This morning I listened to the BYU Devotional Speech by Dr. Damon Bahr from the David O. McKay School of Education given on November 15, 2011. I felt that his speech had an important message for us who are committed to Esperanza.
Bahr referenced 3 Nephi 12:14-16 from the Book of Mormon [Verily, verily, I say unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.] to illustrate four different ways and degrees we can shine our light.
1) There are candles that are never lit; 2) those that intentionally hide their candles and 3 )others who put their lights in places that aren’t visible and 4) those who put their lights in places to maximize their illuminating opportunities.
I feel we have a responsibility to make Esperanza into the fourth kind of candle—a candle that lights and guides others. In other words, we need to make a difference—“to stand up and be counted in ways that will change the course of history.”
