As the 46th annual Festival of Lights at the D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center concluded its month-long celebration on January 1, a treasure trove of scriptures describe this deeply meaningful event. This beloved community tradition is evidence of the Gathering of Israel and a glimpse of heaven for many.
The Festival of Lights begins with an international gathering of ambassadors, diplomats and government officials representing countries and territories from around the world. It features the breathtaking international Nativity créches and Christmas trees. Tens of thousands of visitors see more than 400,000 stunning lights on the temple grounds and enjoy soul-stirring musical performances. Reflecting on all the Festival of Lights offers, ancient and modern scriptures come to mind:
“And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:71)
“Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 31:12)
“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalms 95:1)
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp;…With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.” (Psalm 98:4-6)
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)
“For the Lord shall comfort Zion,…Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (2 Nephi 8:3)
“Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” (Isaiah 52:9-10)
“For, behold, I say unto you that Zion shall flourish, and the glory of the Lord shall be upon her; And she shall be an ensign unto the people, and there shall come unto her out of every nation under heaven.” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:41-42)
“Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations; And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge…” (Doctrine and Covenants 115:5)
“And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation and kindred, and tongue, and people.” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:37)
“…and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City,…and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.” (Moses 7:62)
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred, and tongue, and people.” (Revelations 14:6)
As the Festival of Lights has welcomed guests from around the world for 46 years, is it an architectural coincidence that the D.C. Temple is the tallest temple in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 288 feet high with an 18-foot tall statue Moroni? This towering statue, clearly visible from the Capital Beltway, is seen by millions. Moroni, the last ancient, Nephite prophet and writer of the Book of Mormon, declared to the prophet Joseph Smith in modern times that the Gospel in all its fullness would be preached unto all nations before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (Joseph Smith—History).
