To first find out if God can be everywhere at once and be a collective in one place we need to describe what God is made of. The only form that I will address here that is found in the scriptures is light. If you understand light as knowledge or what we understand as consciousness it would be covered by the same understanding in the laws of physics. It’s just another form of energy. The light that it is found in the scriptures as what people report to have seen, that is associated with God, Jesus Christ, one of His angels, or those that have been in attendance of God is also a form of energy. Or at least the best we can tell by mortals.
This Consciousness non-timespace energy is vaster than our local universe. It can and does transmute itself into electromagnetic energy, and, in turn, matter, in the creation of universes such as ours, though it can also create itself into other pure energy patterns in a myriad ways (they include angelic realms, for example, and all the "worlds" we exist in between lives, and eternally).
David Bohm's understanding of physical reality turns the commonplace notion of "empty space" completely on its head. For Bohm, space is not some giant vacuum through which matter moves; space is every bit as real as the matter that moves through it. Space and matter are intimately interconnected. Indeed, calculations of the quantity known as the zero-point energy suggest that a single cubic centimeter of empty space contains more energy than all of the matter in the known universe! From this result, Bohm (1980, 191) concludes that "space, which has so much energy, is full rather than empty." For Bohm, this enormous energy inherent in "empty" space can be viewed as theoretical evidence for the existence of a vast, yet hidden realm such as the implicate order.
Many distinguished scientists have attempted to explain how electromagnetic radiation can display what has now been termed duality, or both particle-like and wave-like behavior. At times light behaves as if composed of particles, and at other times as a continuous wave. This complementary, or dual, role for the properties of light can be employed to describe all of the known characteristics that have been observed experimentally, ranging from refraction, reflection, interference, and diffraction, to the results with polarized light and the photoelectric effect.
Alan Aspect and his team discovered that under certain circumstances subatomic particles such as electrons are able to instantaneously communicate with each other regardless of the distance separating them. It doesn't matter whether they are 10 feet or 10 billion miles apart.
The physical cosmology, dark energy (it is called dark energy, like dark matter, because it cannot be seen) is a form of energy that permeates all space and tends to increase the rate of expansion of the universe.
All of the above are examples of how God may be able to be in one physical location and still have His energy permeate the expansion of the universe. I know of no way to proof God other than prayer. If His energy in the form of the Holy Spirit touches you then you know if not then we are left with faith.
Light--What is God Made of?
I ran across this post in the comments section of a favorite blog and since it was made by someone who called themselves, 'Anonymous,' it's impossible to attribute it to the writer which I regret. It has a lot of food for thought to think about on light and God. See what you think:
LDS Hymn--The Light Divine
The Light Divine
(Fervently)
1. The light of God rests on the faceText: Matilda Watts Cahoon, 1881–1973.
Of brook and flow’r and tree
And kindles in our happy hearts
The hope of things to be.
[Chorus]
Father, let thy light divine
Shine on us, we pray.
Touch our eyes that we may see;
Teach us to obey.
Ours the sacred mission is
To bear thy message far.
The light of faith is in our hearts,
Truth our guiding star.
2. The light of faith abides within
The heart of ev’ry child;
Like buds that wait for blossoming,
It grows with radiance mild.
3. Today thine unseen purposes
By faith’s rare light we feel.
Dear Father, make us pure in heart;
To us thy will reveal.
Music: Mildred T. Pettit, 1895–1977, arr.
Psalm 43:3
2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7
THE SYNONYMOUS WORDS FOR "LIGHT", ETC.
by Dr. Ethelbert William Bullinger
(Dr. E.W. Bullinger was born on December 15, 1837, in Canterbury, England. He was a direct descendant of the great Swiss Reformer Johann Heinrich Bullinger, a covenant theologian, who succeeded Zwingli in Zurich in December of 1531. Bullinger was educated at King's College, London. He was a recognized scholar in the field of biblical languages. The Archbishop of Canterbury granted him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1881 in recognition of his biblical scholarship.)
The Companion Bible
Appendixes to The Companion Bible
The Synononymous Words For "Light". Etc
1. phos = light (underived and absolute); the opp. of darkness. Used therefore specially of God (John 1:4, 5; 8:12. 1John 1:5, &c.).
2. phoster = a light, or light-giver, used of star light, and light holders or bearers. (Cp. Gen. 1:14, 16).
3. photismos = a lighting, illumination, shining.
4. luchnos = a portable hand lamp fed by oil, burning for a time and then going out. See John 5:35, where luchnos is used of John the Baptist in contrast with No. 1 (phos), which is used of Christ (John 8:12, &c.).
5. luchnia = a lampstand.
6. lampas = a torch (Judg. 7:16, 20) fed with oil from a small vessel (the angeion of Matt. 25:4) constructed for the purpose.
7. phengos = light (No. 1) in its effulgence, used of moonlight, except in Luke 11:33 where it is used of lamplight. Occurs elsewhere only in Matt. 24:29 and Mark 13:24.
(Dr. E.W. Bullinger was born on December 15, 1837, in Canterbury, England. He was a direct descendant of the great Swiss Reformer Johann Heinrich Bullinger, a covenant theologian, who succeeded Zwingli in Zurich in December of 1531. Bullinger was educated at King's College, London. He was a recognized scholar in the field of biblical languages. The Archbishop of Canterbury granted him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1881 in recognition of his biblical scholarship.)
The Companion Bible
Appendixes to The Companion Bible
The Synononymous Words For "Light". Etc
1. phos = light (underived and absolute); the opp. of darkness. Used therefore specially of God (John 1:4, 5; 8:12. 1John 1:5, &c.).
2. phoster = a light, or light-giver, used of star light, and light holders or bearers. (Cp. Gen. 1:14, 16).
3. photismos = a lighting, illumination, shining.
4. luchnos = a portable hand lamp fed by oil, burning for a time and then going out. See John 5:35, where luchnos is used of John the Baptist in contrast with No. 1 (phos), which is used of Christ (John 8:12, &c.).
5. luchnia = a lampstand.
6. lampas = a torch (Judg. 7:16, 20) fed with oil from a small vessel (the angeion of Matt. 25:4) constructed for the purpose.
7. phengos = light (No. 1) in its effulgence, used of moonlight, except in Luke 11:33 where it is used of lamplight. Occurs elsewhere only in Matt. 24:29 and Mark 13:24.
Perfected and Purified Light
The spiritual temple is normally symbolized by a circle with a dot at the center. The “three chambers” of the Temple of Solomon represent three conditions of the Soul Body, producing three states of awareness of the Spiritual Soul.
Auric Healing Color Wheel
Gaze into the center of the Auric Healing Color wheel (above) from around 5 feet away.
Soon the pattern will begin to move and reflect with your auric colors.
Your auric color(s) may change due to many effects, including healing, negative situations, emotional states, and as we progress on our life path, we may progress through events and develop a new state of being.
Aura Color Meanings
What Color Is Your Aura?
Color is Light
That may be a hard concept to understand but because of Sir Isaac Newton, we now understand that all color comes from light. Newton used prisms to prove that white light is actually made up of waves of different colors. This was a radical and controversial idea for the 1660s. At the time, most scientists thought that prisms somehow added color to light. Newton used two prisms to prove that the color was in the light, not in the prism. He placed the first prism in a beam of sunlight and projected the rainbow spectrum - red/orange/yellow/green/blue/indigo/violet - on a wall 22 feet away. To further prove that those colors were components of the light, he inserted another prism into the path of the projected spectrum and reconstituted the beam of light so that it shone white again.
A rainbow can be defined as a band of colors (from red on the inside to violet on the outside) assembled as an arc that is formed by reflection and refraction (or bending) of the sun's rays inside raindrops. They appear when it is raining in one part of the sky and sunny in another.
Some Interesting Facts about Rainbows:
Also See:
Rainbow
"My heart leaps up when I behold a Rainbow in the sky."
~ William Wordsworth
A rainbow can be defined as a band of colors (from red on the inside to violet on the outside) assembled as an arc that is formed by reflection and refraction (or bending) of the sun's rays inside raindrops. They appear when it is raining in one part of the sky and sunny in another.
Some Interesting Facts about Rainbows:
When you see a rainbow...
it is after rain. The sun is always behind you and the rain in front of you when a rainbow appears, so the center of the rainbow's arc is directly opposite the sun.
Most people think...
the only colors of a rainbow are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, but a rainbow is actually made up of an entire continuum of colors—even colors the eye can't see!
We are able to see the colors of a rainbow because...
light of different colors is refracted when it travels from one medium, such as air, and into another- -in this case, the water of the raindrops. When all the colors that make up sunlight are combined, they look white, but once they are refracted, the colors break up into the ones we see in a rainbow.
Every person...
sees their own "personal" rainbow. When you look at one, you are seeing the light bounced off of certain raindrops, but when the person standing next to you looks at the same rainbow, they may see the light reflecting off other raindrops from a completely different angle. In addition, everyone sees colors differently according to light and how their eyes interpret it.
You can never...
actually reach the end of a rainbow, where a pot of gold supposedly awaits. As you move, the rainbow that your eyes see moves as well, because the raindrops are at different spots in the atmosphere. The rainbow, then, will always "move away" at the same rate that you are moving.
Also See:
Rainbow
"A Scriptural Understanding of Light"
By Allen J. Fletcher
D&C 84: 45-46
45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.
D&C 131:7
7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes;
D&C 6:21
21 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
D&C 88:12
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
1 John 1:5
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
D&C 1:24
24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.
2 Nephi 31:3
3 For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding
D&C 93:36-37
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.
D&C 93:24
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
Moses 1:39
39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
D&C 88:13
13 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.
Moses 1:13-15
13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?
14 For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?
15 Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve.
D&C 93:2
2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;
D&C 88:50
50 Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.
D&C 50:24-25
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;
2 Nephi 2:26-29
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.
D&C 93:23-39
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.
31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.
32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.
33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;
34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.
35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.
38 Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.
39 And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.
D&C 1:33
33 And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
D&C 63:64
64 Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit; and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation.
D&C 103:36
36 All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith.
Psalm 119:130
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Genesis 1:3
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
D&C 84:45
45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
D&C 68:4
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
Alma 5:7
7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.
Alma17:2-3
2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
D&C 93:12-20
12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;
13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness;
14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first.
15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.
16 And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father;
17 And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.
18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John.
19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.
20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace
Matthew 19:17
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Alma 19:6
6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—
Pictures of a boy*
D&C 93:28
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things
D&C 88:67
67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
D&C 88:22-32
22 For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.
23 And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.
24 And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—
26 Wherefore, it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it.
27 For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body.
28 They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.
29 Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
30 And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
31 And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
Alma 34:34
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
D&C 76:118
118 That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory.
Matthew 13:43
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Ephesians 5:13
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
1 Corinthians 3:13
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
Jude 1:11-13
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
*This list was originally part of a Fireside/Devotional and this refers to some slides that Bro. Fletcher used. He described it to me like this,
“You enquired about the "Pictures of a boy". I am assuming that you have a handout that I gave to those who were in one of my firesides when they asked for a list of the scriptures that I used in the presentation. I just ran off an outline of the scriptures and titles of material that I used. One item was set of Transparencies that I made from 7 pictures of a boy that were produced by CES back in the early 70's. There was a Seminary program started at the Utah State Prison. One particular young man that started to attend was a very rough and tough kid. The instructor took a picutre of him the day he started coming. He took pictures of him later on as he began to change and have a different outlook. The change of countenance in the pictures is astounding. Finally a picture was take of him when he left the prison and finally was able to go on a mission. These pictures demonstrated to me the effect that the light of God can have on individuals as they receive it and live by it. I am including 4 of them in my book.” - Al Fletcher
"A Scriptural Understanding of Light"
D&C 84: 45-46
45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.
D&C 131:7
7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes;
D&C 6:21
21 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.
D&C 88:12
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
1 John 1:5
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
D&C 1:24
24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.
2 Nephi 31:3
3 For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding
D&C 93:36-37
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.
D&C 93:24
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
Moses 1:39
39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
D&C 88:13
13 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.
Moses 1:13-15
13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?
14 For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?
15 Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve.
D&C 93:2
2 And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;
D&C 88:50
50 Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.
D&C 50:24-25
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;
2 Nephi 2:26-29
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.
D&C 93:23-39
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.
31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.
32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.
33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;
34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.
35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.
38 Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.
39 And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.
D&C 1:33
33 And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
D&C 63:64
64 Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit; and in this there is no condemnation, and ye receive the Spirit through prayer; wherefore, without this there remaineth condemnation.
D&C 103:36
36 All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith.
Psalm 119:130
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Genesis 1:3
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
D&C 84:45
45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
D&C 68:4
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
Alma 5:7
7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.
Alma17:2-3
2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.
D&C 93:12-20
12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;
13 And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness;
14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first.
15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.
16 And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father;
17 And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.
18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fulness of the record of John.
19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness.
20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace
Matthew 19:17
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Alma 19:6
6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—
Pictures of a boy*
D&C 93:28
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things
D&C 88:67
67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
D&C 88:22-32
22 For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.
23 And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.
24 And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law—
26 Wherefore, it shall be sanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shall die, it shall be quickened again, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and the righteous shall inherit it.
27 For notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again, a spiritual body.
28 They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.
29 Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
30 And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
31 And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
Alma 34:34
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
D&C 76:118
118 That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory.
Matthew 13:43
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Ephesians 5:13
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
1 Corinthians 3:13
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
Jude 1:11-13
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
*This list was originally part of a Fireside/Devotional and this refers to some slides that Bro. Fletcher used. He described it to me like this,
“You enquired about the "Pictures of a boy". I am assuming that you have a handout that I gave to those who were in one of my firesides when they asked for a list of the scriptures that I used in the presentation. I just ran off an outline of the scriptures and titles of material that I used. One item was set of Transparencies that I made from 7 pictures of a boy that were produced by CES back in the early 70's. There was a Seminary program started at the Utah State Prison. One particular young man that started to attend was a very rough and tough kid. The instructor took a picutre of him the day he started coming. He took pictures of him later on as he began to change and have a different outlook. The change of countenance in the pictures is astounding. Finally a picture was take of him when he left the prison and finally was able to go on a mission. These pictures demonstrated to me the effect that the light of God can have on individuals as they receive it and live by it. I am including 4 of them in my book.” - Al Fletcher
"A Scriptural Understanding of Light"
On the Effects of the Holy Ghost
"The gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all [of man's] organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."
- Parley P. Pratt,
from "Key to the Science of Theology"
- Parley P. Pratt,
from "Key to the Science of Theology"
Our deepest fear...
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
~~Marianne Williamson
~~Marianne Williamson
Divine Light
The sunlight is one and the same wherever it falls, but only bright surfaces like water, mirrors and polished metals can reflect it fully. So is the divine light. It falls equally and impartially on all hearts, but only the pure and clean hearts of the good and holy can fully reflect it.
~~Ramakrishna
"light of truth"
The word is truth and is also light, these being titles of Jesus (D&C 84:45). Christ is called the "light of truth" (D&C 88:6; cf. verse 7) and the "true light" (1 John 2:8; John 1:9).
Light, Truth, and Grace
During the BYU Devotional on July 7, 2009, Professor Richard Draper expounded on 'light and truth' from an earlier presentation given at the 2004 Sperry Symposium.
Richard Draper, a BYU religious education professor, states that obedience is an essential step on the path to discovering light, truth and understanding and as people are obedient to God’s will, they will have a greater capacity to think, understand and learn. “God is the one that sets the bounds that make cognition possible,” he said. “This is the way the Lord has designed it,”
Quoting an oft-cited scripture at BYU, Draper said, “The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth.” Then he defined the word “glory” in the scriptural context, saying it means more than mere luminosity. Light is in all things, gives life to all things, and is the law by which all things are governed, et glory is twofolyd. It is both light and truth.
Without light, a fullness of truth could never be gained. Light is the expanding agent to comprehension and full understanding. To receive the larger capacity of truth, light is essential. The main source of the doctrine came from several verses in the Doctrine and Covenants, mostly found in Section 93.
Light, Truth, and Grace: Three Themes of Salvation (D&C 93)
by Richard D. Draper
(Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants)
(excerpt)
Light and the Process of Salvation
Radiance in the normative sense is related to light. But what is light? A careful look at the way the term is used in the scriptures suggests that it is more than mere luminosity. We get a glimpse of the breadth of meaning ascribed to the word when the Lord states, "The light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings" (D&C 88:11). This phrase defines light not only as something that makes vision possible but also as that force which activates and stimulates the intellect. Further, light "is in all things," gives "life to all things," and "is the law by which all things are governed " (D&C 88:13). Thus, a more full definition would make light an ever-present, life- and law-giving power that manifests itself, among other ways, as natural light, intellectual activity, and the living energy in all things. The scriptures declare that this "light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space" and that it is "the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things" (D&C 88:12-13).
These scriptures suggest that the term light is used to describe that aspect of the nature of God which radiates out from Him, expanding with His work and will, enlightening, organizing, capacitating, and quickening as it does.
In sum, light is the ever-present, life- and law-giving, intellectually and spiritually quickening aspect of the power of God. Perhaps the best definition would be living and capacitating energy. Thus, a scripture states, "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day" (D&C 50:24). This scripture suggests that the continual reception of this living energy endows one with ability. Thus, the Lord states, "If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things" (D&C 88:67). As we increase in light, we increase in ability until we are able to comprehend all things.
Richard Draper, a BYU religious education professor, states that obedience is an essential step on the path to discovering light, truth and understanding and as people are obedient to God’s will, they will have a greater capacity to think, understand and learn. “God is the one that sets the bounds that make cognition possible,” he said. “This is the way the Lord has designed it,”
Quoting an oft-cited scripture at BYU, Draper said, “The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth.” Then he defined the word “glory” in the scriptural context, saying it means more than mere luminosity. Light is in all things, gives life to all things, and is the law by which all things are governed, et glory is twofolyd. It is both light and truth.
Without light, a fullness of truth could never be gained. Light is the expanding agent to comprehension and full understanding. To receive the larger capacity of truth, light is essential. The main source of the doctrine came from several verses in the Doctrine and Covenants, mostly found in Section 93.
Light, Truth, and Grace: Three Themes of Salvation (D&C 93)
by Richard D. Draper
(Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants)
(excerpt)
Light and the Process of Salvation
Radiance in the normative sense is related to light. But what is light? A careful look at the way the term is used in the scriptures suggests that it is more than mere luminosity. We get a glimpse of the breadth of meaning ascribed to the word when the Lord states, "The light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings" (D&C 88:11). This phrase defines light not only as something that makes vision possible but also as that force which activates and stimulates the intellect. Further, light "is in all things," gives "life to all things," and "is the law by which all things are governed " (D&C 88:13). Thus, a more full definition would make light an ever-present, life- and law-giving power that manifests itself, among other ways, as natural light, intellectual activity, and the living energy in all things. The scriptures declare that this "light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space" and that it is "the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things" (D&C 88:12-13).
These scriptures suggest that the term light is used to describe that aspect of the nature of God which radiates out from Him, expanding with His work and will, enlightening, organizing, capacitating, and quickening as it does.
In sum, light is the ever-present, life- and law-giving, intellectually and spiritually quickening aspect of the power of God. Perhaps the best definition would be living and capacitating energy. Thus, a scripture states, "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day" (D&C 50:24). This scripture suggests that the continual reception of this living energy endows one with ability. Thus, the Lord states, "If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things" (D&C 88:67). As we increase in light, we increase in ability until we are able to comprehend all things.
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