My message to you all today is on the atonement, and what I've learned in the past two weeks about it that has changed my life. I wanted to share some points with you. I don't have the time to share the exact experiences, (I wish I did) but when I get home, I will most definitely. I have learned that He walks with us every step of the way. The power of God is with those who act in His name. Who He calls, He qualifies. And even though I didn't even know it to be possible, now I am even closer to Him than I have ever been in my whole life before. By the way, I'd love to hear your responses on this subject, although no promises on getting a return email. It seems I never have enough time to share all of my thoughts to you all, but again, that is just the nature of a mission, always on the errand of the Lord, never a moment to spare.
But that's enough of that. I'm super excited to share what I've learned, so without any further delay, here are my notes:
Jesus Christ doesn't make up the difference, He is the difference.
Being a saint in this church means we understand not only who saved us, but how we are to be transformed. How are we to be? We are to be like Christ.
"Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." 3 Nephi, 27:27
^^^^
Thats one of my new favorite scriptures!
And It's true. We are saved by grace. But that means nothing if we never learn how we need to be CHANGED by grace.
Now I want to paraphrase Jeffrey R Holland in a part of a talk I recently heard from Him. Here's what He says on the subject of the atonement in relation to missionary work:
Why are missions so hard? Why is this life so hard? Why are trials placed in our path. Why isn't the only danger on the mission that of getting pnemonia from the water in the baptismal font? Why don't people just flock to the font? Why is this mission so so hard? Why are they rejecting it, president? Why can't they see what we see? Don't they know what we have?
Now this isn't doctrine. This is just my take on it. This isn't scripture. This is what I believe. I believe that the reason that salvation is so hard to come by is because salvation is not a cheap experience. Why isn't it easier? Because it was never easy for him. Salvation isn't easy because it wasn't easy for him.
The reason we have trials is in symbolism to Jesus Christ.
And only our compassion and commitment to Him because of what He suffered needlessly shows to us why it is important to be obedient. It wasn't fair for Him, so why. why WHY should it ever be fair for us? The reason we have to go through these things is because one day someone else, much greater and far better all those years ago asked the same question. Abba, Papa, Father, please. Remove this cup from me. This hurts, Dad. Why do I have to go through with this. Please, I've done all you ever asked. Please, is there no other way? And then the answer.
My Son, there is no other way.
How the heavens must have wept! How the Father must have wept! In this, his darkest and most painful hour. An hour so painful and dark that words refuse to describe. The atonement is real. And it covers all. But at such an incredibly steep price, to Him who never did any wrong. And He it was Who paid it all to the Last farthing, did it for us, because He loves us. He did it voluntarily. Of His own free will and choice. THrough unimaginable suffering and pain. A pain that is beyond comprehension that is so deep and lasting and horrific that it is not possible for us to even begin to understand it. But because He did, the price is paid. It is gone and done away with. And his grace is sufficient, and when He had done all that the Father had in store for Him to do, at long Last, He said the words, "It is finished."
Small wonder it is that He not only asks us to repent, but begs us. How oft Have I gathered you, He says, as a Hen gathereth her own, and still, you would not! How oft has He gathered us, and still we are not willing to pay the smallest price, the price of submittance, humility, and obedience to Him who suffered all for us. The Lord is the Light the way and the life. And His compassion to us is so far reaching as to satisfy justice for us, in a way that justice could never be paid in return for Him. So where can we turn for peace? Where is our solace? When all other sources cease to make us whole. When the night is long, and we are far from home, where can we go?
To Christ. He is the only way.
I want to share now some scriptures and other things relating to the atonement.
D and C 19
Lyrics
That is why we must put off all of lustful desires. That is why we must allow our selfish wills to be placed in the furnace of refinement. That is why we must suffer pains of all kinds. feel our own portion of pain and Sorrow, though it be nothing to Him who felt the sorrows of all. That is why we must put on the character of Christ as our own as best as we know how. That is why we must turn to him, and make His Will our Will, always and forever. We must make it our soul's sincerest desire. We must know who it is that is our Master, our Redeemer and our King. We must know not just to what end we were saved, but to what end we were saved for. The atonement isn't just an indescribably
How many of us are lost? How long have we wandered as strangers in sin. We know He is coming to Gather His Sheep. For He has already paid the price. He has already given it all, he has trod the wine press alone, He has blood that sweat like rain,
15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest... your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook andfinished my preparations unto the children of men.
20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest Ihumble you with my almighty power; and that youconfess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.
21 And I command you that you preach naught but repentance, and show not these things unto the world until it is wisdom in me.
22 For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish.
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beautythat we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 ¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he wasbruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peacewas upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he openednot his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 ¶Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put himto grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and thepleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servantjustify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
~Isaiah, Chapter 53
So. These are my pleadings to you: How can we not? How can we not answer* the call. How can we not open our mouth to those who are "kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it"? How many others passed by you today who don't know about the love that Jesus has for them? How can they be so lost, and we know so much, and yet be so unwilling? It's not about us. It's about them. And it's about how we can Help others come closer to Christ. And it's in doing this that we come to know who we are ourselves -- Children of God with a perfect destiny. and limitless potential. Each and every one of them is a Child of God, and they are also your family. So, again with the question: How can we not?
*143:45
"You are surrounded by people. You pass them on the street, visit them in their homes, and travel among them. All of them are children of God, your brothers and sisters. God loves them just as He loves you. Many of these people are searching for purpose in life. They are concerned for their families. They need... Jesus Christ." ~ PMG Page 1.
If for no other reason, every time we are tempted to slacken the pace, to slow, or to give in, let us remember the call of a poor wayfaring man of grief.... "Oh, Father, Not as I will, but as thou wilt. Thine will be done."
My homework for you all this week is to listen to this Talk: Act in all diligence, By Pres. Henry B. Eyring. Pay special attention to His testimony. For it is so very important that We all understand this.
My final witness to you all this week is that He lives! He lives, who once was dead. He lives, my ever living head. He lives and because He does, so can we learn what it truly is to live to. To live for Him. For His Service. In His Service. And not just to Know of Him, but to Know who He, Jesus the Christ, truly is, and what He has down for us. And we never need doubt that He loves us. He is more mindful of our every step than we now know. He did walk and still walks among sinners. Never ceasing to help and to heal to bless and to uplift. We are never alone.
He is so, so aware of you.
I wish I could tell you all this in person. But for now my written words will have to suffice. And there is also something else that you can do. You can ask Him yourself.
I know He lives. Let us never forget that it is because of Him that joy is possible. This church is true. I testify that I know that He loves us, and you can know it, too. All you have to do is ask.
One day if we are faithful, we will all live again with Him. And it is through Him that we learn what true compassion, and what perfect love is. Mercy can't rob Justice, yet Justice robbed Him. He who was Perfect never got the chance to have mercy, and that is why we must repay Him as absolutely best that we can through the service of others. It will never be enough, and it would be sacrilege to think that we could do so, nevertheless, if we do not try we are just like sinners of old, who saw, and who knew, and yet did not act. Let us not repeat the process.
He loves you. He paid the price for you. And through His stripes, we are healed. I know this to be true. And if we are to be truly happy in each of our lives, we each individually need to know that. So ask Him! He is waiting.
I am a witness of Him. And I have never been more grateful to be one than I am today. The joy and truth of this gospel is more indescribable than anything else I have ever known.
Until we meet again, as brothers and sisters in the faith, remember Him who has never forgotten us. Never forget Him. And that. That is my plea.
I love you all. Until next week.
Elder Jeffrey Hakala
Other talks:
The inconvenient messiah jrh
Character of Christ Dab
the meaning of the atonement Cleon Skousen
purifying power of gethsemane bruce r mcconkie (final testimony)
the atonement and the journey of mortality dabednar
No comments:
Post a Comment