Friday, March 1, 2013

What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

Get this week's lesson here.

I love camping.  You know what my favorite part of camping is?  Being done camping and taking a shower.  But seriously... I love getting dirty with greasy hair and dirt under my fingernails.  Usually by the last day of the trip I catch myself daydreaming about my long awaited shower.  I think about the warm water and the yummy bottles of shampoo and conditioner waiting for me to come home, shaving my legs, washing my face, Q-tips, fingernail clippers, mouth wash, and fresh clean clothes.  Holy smokes, there's no better feeling in the world.


I think the atonement can give us that exact same feeling in a spiritual way...

Alma the Younger has a great story and testimony of this.  During his conversion story, he talks about being in the lowest of lows and afterwards feeling the highest of highs.  Can you imagine that kind of emotion?

I've mentioned before my need for things to FEEL REAL when I'm studying the scriptures.  This quote by Elder Orson F. Whitney has always pierced my soul and has allowed the atonement to come to life for me and my testimony.
 
"Then came a marvelous manifestation, an admonition from a higher Source, one impossible to ignore. It was a dream, or a vision in a dream, as I lay upon my bed in the little town of Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  I seemed to be in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior's agony.  I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone.  Standing behind a tree in the foreground, I beheld Jesus, with Peter, James, and John, as they came through a little wicket gate at my right.  Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, the Son of God passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed.  It was the same prayer with which all Bible readers are familiar: 'Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.'
As He prayed the tears streamed down his face, which was toward me.  I was so moved at the sight that I also wept, out of pure sympathy.  My whole heart went out to Him; I loved Him with all my soul, and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else..."

***

Recently, my husband and I drove and traveled all the way across the country, and while passing through Missouri, we stopped by to visit Liberty Jail.


There is a WONDERFUL Ensign article by Elder Jeffery R Holland that I deeply suggest you read called Lessons from Liberty Jail.  As Joseph Smith suffered in prison, and as we all face difficult trials throughout our lives, we can always remember that the Savior has been where we have been.

"THE SON OF MAN HATH DESCENDED BELOW THEM ALL.  ART THOU GREATER THAN HE?"

***

I can't imagine the sorrow and pain my Savior had to endure for me.  I also can't imagine how our Heavenly Father felt.  Have you ever thought about the atonement from his perspective?  Imagine watching your child you love suffer.
I look back on a time when I was younger being really sick with the flu and I remember my dad sitting beside me on the bed.  I remember him saying, "I wish more than anything I could go through this pain for you, but I can't and I'm sorry."  I imagine our Heavenly Father felt the same way.  Watching what had to be done during this painful time and enduring the sadness along with our Savior.

I am so grateful for my Savior and all He has done for me.  I'm grateful for the atonement and hope for my testimony of it to continue to grow day by day.

***
***

This handout came from spirituallythinking.blogspot.com. Cute! Cute! Cute!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...