Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world;

3 Nephi 11:10-11

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give 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.

3 Nephi 12:14-16

Jesus is the light of the world. He is the light that we carry within us. As children of Christ, we follow in his example. We share the fire of his love. Our mission is to let the love of Christ shine within us to benefit all people by sharing it. Jesus is the light and love of God. Like the miracle of Hanukkah, the flame of God’s love does not go out.

Jesus’ light shines through his prophets and disciples. Just after the darkest time of year and on the last day of Hanukkah on Dec 23rd 1805, Jesus sent a child to earth to be a candlestick from which the light of Christ’s love would shine. This child called of God literally saw the light of Christ and God the Father in a vision as he was visited by them in an answer to prayer. He is among the prophets who testified that Jesus came into the world and will come again. The child grew into a prophet who restored the lost gospel of God’s love for all the world in preparation for Christ’s future return when he will descend in the light of heaven and establish peace on earth. A few aspects of Jesus’ loving gospel that were restored by a modern prophet of Hanukkah include knowledge of God’s kingdom of many glories for all people, holy temples where love is sealed, and Christ’s dealings with other sheep in his fold which are recorded in the Book of Mormon. Let us remember both the ancient miracle of Hanukkah, Christ’s teachings and observance on Hanukkah, Christ as the true light of Hanukkah, and the modern miracle of Hanukkah (restoration of the gospel and gathering of Israel) which point us to Jesus and his saving light. Let us remember Jesus and his many miracles during this Hanukkah season of lights.

The prophet Joseph Smith’s birth on Hanukkah is symbolic of his prophetic mission to be a servant in the footsteps of Christ. Jesus is the true servant and liberator to serve and restore Israel. He frees us from the prison of sin and death. Joseph who is Christ’s servant prophet in turn restored temple ordinances which provide saving covenants with Christ via proxy to those who would otherwise be in spirit prison, and ushered in the gathering of Israel and Christ’s many sheep to bring Christ’s love and light to the world. An article about Joseph Smith and Hanukkah can be found here.