Let There Be Light – Sunday, December 30, 1945
From the time of their earliest understanding, we wisely assure our children that there is no reason to fear the dark. We speak to them of the kindliness of the nighttime, and of the need we have for physical darkness to bring us quiet and refreshing sleep. A friendly darkness is so often a welcome and necessary relief to the glaring light. But darkness is only friendly and reassuring when we know what lies within it.
If we have any apprehension that there is some unknown thing lurking there, even physical darkness is terrifying to live with—and mental and spiritual darkness yet more so. Indeed; the record of all past years would seem to justify the conclusion that darkness is among the most common causes of unhappiness in men—the darkness that is the mortal enemy of light; the darkness that closes minds and breeds prejudice, the darkness that permits men to hate other men because they don’t know them; the darkness that crowds out intelligence and reason; the darkness that fears what it doesn’t know—and even fears to find out.
We speak of the ignorance and superstition, of the dark fears, of primitive peoples, and we think confidently of our own enlightenment—but in reality perhaps there are few of us who do not at some time fear to face the facts concerning ourselves. To give but one example, there are countless people who live in fear of their own physical condition. They have heard or read of diseases and maladies, the symptoms of which they fear they have—and they go on living in fear because they fear to know the truth; whereas, by seeking competent advice, by learning the truth, by facing the facts, their fears might immediately be dispelled. And even if the worst were true, knowing it would permit some intelligent action. But not knowing the truth precludes intelligent action, and permits fears to multiply.
There is almost nothing we fear which is as bad in reality as our mental fears would paint it, and knowing the truth is seldom as terrifying as fearing the truth and not knowing it. And so if we have a resolution to suggest for the days to come, it would be that we seek enlightenment with open minds, that we face the facts in our own lives, and in our own generation; that we search for knowledge and wisdom, for light, and for truth, and accept it where we find it. We have an obligation to know all we can know concerning our physical and mental and spiritual well being; and to inform ourselves. concerning these things, for men are not “saved in ignorance”. In the years ahead let us come out of our dark fears. “Let there be light!”
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Dec. 30, 1945. Copyright 1945.
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December 30, 1945
Broadcast Number 0,854