Don't Keep Your Eyes Closed in the Dark (& See More Flowers & Plants In England)

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness . . .  St. Luke 1:79

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.  Doctrine and Covenants 61:21

I've been trying to get a picture where I can see the full name of the temple in it.  The light is tricky.  So far, this is the best I can do.  I'll keep trying until the light is right.

We know Jesus Christ is the light of the world, yet there are many people who still sit in darkness in the sense they know nothing of him, or they refuse to open their eyes to see the light of the Savior of the world.

Without light, I couldn't get a picture to show you what all the darling dandelions a doing now ( :

When a person is in darkness, it at first seems there is nothing to be seen.  Yet, if your eyes are open, it is amazing what eventually can be seen. 

The Nephites endured three days of frightful darkness so dark and heavy it was impossible to see anything or make light to see--until Christ appeared!

 My friend has once again sent something to enlighten our understanding of seeking for the light.  Below is a snippet from the latest e-mail where this friend shared an insight received during deep meditation.  I'm sharing this because it can have meaning for many as they ponder upon this experience and how it might relate to their own "darkness" in life.  The types of darkness that missionaries commonly run into with people is lack of knowledge, non-receptiveness to spiritual matters such as the gospel and faith in God, or stubbornly clinging to false beliefs.  Actually, the list of "darknesses" in our lives can be anything to which a person can creatively apply it.  There are endless possibilities of individual darkness.

The following is what is related about room three, which is one of a series of rooms visited in the meditation:

[I entered room three, which was dark]  The door closed, leaving me in total darkness.  While in the room, the spirit told me it was okay to be "in the dark" and there was no need to be afraid.  At first I interpreted this room to symbolize fear in the sense we are often afraid of being in the dark about others' motives, or of the future, etc.  Which is definitely a true principal, but still only surface level.  

I later went back into the room as I was studying the meditation again and while sitting there in the dark the spirit said, "Open your eyes."  While in the dark room I opened my eyes, and saw that everyone else in the world was in the same room WITH THEIR EYE'S CLOSED!!!

Hum, food for thought--deep thought. 

I ask myself, "Where am I in the dark and what is keeping me from opening my eyes?"

Below are more flowers and plants on the temple grounds.

The church building we meet in for all our YSA activities is behind the trees

This plant, so lovely and delicate, brings such beauty to its little corner of the world.