Casually learning about Chinese Medicine and other alternative healing modalities has been a hobby of mine since I was a young teenager. One tool I used early on in my path to become a healer, was if someone had a pain in their body, I would look up images of the meridians to identify if the pain was on a meridian or near one. Once I knew which meridian it was, I would then consult a chart of strengthening and sedating points for the associated meridians in the book Energy Medicine: Balancing Your Body’s Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, and Vitality by Donna Eden. I would push on the described points until I found one that was tender. I would push on it until it was not tender. By that time, the pain had usually disappeared. 

Through my explorations, I was able to connect with other faith-filled individuals who sincerely sought revelation from the Lord on how best to help loved ones heal. We believe that with the diversity of individuals, health problems, and experiences, there is no one cure-all. Each person is on their own unique path of healing. When the Great Physician was included in that healing process, individuals are led to different healing modalities. One of these faith-filled individuals pointed out a scripture that I have cherished and have never forgotten: D&C 88:7-13.

This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. 
As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; 
As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; 
And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. 
And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; 
Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space— 
The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.

D&C 88:7-13

From these verses we learn the following things about the Light of Christ:

  1. It is in the sun, moon, stars, earth, each one of us, and all things.
  2. It is in the light of the sun, moon, stars and us.
  3. It was used to create the sun, moon, and stars, and us. 
  4. It is what enlightens our eyes and helps us to understand things. It gives us consciousness.
  5. It comes from God’s presence and flows out from Him.
  6. It fills the immensity of space.
  7. It gives life to all things. 
  8. It is “the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God.”

In Topics and Questions on the Gospel Library, the Light of Christ is described as “the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things.The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost. One manifestation of the Light of Christ is what we call a conscience” (1).

The Light of Christ is described as a force or power that is in everything and is responsible for giving life to all things. It is not a personage and is given to every person independent of worthiness or righteousness (2,3). As I have learned more and more about Chinese Medicine, I have come to believe that the Light of Christ is another name for Qi. God speaks to His children in the language and concepts they understand (4). When He spoke to Joseph Smith, He called this energy the Light of Christ. When He spoke to the Chinese, He called it Qi. 

Luke 8 contains the story about the woman with the issue of blood. When this faith-filled woman touches Christ’s garment, Christ says “Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (5). When comparing other Biblical translations, only 3 of the 32 translations on BibleHub use the word “virtue.” More commonly it is described as “power” (6). While this power is most certainly priesthood power, I would hypothesize that it is related to Qi. 

In 1963, David O McKay said 

“Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence, whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone, it is not alone what he does. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she is. Every person is a recipient of radiation. The Savior was conscious of that. Whenever he came into the presence of an individual, he sensed that radiation – whether it was the woman of Samaria with her past life; whether it was the woman who was to be stoned or the men who were to stone her; whether it was the statesman, Nicodemus, or one of the lepers. He was conscious of the radiation from the individual.”

David O McKay (7)

What is it that everyone is radiating? It is the Light of Christ, their Qi. Christ was able to tune into the Qi they were radiating, understand their story better than they knew, and meet them where they were at. Helping them uniquely and just how each of them needed. 

In Chinese Medicine, doctors learn how to sense the Qi individuals radiate and that which flows through their bodies, but not to the level of the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. We have other tools that are used to sense the Qi. The primary method is through pulse reading. An acupuncturist is trained to place their fingers on the radial pulse on the wrist and tune into the Qi of the body. Skill level varies and not all acupuncturists are created equal. One of my teachers, who is known for being an expert in a specific style of pulse taking, has been able to become so in tune that he can sense seemingly obscure things in a person’s pulse. He once told a story about how he treated a man who came to get acupuncture for a specific condition. My teacher felt this man’s pulse and with the combinations of sensations and being open to the man’s Qi, asked him, “Do you ever have a time where you need to hold your urination and not go to the bathroom for an extended period of time?” The man then proceeded to explain how he has a long commute home from work and is often stuck in traffic and often needs to go to the bathroom during that time and is unable to. And my teacher sensed that from the pulse and the Qi that man was radiating. As we strive to become like the Great Physician and learn the healing tools he directs us to, we will be able to be instruments in God’s hands to sense the Qi of others and better be able to help them. 

I believe that the Light of Christ and Qi are different words for the same force. They are in all things and give life to all things. There is so much we do not yet understand about the Light of Christ and how it perfectly connects with what is known about Qi, but someday all things will be revealed. I will keep pondering and if you have any thoughts on the subject, please leave me a comment! We can learn together.

Sources:

  1. Topics and Questions, Gospel Library App
  2. Bible Dictionary. Melrose Park, IL: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.; 2013: “Light of Christ”
  3. D&C 84:46; D&C 93:2; John 1:9
  4. D&C 1:24
  5. Luke 8:46 KJV
  6. Luke 8:46. BibleHub. 2023. https://biblehub.com/luke/8-46.htm
  7. McKay DO. Radiation of the Gospel. Improvement Era. June 1963, 533-535 or Conference Report. April 1963, 129-131.
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Alexandra Smith https://wayofthegreatphysician.com

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