Keeping the Light Alive

After the three-day conference ended, youth of the stake came away with renewed dedication to share the light of the gospel. Ashley Ochaeta tells of a riddle she once heard: A man turned off a light before going to sleep, and as a result hundreds of people died. Who was the man? The keeper of a lighthouse.

"We can't ever turn off our light," Ashley says. "Maybe we're the light in our families or to our friends at school. I've had friends tell me that I'm their light, the one who keeps them moving straight and doing good things. Those kinds of comments make me realize how important it is to stay constant."

Kelsie Belanger says the theme of being a beacon in the night reinforced an experience she had at young women's camp. "We were identifying constellations," she explains. "One of our leaders pointed out the North Star. I thought it would be brighter than it actually is. But she said the great thing about the North Star is that it is constant. It is always where it should be. That left an impression on me. I realized that even if you don't feel your light is very bright, as long as you keep up your efforts, that makes a difference."

"Being an example is a very real thing here," says Brian Clancy. "We don't have many Mormons, so those of us who are members of the Church have a responsibility to do the right things. I've noticed that even when the light isn't on, a lighthouse is still noticeable from a distance. We can be like that here in New England. You don't have to be constantly preaching to be seen. Our example of doing the right things can still be noticed and still give light to others."