Christmas Lights

We were reading scriptures last night and when we were finished I looked at something I had written into my scriptures that was penned after the verse following the last verse we had read.  That seems to be a mouthful, hope it makes sense.  Anyway, I had written the words Christmas Lights.  I am sure that at some point in the last 20+ years that I have had these scriptures I had a feeling while reading these verses that made me think about Christmas Lights and I must have figured that writing that down would automatically remind me of the thoughts I had.  Well, I am sad to report that I have no idea what was running through my mind that would cause me to write Christmas Lights. 

I wrote the words after Alma chapter 40 verse 11 which reads:

Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots.  Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words.

Truly I have no clue how I tied Christmas Lights into this verse.  It doesn't get any easier trying to find a connection in verse 12 which reads:

And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me:  Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities. 

So, Christmas Lights, it's not real clear why that came to my mind.  I am not seeing a clear connection to either of those verses. 

Verse 11 - perhaps I was seeing a connection between commercialized Christmas being a vain and foolish thing that can lead us away from what we should really be focussed on - the birth and life of our Savior.  When we get so caught up in the worlds definition of Christmas instead of a focus on Christ, our conduct does not lead people to the Savior.  Perhaps I used Christmas lights as a representation of the commercialized Christmas though it doesn't ring bell to what I has pondering when I wrote those words.  I do feel like my thoughts above are plausible and when we get consumed the commercial Christmas instead of the Spiritual one our actions do not lead others towards Christ. 

Verse 12 - Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction...  As we do good our lights shine forth in the lives of those around us.  Our good examples can lead others towards Christ.  Christmas Lights... When we lived in Florida we used to drive every night in December to visit two neighboring streets in Lakeland.  I think one was Lancelot but I could easily be wrong.  Anyway, the people that lived on these streets took Christmas lights to a higher level.  We loved it.  It was a highlight of our December evenings and lifted our spirits at Christmas time.  There were several nights in the month when the people would come out, stand in front of their homes and hand out candy canes to visitors.  There was a line of cars on more than one occassion, each was greeted warmly.  I would submit that these good people helped to bring people closer to the Savior as they let their lights shine, even their Christmas Lights. 

Well, it may be a stretch either way.  This I do know, the Savior loves us, He knows who we are.  He wants us to be obedient and to share what we have been blessed with with those around us. 

Christmas Lights... one of these days I will know exactly what that means...  Maybe...