I love the example of Nephi and Lehi in the Book of Helaman Chapt. 5. It is an incredible example of being quickened and "chasing darkness from among you" (D&C 50:24-25). Because the word is truth is light and light is spirit and spirit is matter we can see clearly in Helaman 5 where the word literally frees people from darkness and let's them enjoy the liberty and power of God's fire and light.
There, Nephi and Lehi have tried to be missionaries but are captured and left in a Lamanite prison for "many days without food." (Hel. 5:22) when about 300 Lamanites come to slay them they are "encircled about as if by fire" and the Lamanites didn't even dare to touch them. The fire inside Nephi and Lehi, was what the Hebrews call "shekinah" translated as "everlasting burning" or "celestial fire" showing God's divine presence. This is that truth and light - spirit and matter - that comes from having the words of eternal life blazing inside you.
When we feast upon the words of Christ this type of light resides in us - it quickens us - so that even if our bodies lack physical food - like here - our spirits are full of spiritual matter and it burns brightly within us. This quickening made the whole earth and prison shake and the Lamanites fell to the ground. And it filled Lehi and Nephi's faces with light until they "did shine exceedingly even as the faces of angels."
The Lamanites - who have abandoned God's spiritual light and food - are terrified and "overshadowed with a cloud of darkness" and "awful solemn fear." They hear the voice of God - the word - declaring "Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings." God had sent Nephi and Lehi to share the "gospel" the "good news" with them that Christ was coming! That he was about to be born of Mary across the ocean in Jerusalem and that Christ would deliver them from the darkness, fear, sin they were in. This voice - this word - was "a still voice, of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper" that did "pierce even to the very soul." This is the power of God's word. Like a laser of light that cuts deep to our hearts. The voice came three times- and on the third time spoke "marvelous words which cannot be uttered by man" that made the "walls tremble" and the "earth shook as if it were about to divide asunder."
The Lamanites tried to flee but the "thick cloud of darkness" continued to "overshadow" them and made them "immovable because of the fear." (Hel. 5: 33-34).
But one of the Lamanites - Aminadab - who was a Nephites by birth - turned and looked back at Nephi and Lehi and saw their glowing, radiant faces. Faces that did "shine exceedingly even as the faces of angels" and that they were talking or lifting their voices to someone above. He saw they were conversing with angels and told the other Lamanites he was with - hey, look they are on fire! They are filled with light and talking with the angels of God.
The other Lamanites, still frozen in fear, covered in darkness - pled - how do we get out of this? What do we do so "this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us." Aminadab's advice was simple - pray until you have faith in Christ - and that faith will fill you with light and chase the darkness away. The Lamanites followed this advice and they "cried unto the voice of him who had skaken the earth" even "until the cloud of darkness was dispersed." (Hel. 5:42). They chased the darkness from them with the light of their faith in Christ, until "every soul was encircled about by a pillar of fire!" It filled them with "that joy that is unspeakable an full of glory" until their "hearts wee filled as if with fire" and "they could speak forth marvelous words." (Hel. 5:45). And the Lord God - Heavenly Father - assured them "Peace, peace be unto you beacause of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world."
Even these potential murderers were quickened in Christ - freed from the darkness that enslaved and possessed them, by the power, light and truth of His word.
This is the potential of each of us. Each of us at times are caught in darkness, surrounded by the woes, whirlwinds and wars. We might even be like Nephi or Lehi, caught in the prison of the hatred or traditions of others.
But when we "feast upon the words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32:3 and 2 Nephi 31:19-20) they fill us with light - his word quickens us - and chase that darkness from among us. Not only that, they can change our enemies into friends. These Lamanites converted to Christ, abandoned their swords, and gave back the land they had taken from the Nephites. They were no longer puppets to the darkness, possessed by the evil designs and hatred of our true enemy - Satan - but instead were quickened by their faith in Christ and enjoyed the light and mercy of Heaven.
They were truly free, happy, and full of peace.
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