more light and truth

Apr 7, 2013

I took Blythe, Keziah, Courtney, and Madison to Salt Lake City to attend General Conference. I grew up attending conference and love, love, love taking my children to conference now. I love all the people, all the accents, languages, and hugs. I love the happiness. I love the connection with saints from every land. I love the hustle and bustle. I love the tradition of gathering together to hear the words of the Lord.

We listened to a lot of modern teenager music yesterday and amazingly enough God was able to speak to me quite a bit while I drove and the girls sang at the top of their lungs. Here are a few messages I received.

Don’t you worry, don’t you worry child. See heavens got a plan for you.

Yes, God does have a plan for me. He loves me. He sent His son to die for me. He wants me back. He teaches me and reaches out to me and is full of goodness and light. Following His plan for me brings me happiness.

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you. There’s nothing that a hundred men, or more, could ever do. Just like the rain, down in Africa. It’s gonna take some time but I know you’re worth fighting for – I’d fight for you.

My husband will fight for me. This past week of darkness and misery showed me once again that he will do anything he can to help me. So will God.

Monsieur, I bless your name
I am ready Fantine!
Monsieur, lay down your burden
At the end of my days
You’ve raised my child in love
She’s the best of my life
And you shall be with God

Papa, papa, I do not understand
Are you all right?
Why did you go away

Cosette, my child
Am I forgiven now?
Thank god, thank god
I’ve lived to see this day

It’s you who must forgive a thoughtless fool
It’s you who must forgive a thankless man
It’s thanks to you that I am living
Again I lay down my life at your feet
Cosette, your father is a saint
When they wounded me
He took me from the barricade
Carried like a babe
And brought me home
To you

Now you are here
Again beside me
Now I can die in peace
For now my life is blessed

You will live, Papa, you’re going to live
It’s too soon, too soon to say goodbye!

Yes, Cosette, forbid me now to die
I’ll obey
I will try.

On this page
I write my last confession
Read it well when I, at last, am sleeping
It’s the story
Of one who turned from hating
The man who only learned to love
When you were in my keeping.

Come with me
Where chains will never bind you
All your grief
At last, at last behind you
Lord in Heaven
Look down on him in mercy.

Forgive me all my trespasses
And take me to your glory.

Take my hand
I’ll lead you to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God.

Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light.

For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
and the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
We will walk behind the ploughshare;
We will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!

Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Tomorrow comes!

I can’t even tell you how much I love this song. When I heard it at the movie I bawled all the way through it. I love the message of Christ’s redemptive love and power to save each of us. I love the message of Valjean’s healing through learning to love. I love the people climbing to the light and seeking the flame that never dies and the dark night ending. I know the power of God’s light in my life and want to share that power with the whole world. It breaks my heart to think of anyone is living with the darkness I experienced and I want them to know of God’s light to heal their soul. I love the imagery of chains being broken. I feel like I am helping my ancestors to break chains of pain, guilt, sorrow, cruelty, and heartache by praying for them, doing their ordinance work in the temple, and sending them my love. I know Christ has broken my chains and will continue to do so each time I turn to Him and give Him my burden. I love the message of joining the army of The Lord in spreading His message of peace and hope to all the world. This eight minute song is a gift to my soul.

God loves me so, so much. He loves you so, so much. He has done and will do everything He can to bring us home. I am so grateful for these powerful reminders. And this line?

To love another person is to see the face of God.

I want to learn to love with that love. I want to see as He sees and love as He loves. I long to be with Him in that future world that is full of His love.

And then President Uctdorf spoke this morning on light and how to access that light to chase the darkness away. I will type up my notes and share my thoughts on this life changing talk as soon as I can.