There are so many great themes this year for New Testament study in Seminary! We’ve had product lines for two great NT themes for over a month, and now we have added a new one!
“LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE” from Matthew 5:16 is one of my favorite scripture references and happens to be one of the Seminary Scripture Mastery Verses this year!
I tried my hand at designing a logo for this theme. I wanted to use a lighthouse, but I also included a number of other “light” symbols. You can see stars in the black night sky, and there are sun icons as well as two eyes in the borders of the image. I also used arrows because the light points the way we should go. I wanted to depict the contrast between darkness and light in the design, so I used a black sky.
Once when I was teaching the Primary song “I Am Like a Star” I had a neat discussion with the children. I turned off the lights and turned on a flashlight that had a star cutout on the end. I asked them why they could see the little flashlight glowing, and they said it was because it was dark. I reminded them that we only see stars at night because it is so dark. Even a little star shines bright in that black sky. We sang the song and I asked them to listen for what it was that helped us shine like a star. The words go like this:
I am like a star shining brightly
Shining for the whole world to see
I can do and say happy things each day
For I know Heav’nly Father loves me.
The reason we can shine like a star is because we know Heavenly Father loves us. In this world of darkness, we shine like stars because of that special knowledge. Those who do not have that knowledge can see the light shining from us and are attracted to it. We can share that light with others by helping them learn that they too are children of God, and beloved by Heavenly Father.
I had that in mind the whole time I was designing this logo. Also, I am an actress, and by nature, I have no problem expressing myself in public - but sometimes I’ve been accused of being a show off or big mouth (that was way back when I was a kid, but I still remember and feel self-conscious about it) so this scripture always brought me a sense of vindication and relief that expressing myself wasn’t such a bad thing. I’ve taught drama classes for kids many times, and directed a number of children’s shows and youth plays. I love getting to the end - the big performance - and watching the children who initially were shy and afraid shining like stars on that stage. It tickles me to no end when one of my most resistant students ends up stealing a scene once they understand how great it is to hear the audience responding to them. I’ve seen many a little life turn around from such an experience, and I love it!
I don’t know what it is about letting your light shine that makes it glow all the brighter - but perhaps it is like the parable - if someone had a candle and put it under a bushel, it would eventually go out, wouldn’t it - for lack of oxygen? When you remove the bushel, and let it shine for all those around, the flame will actually increase, won’t it, when it gets that exposure to fresh air? Yes, it surely seems to me that when we let our light shine it gets brighter - from my experience with performing, and also with sharing testimony. As we share our testimony, it grows.
So there is a super metaphor in this scripture/theme. But it didn’t stop there. I also looked up “light” in the online scriptures - narrowing it to the New Testament. There were MANY references and they were all interesting and powerful. Of course the Savior is the “light of the world!” to mention just one.
I created several products with this logo so far:
SEE ALSO OUR OTHER NT THEME PRODUCTS
