INPRISONED: Those who sit in darkness

Photo taken of the Salt Lake Jail  on July 18, 2011

 Yesterday, I visited a man in prison. It was a humbling experience for me. As you can see, this concrete walled prison does not have any windows. No light can penetrate this facility, and those captive inside are unable to see sunlight. Without light, no growth or progression can be made. Instead of natural light, artificial light from manmade electricity is used to “light” the interior. This kind of light has no life giving abilities. To be damned means to stop progression by not receiving further light and knowledge.

Unfortunately, many are imprisoned innocently or on false charges. It is truly sad. Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ were two such men wrongly accused and spent time behind bars. However, experiencing the darkness one gains a better appreciation for the light. As we know, there is only one source of Light. The Light of Christ. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12: 46.

This is the Savior' role:

“To open the blind eyes,

to bring out the prisoners from the prison,

and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

Isaiah 42:7

On first reading this scripture, it would appear that Isaiah is referring to just prisoners in prison who are without light and are blind. But re-reading, the blind are the prisoners... AND THEM (that are “free”… outside of prison) who also sit in darkness. We are told that there are many who are walking in darkness at noon-day. Read Doctrine and Covenants 95: 5-6.
My wife at night wears a blindfold. This is for her to be able to sleep a little longer in the morning when the sun comes up. She physically places material over her eyes which will not allow light to penetrate her eyes. The blindfold work.

 Yesterday in sacrament meeting, the primary president shared an object lesson that I thought was interesting. She blind folded the children and told them to find the picture of Jesus Christ that she hung on the wall. Unable to see, the children were unable to locate the Savior. Because our Father in Heaven loves us, we who are blind and whose eyes are not yet opened, God provides us  with His word for us to hold onto. To illustrate this, the primary president held out a rod which led to the picture of the Savior. She had the blindfolded children then hold onto that rod. This helped them find where they were to go. This is faith on His world. Hopefully, as we exercise our faith,  we have have knowledge and eventually remove the blindfolds and see the Lord ourselves.

“The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down.” Psalms 146:8