Share Your Light
I want to start by saying that I've been praying that what I have to say will impact someone and give them the strength and love in their heart to move forward wherever they are in life.
My name is Kent Echols. My wife is Louise Echols. She is my girlfriend and eternal companion. We have seven children and 27 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. I serve in the bishopric in the Alta Sierra Ward. Louise serves in the young women's presidency; we both love our callings.
My life has not always been this good or blessed. Let me start here: Many years ago, I was in a very dark place in my life. I repented and found myself with many challenges. I found a Book of Mormon and read in 2nd Nephi 4:31-32 “O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!”
When I read this it shook me to my soul, and I felt the Savior's love. I knew at that moment I was loved and accepted. I have had many periods in my life where I would think I knew best and I could do it on my own or that my thoughts were right and somehow the Lord messed up and I could write a few chapters of my own. Forgetting that the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever, and his love for me is endless. But line upon line, precept upon precept, I found that true peace comes from keeping the commandments and covenants I have made with the Lord helping me to move out of self and into service for others.
Going back to five years ago, my nephew called and told me that he had lost everything in his life that mattered to him and it was because of his drinking problem. He said he no longer wanted to live. We talked for a long time, and I reminded him of how much we all love him. We prayed over the phone, and I pleaded with the Lord to help him. After that we were on the phone with each other ten times a day. From that time on he started to have a change of heart. It took a lot of prayers and hard work. But I told him with the Lord by his side, he will never go wrong. As long as he did his part the Lord would do His. I started sending messages to him each day with a daily devotional. I told him each day how much I loved him and together he would recover.
I tell you this story because this is where my messages began. Now March would be five years since I've started sending these messages. It began as one message, but today I send them to 20 people each day. Seven of them are to my children. It has built relationships that I could have never imagined. The love we share for each other and the Lord is amazing, and it was never like this before. This is just one message I got from our son [who was a self proclaimed atheist]:
“Great messages as always. Thank you! As I wrap things up here, I’m reflecting on how trying to be a servant leader completely changed my relationship with the guys and how different this experience has been for me, and it seems for them. I’ve never received so many compliments and thank yous in my life. I got to create positive relationships with a bunch of salty linemen by following Jesus's example of servant leadership. Whenever I felt the pangs of wanting to be in charge, l’d think of Him washing the feet of the disciples, and I’ve witnessed something remarkable! I hope I can use these lessons and continue to be humble and do the work God asks me to do. Thanks for sharing daily inspiration that keeps me grounded. I'm so lucky that God showed me how fortunate I am to even be alive today. I love you dad.”
Another one is my uncle. By sharing the gospel and giving him unconditional love, he has been ordained an elder and received his temple recommend.
Another one is my cousin. He was ordained an elder and received his temple recommend also. These are some of the best moments in my life. That uncle and cousin and I all went through the temple last year in May. This also brought about another cousin and his daughter being baptized, and now they both have their temple recommends. Two more on my list are my sisters, one of which has cancer. These messages have helped in her fight, and brought us so very close. We know that we will all be together forever. My other sister just recently, after 20 plus years, has returned to church and received her temple recommend, and all three of us went through the temple together on March fourth.
I send these messages to my wife, and they have brought us so close. She is my everything. Recently she was diagnosed with cancer, and I felt as if my world had fallen on top of us. We have a dear friend where we lived before who is the patriarch of that stake. He called us and said that he and his wife prayed and fasted for Louise and that she was going to be ok. This gave us such a peace. We are also so blessed to have great support from family and friends with all their prayers. Louise recently went to her oncologist. He told her that he didn't need to see her anymore. When she came home with the news we held each other and cried, thanking our Father in Heaven.
In Alma 26:12-13 we read: “Yea I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak: therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?”
My dear sisters and brothers, as I stand here today, I want to extend my love and gratitude for each of you and give you a challenge to send a message to a loved one or friend for one month. Watch the Lord perform miracles and then share those miracles with others. When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, do you just throw it away? Of course not! You change the batteries. When a person messes up or finds themself in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not! You help them change their batteries. Some need AA, attention and affection. Some need AAA, attention, affection and acceptance. Some need C, compassion. Some need D, direction. And if they still don't seem to shine, simply sit with them quietly and share your light. Find your path to go forward, true to your soul. Claim the strength of the spirit, sharing the love that you are, and dare to care for each other. I'm so grateful for the blessings that the Lord shares with all of us. I cherish each moment I get to share my love with my family and friends. I know that my redeemer lives, hears and answers my prayers and knows my true heart. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.