This Little Light of Mine

This song arose out of oral traditions in the Southern United States before slavery was abolished in 1865. Francis A. Clark published an early version of the song. He recalled, “From earliest childhood I heard [this and other] songs, sung by my elders (who had all their lives been held in slavery …) as they gathered, almost nightly, in our home and in the homes of our kindred and friends.” Later, Clark wrote down some of these songs from memory and published them in 1937.

“This Little Light of Mine” grew in popularity during the next few decades and became one of the anthems for the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1960s. Singers sometimes changed the words to represent their personal trials, creating what became known as freedom songs. Many different versions of the text and tune exist today, but the overall message remains the same—that we can all share our God-given light with others.

Find lyrics, sheet music, and recordings for This Little Light of Mine

Scriptures

Principles

Jesus Christ brings light to everyone in the world.
When I try to follow Jesus Christ, His light grows brighter in me.
I can share the Lord’s light with others when I show them kindness and love.

Questions to Ponder

Why does being in the light feel better than being in darkness?
What does God’s light help you to see or feel?
What are some ways that you can add more of God’s light to your life?
What can you do to let God’s light shine to people around you?

Related Gospel Study Guides

From Topics and Questions, Gospel Library:

Activities for Families

Sing with a swing rhythm. This song is often sung with a straight rhythm, but it takes on a new feel when sung with a swing rhythm. You can learn how it sounds by singing along with the recording in the Gospel Library. To help your family feel the swing rhythm, move your body and then begin clapping your hands to the beat as you sing. Family members might like to take turns singing a solo by pretending to hold a microphone with a clenched fist. Encourage everyone to have fun and sing with enthusiasm. Enjoy making joyful music together as a family!
Personalize the song to your family. As a family, talk about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and how each person can be a light to others. Encourage family members to share their light throughout the week. The following activities can help your family engage and have fun with the song.
- Change the lyrics of the song to include your children’s names—for example, “This little light of John’s, he’s gonna let it shine.” Sing it together as a family. You can also change the lyrics to reflect ways each child can let his or her light shine, such as “Smiling every day, John’s gonna let it shine,” “Playing soccer, John’s gonna let it shine,” or “Bring a friend to church, John’s gonna let it shine.” Invite your children to come up with their own ideas too.
- Begin singing the song each time you see your children sharing their light, and explain how their actions reflect the light of Christ.