from Annette

And I, God, said: Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and for years;  Moses 2:14

Each day both the moon and the sun move across the daytime sky.  As they travel above us one always appears to lead the other.   If it is during the phase of the moon when it is growing bigger and brighter the sun appears to lead the moon across the sky.  If the moon’s light is dimming, it appears to stop following the sun and leads out on its own.  Yet to me this is more than just two heavenly objects crossing our sky, it is a story of love, the love of the sun for the moon.  When the moon stops following and leads out on its own, the sun does more than just follow, the sun appears to move faster to catch up to the moon as its light fades with each passing night.  Finally the moon will vanish completely as the sun reaches the wayward moon.  Then for a moment the sun and the moon travel together across the sky until the sun pulls ahead again with the moon following close behind.  We can see the result of this change as the sliver of the new moon appears again in the evening sky and its light begins to grow again.

On August 21st everywhere in the United States we can see the very moment that the sun catches the moon in the daytime sky as we experience the total eclipse of the sun.  If you’re lucky enough to be in the path of totality you will see the light of the sun completely surround the moon as it is held briefly in the arms of the sun.  It will be an unforgettable sight to behold.

For me this is not only a story of love between the sun and the moon, but a story of love between “the Light of the World” or “the Son” and a little wayward moon, me.  As I obediently follow “the Son” my light grows brighter inside me.  I can feel the light growing by the joy I feel in my heart for myself and others.  But if I think I no longer need to follow “the Son” and pridefully lead out on my own, that light begins to disappear.  I know when it’s happening by the joy and happiness that vanishes from my life.  But “the Son” will never give up on me even if I feel I no longer need His guidance in my life.  As my light slowly vanishes “the Son” draws closer to me until He catches me in His arms, surrounding my darkened self with His light.  That moment in His arms changes me and once again I choose to follow and my light begins to shine again. This light first begins as a tiny sliver, yet with each passing day, as I faithfully continue to follow the Son,  my light  grows bigger and brighter until it become as beautiful as the full moon in the night sky.

President Uchtdorf has shared, “Oh, it is wonderful to know that our [Savior] loves us……His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.” I am grateful for this reminder of His love for me in the coming Eclipse. How I love my Savior, the Son, the Life and Light of the World.