“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was *shed* [or, perhaps, shed forth] for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” (Moroni 6)

“And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which *sheddeth* itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; *wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.*” (1 Nephi 11)

“And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the *shedding* of the blood of Christ, which is in the *covenant* of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.” (Moroni 10:33)

If the shedding of Christ’s blood is more than a physical act, but also is a symbol of a spiritual reality, in which his blood is “shed forth” into the universe as the blood or life of the universe, then perhaps his blood is another symbol for the Light of Christ, which is:

“...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)

And is “preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another” (Mosiah 2:21)

We are eternally in the presence of God, partaking of his goodness and love whether we recognize it or not.

“And they did pray *for that which they most desired;* and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.” (3 Nephi 19:9)

The thing which is most desirable above all other things is the blood of Christ, the love of God which pumps throughout eternity and gives life to all things, which is the Light of Christ, or the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which we are currently in possession of.

The rod is given to get through an exceedingly great mist of darkness that we set up for ourselves, by rejecting the first commandment, to nurse on the Tree of Life, for the inferior, prideful, knowledge of the second. One day we will have sufficient knowledge to our satisfaction.

We are already part of, integrated into, the true vine, but we wither in body, mind and spirit, when we don’t recognize it.