A gopher is an animal worthy of a short study.  The most remarkable thing about a gopher is that it lives a mostly solitary existence in the dark.  A gopher's life is not an enviable one, yet many people seem bent on becoming gophers.

A gopher is almost never seen above ground.  The only times one sees gophers is when they briefly open their burrows to push dirt out, or when irrigation water floods their burrows, or when a cat has patiently waited by an open burrow and caught one.

Gophers have small eyes which must surely be weak from spending so much time in the dark.  Opening its burrow to the outside world, and to light, must be a blinding and distressing experience.  A gopher is in danger when its burrow is open, so it quickly expels its dirt, plugs the opening with several inches of firmly packed soil, and retreats into the safety of the darkness that it loves.  When it's in its burrow the gopher is safe from nearly all predators except badgers and canines that are capable of digging it out.

Light, therefore, means danger to gophers.  They don't like light.  Many people are like that.

Gophers don't associate with other gophers.  They only come together to breed.  Many people are like that, too.  They prefer a solitary existence.

In the case of people, we get what we desire.  If in life we don't desire companionship, or can't maintain marital relationships, then we're destined to live solitary lives in the eternities.  (D&C 132:17).

Also, in the case of people, if we're bothered by light and truth and Christ-filled lives, then we're destined to live in darkness; for Jesus Christ is the source of all light and truth, and if we've chosen a life devoid of His influence, then darkness will become our lot.  (Alma 40:13-14; 41:7; D&C 133:73; 138:22).

Why are many people working so hard to imitate and to become gophers?  I have no desire to be a gopher.