Have you ever seen a solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when
the moon moves between the earth and the sun,
almost completely blocking any light from the sun.
If you imagine the sun as the size of a common bicycle tire,
the moon in comparison would be scarcely the size
of a small pebble.
How is it possible that the very source of our warmth, light,
and life could be so greatly obstructed
by something comparatively insignificant in size?
Although the sun is 400 times larger than the moon,
it is also 400 times farther away from the earth.
From earth's perspective, this geometry
makes the sun and moon appear to be the same size.
When the two are aligned just right,
the moon seems to obscure the entire sun.
In the same manner that the very small moon can
block the magnificent sun, extinguishing its light
and warmth, a spiritual eclipse can
occur when we allow minor and troublesome obstructions
to get so close they block out the magnitude, brightness,
and warmth of the light of Jesus Christ and His gospel.
Clearly, none of us wants to purposefully obscure
our vision of heaven or allow a spiritual eclipse
to occur in our lives.
Let me share some thoughts that may assist us
in preventing spiritual eclipse from causing
us permanent spiritual damage.
We can gaze at partially blocked heavenly light through gospel
glasses, avoiding the harm of a spiritual eclipse.
When you put on gospel glasses, you
find enhanced perspective, focus, and vision in the way
that you think about your priorities, your problems,
your temptations, and even your mistakes.
You will see brighter light that you could not see without them.
Ironically, it is not only the negative that
can cause spiritual eclipse.
Often, admirable or positive endeavors
can be drawn so close that they blot out gospel light
and bring darkness.
These could include education and prosperity,
power and influence, ambition, even talents and gifts.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has taught
that "any virtue when taken to an extreme can become a vice."
The use of social media, mobile apps, and games
can be inordinately time-consuming.
Two additional risks related to social media
are idealized reality and debilitating comparisons.
With so many appropriate and inspired uses of technology,
let us use it to teach, inspire, lift, and encourage others
to become their finest rather than to portray
our idealized virtual selves.
Let's now address the age-old stumbling block of pride.
Pride is the opposite of humility,
which is "a willingness to submit
to the will of the Lord."
Pride is often competitive.
It is a tendency to seek to become more and presume
that we are better than others.
Pride often results in feelings of anger and hatred.
It causes one to hold grudges or to withhold forgiveness.
Pride is swallowed in the Christlike attribute
of humility.
Relationships, even with close family and loved ones,
are fostered in humility and are stymied by pride.
In conclusion, a solar eclipse is indeed
a remarkable phenomenon of nature
during which the beauty, warmth, and light of the sun
can be completely covered by a comparatively
insignificant object, causing darkness and chill.
A similar phenomenon can be replicated
in a spiritual sense when otherwise
small and insignificant matters are drawn too close
and block the beauty, warmth, and heavenly light
of the gospel of Jesus Christ, replacing it
with cold darkness.
Gospel glasses comprised of a knowledge and testimony
of gospel principles and ordinances
provide spiritual protection and clarity
for someone exposed to the hazards of a spiritual eclipse.
If you discover anything that seems to be blocking your light
and joy of the gospel in your life,
I invite you to look through a lens of the gospel
to not allow insignificant and inconsequential matters
to obscure your eternal view of the great plan of happiness.
In short, don't let life's distractions
eclipse heaven's light.
I bear testimony that no matter the obstruction that
may block our vision of gospel light,
the light is still there.
That source of warmth, truth, and brightness
is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I bear testimony of a loving Heavenly Father
and of His Son, Jesus Christ, and of His role
as our Savior and Redeemer.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.