watch veryintently. "And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet" (verse19). The Lord commands Nephi to arise and gives to him the power to baptize, and he then instructs Nephiand the others to whom he has given the power to baptize how it shall be done. "And now behold, these arethe words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, Ibaptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen" (verses 24-25).5And then we hear the Savior instruct Nephi and the others that following the baptismal prayer, those beingbaptized should be immersed in the water. We are so anxious to hear more of his message. What will heteach us? He assures us that this is his doctrine and that if we will build upon this, we will build upon a rock,and our lives and our homes will be so strong that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against them" (verse39). What a great promise that is. We are eager to hear more.5He begins to teach us. We soon hear that the doctrine of Christ is not easy doctrine. We are told we will be judged in part by the intent of our hearts. In large measure, we will be judged not only by what we have donebut by what we should have done in a given situation. This is very sobering. It is new to us. This new doctrinerequires a reconciliation of differences before we come to the Lord asking his divine providence. "Go thy wayunto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, andI will receive you" (3 Nephi 12:24). Then follows more of the hard doctrine of this Jesus:
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