Light the Way – October 19, 2003
Nearly 400 years ago, the Puritans crossed an ocean to come to a land where they could worship God as they pleased. Among this handful of hearty men and women was John Lathrop, a prominent minister of the time. Beloved of the people, he was a strong proponent of liberty and a champion of tolerance among the rigid Puritans. He lived with courage and conviction and worked to uphold freedom—the freedom we have come to enjoy today. He had no ambition to shape history—but he did. His life of service is remembered by his descendants, who today number in the millions. Among them are the notable and great: religious leaders, presidents, statesmen, artists and poets, inventors, scientists, and countless others who trace their lineage to him. Like their forebearer, many have been known for being devout and patriotic.1
John Lathrop’s contributions continue to light the way for generations yet unborn. He was just one person who lived hundreds of years ago and may not have thought he did much in the world. But he and his descendants have shaped the times in which they lived.
None of us knows what will come of our best efforts. Will succeeding generations wish to follow our example? Will we leave a legacy that others can look to for wisdom and strength? We may not think we’re doing much here, just living our lives, doing our daily part. But from us comes the future of this and any country. From us can come the advancement of truth and virtue. From us can come a rising generation of honorable men and women who “love mercy, and . . . walk humbly with . . . God.”2 We don’t have to be well-known to make a difference. We simply have to do the most important thing that can be done: we pass to the next generation the best of what has gone before, continuing the braided cord that links us to one another.
In the faded memories of the past, some things remain clear. Truth and virtue
never die. We hold on to the good from those who preceded us, as they in like manner built upon the foundation of their ancestors. The future will one day be past, and there will be those who have learned from us. The hope is that we will stand as tall as some who have gone before. In so doing we honor their heritage; we preserve their best qualities. And thus, like all who hold a torch of goodness and honor, we cast a light that extends to both the past and the future.
Program #3870
1. Appreciation is expressed to Joseph Fielding McConkie, a descendant of John Lathrop, for providing helpful information about John Lathrop.
2. Micah 6:8.