Oil Lamp: Restore Light to a darken room

"Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom."

Doctrine and Covenants 33:17

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I took this picture in Nazareth, the “hometown” of Jesus. About an hour before I took this picture an interesting thing happened. We experienced a power failure, and all the lights had gone out due to the excess/overindulgence of power needed to keep all the manmade equipment functioning. For about 5 minutes, we stood in darkness. We don’t realize how much we depend on manmade electricity until we don’t have it. (We would be wise to remember that when we overuse power.. there will always be a failure)

However, on the flipside….It is interesting to see how a small flame from an insignificant oil lamp can quickly restore light to a darken room.

The importance of the Olive Tree and the Olive Oil:
I understand better the symbolic comparison of the olive oil to our Savior. For those who don’t know, the process in creating oil requires first for the olives to be mature, unblemished, and qualified to be picked. The olives are then placed in a stone basin and are bruised and crushed by a large millstone. The crushed and broken fruit is then collected into baskets, which are stacked one upon the other. These are then placed under a weighted stone press, where overwhelming pressure is applied to them. This process slowly crushes the oil from the fruit. The pressure that is applied is extremely strong, firm and fierce, steadily increasing over time until the red-stained oil contained therein is extracted from the once unblemished fruit. It is any wonder that the place where the Savior atoned for our sins was on the Mount of Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane (which means Oil press).

Other scripture references to the Olive Tree and Oil:
Olive Oil used for healings and anointings (ritual for kings and priests). The parable of the 10 virgins and their oil lamps. One the best parable is the allegory of the olive tree. Lehi compares his family to an olive tree. The tree is a symbol of life and vitality. The olive branch with the dove is a symbol of life and renewal referencing to when the dove returned with a branch to the ark in the days of Noah after the waters subsided in the flood.

We are the darkened room. The Savior is our only True Light..Through the atonement we can have the light restored back into our life.