I found this from rather a while ago, and it’s such a good subject that I thought I’d share it today.
I was asked to teach the Relief Society Sunday lesson for last week, based upon the talk given by Elder Dyches in the April General Conference, Light Cleaveth Unto Light. What a great topic to get to teach! We looked at the major sections in the Doctrine and Covenants which deal with the concepts of light and truth, which Elder Dyches quoted, and which are basically my favourite sections, and some of my favourite scripture passages overall. We got to have a great discussion about these concepts based on those passages, and what they mean for our lives. I didn’t get to everything I planned, though – of course. Who does?! So I’m going to share those extra insights here, along with the foundation.
What do sections 93, 84 and 88 teach about truth and light?
Doctrine & Covenants 93:1-2, 6-13, 19-39
- Jesus Christ is “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (v. 2)
- He is the light and the Redeemer of the world (v. 9)
- ‘Spirit’ is truth – we are Spirit (v. 23) and therefore have truth in us, because we are from God.
- “truth is knowledge of things as they are….” (v. 24)
- we receive a ‘fulness’ of “all truth” by keeping the commandments (or, at least, you cannot receive it without that) (v. 27)
- those who keep God’s commandments receive truth and light – until they are glorified in truth and know all things (v. 28)
- the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth
- everyone who doesn’t receive light is under condemnation (v. 32) – because light is already in us. When someone rejects more light, they are deliberately choosing to go against their natural (spiritual) state.
“No man can be saved in ignorance”
How does this connect to light, truth, intelligence and knowledge? ‘Light cleaveth unto light’ – receiving light is natural for us. As we receive more – grace by grace – we grow in a knowledge of truth: things as they really are.
God’s glory resides in intelligence – or, light and truth. Without these, there is no glory, and we do not become like our Father. We are ‘glorified in truth’, meaning that as truth and light fill us, we become glorified – or, more like God. The light already in us grows to fill our souls and makes us beautiful and whole.
Ignorance is the opposite of this – and, as seen in the summary above, is a deliberate choice, not just an unfortunate lack of knowledge. (There is another type of ignorance, which is the absence of knowledge of true things due to not having heard of them, and is not deliberate – those who have any amount of this type of ignorance will, one day, have the opportunity to hear all that they did not know, and to accept or reject it). Therefore, a person cannot be saved in ignorance – of either type. We must come to a knowledge of the truth and be filled with light in order to receive the glory of exaltation – because God’s glory is truth and light.
Seeking light
All of these scriptures are teaching us that it is our duty to seek light. The light already in us is enlightened further by the light the Holy Spirit shares with us when we seek His help.
As we increase our faith in Christ, we receive light in intensifying measure until it dispels all darkness that might gather around us. “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”.
Elder Dyches, ‘Light Cleaveth Unto Light’
We receive the Light of Christ through the ministering influence of the Holy Ghost:
The greatest source of light that Heavenly Father imparts to you in mortality comes through the Holy Ghost, whose influence “shall enlighten your mind and fill your soul with joy”.
Elder Dyches
How do we gain more light and increase our ability to receive communications from the Holy Spirit? Elder Dyches explains further:
Because “light cleaveth unto light,” the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost will lead you to make choices that will tend to keep you in the light; conversely, choices made without the Holy Ghost’s influence will tend to lead you into shadows and darkness. Elder Robert D. Hales taught: “When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. … When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs.”
May I suggest that perhaps this is the time to ask yourself: Do I have that light in my life? If not, when was the last time I did?
Elder Dyches, ‘Light Cleaveth Unto Light’
The answer is, quite simply: by living the Gospel. As we genuinely desire and strive to do that, including repentance, we gain greater light. It’s not about being without fault – which, of course, is impossible and arrogant; God’s Plan exists because it’s impossible. As we rely on our Saviour’s grace – in learning, repenting, and growing – we increase in light and truth. This is why intensifying our faith in Christ intensifies the light we receive. Without this increasing faith in Him, trials and challenges cover our sight with darkness, which begins to replace the light in us. We need a line to Christ that ties us to the receipt of light through hope and redemption, so that darkness can’t take hold and overcome us.
Peaceable Treasures 
This was such an enlightening blog post! I loved the discussion on the connection between light, truth, intelligence, and knowledge. My question for you is, how can we recognize when the Holy Spirit is giving us that enlightening light, and how can we actively seek to have more of those experiences? Thank you for sharing your insights!
Great comment – thanks! I love comments – especially ones that ask good questions to continue the discussion.
As Elder Hales said, “When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. … When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs.”
The enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit is distinct from the thoughts of the ‘natural man’. It is just that: enlightening. You’re able to think clearly and with maturity and wisdom, you feel optimism or hope, and the things you thought mattered you realise don’t matter so much. You’re able to see what really does matter – truth, or ‘things as they really are’, as Jacob said. I would say the main elements are clarity, peace, hope, and perspective. Even if it means you’re recognising where you’ve been wrong, it’s not in a recriminatory way, but with these same elements. One of the things that Satan cannot counterfeit is peace. This is the central thing that the companionship of the Holy Spirit brings.
To bring more of it into our lives, we need to (a) seek it, (b) recognise it, and (c) act upon it. This builds a habit of seeking, recognising, and acting, which makes us more open to it. It becomes something we do almost automatically, integrated with our way of being and doing.
I love the experience of feeling that enlightenment. It’s the best feeling in the world. It often doesn’t last so long, because mortal things come in, but I remember it, and can feel it again relatively soon, provided I’m doing the right things to get there.
Of course, this all depends on having the Gift of the Holy Ghost, given by the laying on of hands of someone with the authority to do so. His influence can be felt by anyone who seeks it, but to have this regular experience and more constant access requires that gift (ordinance).