"Be an Example and a Light"

When Bruce was asked to speak at the Iwakuni Branch, his assigned topic was President Monson's talk from October 2015 General Conference: "Be an Example and a Light".  The assignment came with a request that I speak as well (although it turned out I didn't, as they had a full program already), and so I began thinking about light in general, and being a light. I remembered an experience we'd had several years ago, when we were living in Virginia. The Washington D.C. temple there is quite a landmark, rising out of the lush greenery of the surrounding trees and quite stunningly visible from the beltway that encircles Washington and connects Virginia to Maryland.

At a stake conference during our time there, we had a speaker who had been on the architectural team for this temple. I remembered that he'd shared a little background into what led to its unique design, and then was able to fill in some details when I found his article in the April 1997 Ensign, "My Quest in Finding Light and Enlightenment" by Keith W. Wilcox. 

Brother Wilcox, then a graduate student in architecture, was assigned to find a single word or phrase that described his faith and then to design a church building that would demonstrate that word or phrase. He found this to be a daunting task at first, but after counseling with others, pondering, and praying, a word flashed into his mind: enlightenment - and then the phrase light and enlightenment followed. He said this: 

"I thought of how light and truth have been restored in our day through the Prophet Joseph Smith. As prophets, seers, and revelators, our Church leaders continue to offer light and truth to all who will listen. Our missionary efforts truly bring enlightenment to the world. Our temples glow with spiritual light. Eternal truths are taught and enlighten all who enter therein.

"Suddenly it was easy to envision a meaningful architectural design for one of our Church buildings. I decided to design a building that would allow light to penetrate from the heavens all day long and that would radiate light heavenward each evening.

"The resubmisison of my thesis that now illustrated the phrase light and enlightenment was accepted. My professors expressed great interest in both the history of the Church and my description of the spirit of our church."

Brother Wilcox went on to become part of the architectural team that designed the Washington D. C. Temple and the Provo MTC, among other church buildings. The experience he describes here continued to influence his ideas, and I have thought of enlightenment ever since hearing him speak when I see the Washington D. C. Temple.

I have missed seeing Christmas lights this year. Japan is not a Christian nation, and Bhuddists don't make much of Santa and Rudolph, much less the baby in the manger. On the air force base, we see Christmas decorations in the form of sandwich-board type cards displayed near the community center and shopping mall-type decorations in the commissary and the BX. It's been delightful to drive through the base housing areas after dark and see many homes lit up and decorated for Christmas. Off the base, any evidences of the holiday are few and far between. 

Even so, I love that "light" is so significant in our celebration of the birth of the Savior. I love that a new star, that bright light, led the way and marked the place where he was born. I love that in the Western Hemisphere his birth was accompanied by miraculous displays of light, that there was no darkness because the Light of the World had come.