The Light of Truth?

As a family we read every night from the Book of Mormon. We have read it many time through in all of our years as a family, though I always feel that I take something new away from it, if only my increased testimony that it is true. From our reading today I ponder Mosiah 8:20 “O  how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she (his church – the kingdom of God) should rule over them!” I have had numerous people express concern that we, meaning those in the church, blindly follow a prophet. Assuming that this prophet speaks his will and not Gods, that would be of great concern. But how can we be certain that a man stating that he is telling Gods word know for a fact that he is telling truth? From a distance the light seems dim, almost imperceptible, if you were not careful a person could miss it entirely. But those who notice and seek this light out soon discover that as they come closer the light become brighter and their path becomes more clear, even certain. The light penetrates into their very soul. The feelings they have in their heart confirm the goodness of the light and they are happy, no, it is more than happy, it is pure joy. Satan’s counterfeit would be the temporary high one receives from drugs, but this joy is lasting because of the power of the light, bringing understanding and direction to every part of our being. The prophets words penetrate deep into our souls as if coming from the mouth of God himself, confirming the reality of their truth. His words fill our hearts again with this all enlightening power, gentle,  but sure. As Peter preached to a congregation of men as recorded in Acts 2 the people in the congregation were pricked in their heart and were baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and it filled the whole room. The event is now known as the day of Pentecost. It was a day prophesied would come by John in chaper 15 “But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father he shall testify of me:”  My testimony to you this day is that this gift of the Holy Ghost is in use today among the Saints of God.  “And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” Acts 5:32  The key word here is that the Holy Ghost only comes to those who obey his promptings, those who see that far distant light and follow it. That first step into the light is no harder to take than our hearts will allow.