If you missed my thoughts on last week's General Conference talk, check it out HERE. This week I'll be studying a talk by Elder Mark A. Bragg titled Brighter and Brighter until the Perfect Day. This talk was exactly what I needed. I always love reading these talks on Sunday. It puts me in a better mood and helps me keep the Sabbath day holy. Although I have been watching The Good Witch. Does that count as keeping the Sabbath day holy?
Elder Mark A. Bragg starts out with this beautiful quote, "Even in the most difficult and darkest of times, there is light and goodness all around us." All printables are FREE and can be downloaded HERE.
Paul shared a message of hope. He said, "
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
“Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”1
What was the source of Paul’s hope? Listen to his explanation: “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." -2 Corinthians 4:6
Discussion: Do we truly appreciate what we have even when we feel we don't have what we always wanted? How do we know if what we wanted is what we should have? Maybe we are blessed beyond measure and don't even realize. How can we appreciate our circumstances? How do we overcome the adversary and focus on positive thoughts instead of on "mists of darkness."
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 50:24.
Nevertheless, with perfect understanding of the challenges of our day, the Lord promises, “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.
I loved when Bragg said, "From the very beginning, we followed the light; we followed our Heavenly Father and His plan. Seeking the light is in our spiritual DNA."
Story #1: While I was working for a large bank, I was invited to attend an executive program at the University of Michigan. During the program, Professor Kim Cameron taught the concept of positive leadership and its heliotropic effect. He explained: “This refers to the tendency in all living systems toward positive energy [light] and away from negative energy [darkness]. From single-cell organisms to complex human systems, everything alive has an inherent inclination toward the positive and away from the negative.” Supported by a wealth of studies, he also focused on three critical components of a successful workplace culture: compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude.7 It makes perfect sense that as people turn towards the positive (light), the attributes perfectly exemplified by the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, are present!
There is light available to us. We will always find light: Here is a bookmark you can pass out to your RS/VT sisters. I created a PDF with four to a page found HERE.
1: The Light of the Church
The church is a beacon of light to a darkening world. The church is stronger than it has ever been and grows stronger each day. We see those who have slipped from activity in the Church for a time returning as the rescue envisioned by President Thomas S. Monson brings daily miracles.
Bragg's Experience:
I recently visited with youth in Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina during their For the Strength of Youth conferences. Thousands and thousands of young men and women spent a week strengthening their love of the Savior and then returned home to their families and friends, radiating the light and love of Christ.
I was able to go to EFY at BYU three different times when I was a teenager. I felt the light and love of Christ when I returned so I know that the Light of the Church will shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
2: The Light of the Gospel
The light of the gospel is the path that "shineth more and more unto the perfect day," and it shines brightest in our families and in temples throughout the world.
Quote #3: Preach My Gospel 
This quote gave me peace as I'm definitely not perfect as a mother or a wife. But, families can increase in light in love and kindness. As long as we establish families of faith, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love and compassion. Then we will feel an increase towards our Savior and towards one another.
3: The Light of Christ
The light of the world is Jesus Christ. Use quote #4 below taught by Boyd K. Packer. Free printable found HERE.
Story:
I felt that joy when I heard about the efforts of a brave group of firefighters who fought to save a burning stake center in Southern California in 2015. As the fire raged, a battalion commander called an LDS friend to ask where the sacred relics and sacrament cups were kept so they could be saved. His friend assured him that there were no sacred relics and that the sacrament cups were actually very, very replaceable. But the commander felt he should do more, so he sent firefighters back into the burning building to pull every painting of Christ off of the walls that they might be preserved. They even placed one in the firetruck in the hope that the firefighters might be watched over. I was truly touched by the commander’s kindness, goodness, and sensitivity to the Light during a dangerous and difficult time.
How did this story touch your heart? Who had the Light of Christ? How did it make an impact? The firefighter definitely showed kindness and sensitivity to the church and desired to do a good deed. It can go a long way as we try and learn how to share the light of Christ in our own lives.
Testimony:
I testify of Christ. He is the Light of the World. May we be strengthened by the light that is available to us through greater participation at church and greater application of gospel principles in our families. May we see the Light of Christ in others constantly and help them see it in themselves. As we receive that light, we will be blessed with more light, even until the perfect day when we again see “the Father of lights,” our Heavenly Father.
Next week: Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives By President Russell M. Nelson
***The purpose of the 25 weeks of General Conference talks came from our ebook called, Growing up with Conference. In our book, we share an FHE lesson titled: Favorite talk. The purpose is to teach your family to use the general conference talks as part of their personal scripture study. This FHE lesson is found in our “Live it” section of our ebook. You can find our ebook HERE. ***
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