The Light in the Dark Wilderness

1 Nephi 17:13

And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

I need light in the wilderness because it is a dark and desolate place, cut off from my normal sources of artificial light. No electrical outlets, no way to recharge the batteries in my flashlight, no stores from which to buy oil for my lanterns or candles when the last burn down, no wood to gather to make a fire. As a human, I crave light. God has designed the dark wilderness, so I will search for light until I find His light. The whole purpose of the wilderness experiences in my life is to help me 1) come to myself so that I can 2) come to God and ultimately 3) come home to my heavenly home. 

Keeping the commandments does not necessarily rescue me from the wilderness, but it makes the wilderness experience successful because I learn to follow the Lord and depend on Him. When He becomes my light, the wilderness is not nearly so dark and bleak.

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