Fire, Snow, Sun, And Water

"His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah" (D&C 110:3). I've always loved this description of the Savior because it is so vivid. But I believe there is also a deliberate specificity to the words that have been chosen. Taken all together, the fire and the snow and the sun and the water help remind us that Jesus is Lord of all creation. But also, each of those images had specific symbolic importance in the scriptures. The Spirit of God like a fire burns within us. Christ is like the refiner's fire, purging us of our impurities. Because of His Atonement, through the scarlet of His blood, we can be pure as the driven snow. The glory of the sun is the glory of the Celestial Kingdom. And all who come unto Christ will be given living waters and never thirst again. Christ is pure like the snow and through Him we may be just as pure. Like water, without Christ there could be no life. He is the fire that burns within us, the great burning love we feel for Him and for each other. Like the Sun, it is by His light that we can see.