A Lesson from the Fireflies
By Steve and Claudia Goodman
A Field of Lights
Among the greatest delights we discovered while living in Missouri were the fireflies. As the sunset faded into dusk in early summer, we eagerly scoured the meadow near our home to see if we could spot any. Sometimes we would find two or three lurking beneath the trees and shrubs. The children chased them eagerly, while my husband and I admired their tiny lights that glowed all the way across the field.
One night my husband rushed breathlessly into the house. “Get the children and come quickly!” he exclaimed. We piled into the car and drove to a clearing in the trees about a mile away. We gasped as the children jumped out of the car giggling, and disappeared in the tall grass. The entire meadow glittered with fireflies. It was more brilliant than Temple Square at Christmas time!
Being in the Field
Many times over the years I have recalled that scene and marveled. Even more amazing to me than the spectacular beauty of the fireflies was the sheer number of them. At first we had been so excited to discover two or three fireflies a night. But a field of untold thousands was beyond our wildest imagination.
How like tiny fireflies we are when we let our own lights shine. In areas where there is no light, others can see our gospel glow from a great distance and rejoice in it. Yet the greatest thrill comes when we behold the field of the entire world, gleaming with lights twelve million strong!
There are times when I have been overwhelmed with the grandeur of our multitude, its majesty and power. Joining in song with prospective missionaries waving farewell at the MTC. Sitting with twenty thousand of Zion’s youth to hear a prophet speak at BYU. Raising my hand at General Conference to sustain the general authorities of the Church.
Then there are smaller fields of light that glow just as brightly in their own sphere. Shaking the hands of brothers and sisters with black skin and radiant countenances in a small Nigerian branch. Listening to primary children sing in sacrament meeting. Watching the priesthood brethren help someone move or the Relief Society sisters serve at a funeral.
A Rameumpton in Our Midst
There is one, however, who would minimize the lesson of the fireflies. He would mock us for being one of the multitude and try to persuade us to make a name for ourselves, as he did. Satan wanted all the glory for himself. He had to be one cut above everyone else. C.S. Lewis pointed out that “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man . It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109-10.)
Our children had a book when they were growing up called Hope for the Caterpillars. It told of caterpillars building huge mounds high in the sky and trying to crawl over each other to get to the top. The only way to get to the very top was to knock off the caterpillars above them and send them to the ground with a splat. The elite few who achieved their goal quickly realized that there was nothing up there, but they had to pretend there was so that those beneath them didn’t knock them off. A few caterpillars got tired of climbing over each other went off to spin cocoons. They turned into beautiful butterflies that flew high above the caterpillar towers. They were the only ones who were truly free and happy, because they had humbled themselves enough to find a new life.
Climbing Satan’s ladder to fame and recognition is a little like ascending the rameumpton. There is only room for one person at the top, and it’s every man for himself to get there first. What’s up there? Not much. It’s pretty lonely, but it looks mighty impressive from down below, so people keep trying to knock each other out of the way and climb over them.
In the Lord’s scheme of things there’s no ladder. We’re all at the same level, and He invites all to come unto him – “black and white, bond and free, male and female; and all are alike unto God .” (2 Nephi 26:33) There’s no status, no need to outshine one another, and there’s room for everyone who wants to come. It’s more like a field than a ladder. In fact, “.the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him.” (D&C 88:107) It’s quite amazing to think that the Savior, the greatest of all, could call us His “friends,” (D&C 88:77) and promise us all that He has. How He must love us to make us equal to Him if we are faithful.
Teaching Our Children to Add their Own Light
Nephi makes an interesting plea to the Lord. He prays, “. that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!” (2 Nephi 4:32) How can we teach our children the joy of being one of the multitude? That they don’t have to “be someone” in order to be important? (This does not imply mediocrity but humility.)
We can teach them that when others succeed, it doesn’t mean that we are less worthy. The success of others is actually an extension of our own success. If we work solely for ourselves, we can only achieve the greatness of one person. But if we combine our efforts, the results are beyond imagination, just like the field of fireflies. Look at all the Church has accomplished for an example of the great good that comes when people pool their resources with little thought of who gets the credit.
There’s a children’s song that captures the message beautifully:
“Bring Us Together”
One voice here and another voice there
Can call and not be heard,
But bring us together, go forward together,
The world will hear the word.
One hand here and another hand there
Cannot hold back the tide,
But bring us together, go forward together
United side by side.
Together, together
For every heart to share
One faith, one hope, one dream, one prayer.
One lamp here and another lamp there
Cannot light up the night,
But bring us together, go forward together
We’ll stay in freedom’s light.
Scriptural Examples of Working Together
The scriptures are full of contrasting examples that can help our children learn the falseness of trying to outshine others and the joy that comes in magnifying efforts by working together toward the same goals. Here are a few examples:
- Cain slew Abel because of jealousy. He lost untold blessings because he sought to rise above his brother instead of working with him.
- King Saul was jealous of David instead of rejoicing in his victory. Eventually his bitter efforts to elevate himself above David led to his downfall, and he was rejected as king.
- King Saul’s son Jonathan became close friends with David and protected him on many occasions. Unlike his father, being king was not so important to him as following the Lord’s program.
- In fear of losing his throne to the prophesied Messiah, King Herod killed all the children of Bethlehem under the age of two. Soon after, he was consumed by a terrible disease that took his life.
- Even Christ’s apostles were concerned on several occasions about who was the greatest among them. The Savior taught them that the humility of a little child was the greatest, and said, “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matt. 23:11)
- Alma and the four sons of Mosiah provide one of the most touching accounts of true brotherhood. Instead of trying to decide whether Ammon’s conversion of King Lamoni, or Aaron’s conversion of the King of the Lamanites, or Alma’s preaching in Ammonihah was the most spectacular, Alma said, “But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi . Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.” ( Alma 29:14,16) Regarding the joy of Ammon, Mormon also adds, “Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.” (Alma 26:18)
- Accounts such as those in the books of Acts and 4th Nephi help us understand the blessings that come when people are able to live with all things common, no rich, no poor, but all equal in the eyes of each other.
Modern Examples of Working Together
In addition to examples from the scriptures, there are many beautiful examples of modern day church leaders. Even though his younger brother was constantly in the limelight, Hyrum Smith never wavered in his love or loyalty for Joseph. He even died with him. “In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!” (D&C 135:3)
Likewise Brigham Young, who could have been very jealous of the Prophet and tried to discredit him in order to focus greater attention on himself, exclaimed: “I feel like shouting hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith.”
As we strive to find the good in others and make it an extension of our own efforts to serve, rather than being threatened by it, we will help our children to do likewise.
A few mornings ago in seminary I listed the characters we needed for a video we were making. The students volunteered for the parts they wanted while I wrote them on the board. Most of the parts had been taken, and I was trying to finalize the cast. Then Heidi raised her hand and said, “Sister Goodman, Becky doesn’t have a part. What do you want to be, Becky?”
Becky is mentally challenged and a precious addition to our class. We all love her sweet spirit. Becky wasn’t sure what she wanted to be.
Then Heidi asked, “Do you want to be an angel?”
Becky’s face brightened. “Yes!” she beamed.
“We already have the two angels we need, and you’re one of them,” the class pointed out.
“It’s okay,” Heidi replied. “I’ll just be one of the family members.”
Here is a girl who already understands how important every individual is. She also knows that as long as she gets to be in the movie, she can magnify any part she plays, even if she is just one of the crowd.
Each Light is Important
After my freshman year at college, I had the privilege of participating in the Hill Cumorah Pageant in New York. At the end of the production I knelt before the Savior in my plain, simple dress as one of the multitude. I did not have a main part. I was just there in the scene.
It felt good to be among so many believers and partake of their strength and conviction. Yet it did not take away from my ability to feel His presence personally. I knew that He had died for me – that He knew me by name and loved me. It was as if I were in the midst of a vast field of fireflies, surrounded by light – and love, as we all let our lights shine together.
