Pillars and Rays

Understanding the Restoration and its Connection to Light

Elder Dushku begins his talk with a recollection of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which began with an overwhelming burst of light and truth. He emphasizes the significance of this event and its implications for the Church today.

The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ began with an explosion of light and truth!

A "pillar of light" brighter than the sun gradually descends upon him. One personage appears, and then another.

And with that overwhelming burst of light and truth, the Restoration has begun.

• The Restoration began with a pillar of light descending upon Joseph Smith.
• This event marked the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Have you ever felt an overwhelming sense of light and truth in your life?
• How does the Restoration of the gospel impact your personal testimony?
• Can you think of a time when you felt a strong connection to the events of the Restoration?

Recognizing the Continuous Flow of Revelation

Elder Dushku warns against the expectation of spectacular spiritual experiences. He emphasizes that the Lord often communicates with us through a constant flow of revelation, which may not always be dramatic but is nonetheless significant.

Sometimes faithful Church members become discouraged and even drift away because they haven’t had overwhelming spiritual experiences—because they haven’t experienced their own pillar of light.

President Spencer W. Kimball warned, "Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of revealed communication."

Rather than sending us a pillar of light, the Lord sends us a ray of light, and then another, and another.

• The expectation of spectacular spiritual experiences can lead to discouragement and drifting away from the Church.
• The Lord often communicates with us through a constant flow of revelation.
• These revelations may come as rays of light, which are continuous and less dramatic than a pillar of light.

• Can you recall a time when you received a ray of light from the Lord?
• How has the continuous flow of revelation impacted your testimony?
• Can you share a time when a small, seemingly insignificant spiritual experience had a profound impact on your life?

Recognizing and Receiving Heavenly Rays of Testimony

Elder Dushku encourages us to recognize and receive the many ways we can experience heavenly rays of testimony. These experiences may not be dramatic, but they form part of our testimonies and are precious.

My point is that there are many ways to receive heavenly rays of testimony. These are just a few, of course. They may not be dramatic, but all of them form part of our testimonies.

I have not seen a pillar of light, but, like you, I have experienced many divine rays. Over the years, I’ve tried to treasure such experiences. I find that as I do, I recognize and remember even more of them.

• There are many ways to receive heavenly rays of testimony.
• These experiences form part of our testimonies and should be treasured.
• Recognizing and remembering these experiences can lead to more of them.

• Can you share a time when you experienced a heavenly ray of testimony?
• How has recognizing and treasuring these experiences impacted your testimony?
• Can you recall a time when a ray of testimony helped you through a difficult situation?

Growing a Core of Light-filled, Spiritual Experiences

Elder Dushku explains that as we recognize, remember, and gather these rays of testimony together, they can grow into a core of light-filled, spiritual experiences. This light can overcome the darkness of doubt and lead us to a fuller testimony.

The reality and power of one ray of testimony reinforces and combines with another, and then another, and another. Line upon line, precept upon precept, here a ray and there a ray—one small, treasured spiritual moment at a time—there grows up within us a core of light-filled, spiritual experiences.

Perhaps no one ray is strong enough or bright enough to constitute a full testimony, but together they can become a light that the darkness of doubt cannot overcome.

• Recognizing, remembering, and gathering rays of testimony can grow into a core of light-filled, spiritual experiences.
• This core of experiences can overcome doubt and lead to a fuller testimony.
• The accumulation of these experiences can become a pillar of light in our lives.

• Can you share how your individual rays of testimony have grown into a core of spiritual experiences?
• How has this core of experiences helped you overcome doubt?
• Can you recall a time when the accumulation of your spiritual experiences became a pillar of light in your life?

Choosing the Light of Christ Over the Darkness of the World

Elder Dushku concludes his talk by bearing testimony of Jesus Christ and urging us to choose His light over the darkness of the world.

I bear witness of Jesus Christ, that He is the light and life of the whole world—and of your personal world and mine.

May we recognize and receive His glorious light and then choose Him over the darkness of the world—always and forever.

• Jesus Christ is the light and life of the world.
• We should recognize and receive His light and choose Him over the darkness of the world.

• Can you share a time when you chose the light of Christ over the darkness of the world?
• How has recognizing and receiving the light of Christ impacted your life?
• Can you recall a time when the light of Christ helped you overcome a personal challenge?