His Infinite Love

I have not posted for a while but a lot has happened since the last time I blogged. I have been transferred to Cordelia, where it's windy and beautiful. I have been here for about 8 weeks. I have learned a lot about the Lord, His work and glory, and especially a lot about myself. The scriptures have taught me, have given me comfort, and answered a lot of my questions as I have searched them diligently. The mysteries of God will be unfolded unto us as we heed His words with an open heart. There are so many experiences and thoughts I want to share, but I have narrowed it down to one, the Savior.

I was reading this morning about the Savior's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and His arrest. I was moved into tears as I pondered about His great love and compassion towards all men whether good or bad. In His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane he prayed earnestly to the Father saying, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:4-5) He continues pleading with the Father on our behalf, "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:15-22) Though He suffered beyond comprehension--so much that He bled from every pore and asked whether it was possible that his burden be lifted from Him--He submitted to the Father's will in a supreme expression of love for His Father and us.

His love and His great gift of the Atonement will wash away our sins, lift our burdens, and bring great peace and comfort into our heart. There are times we may ask why, and wonder why things are too hard to handle, but with the Savior's great gift of Atonement--we can be freed. Elder Holland has taught us, "Some gifts coming from the Atonement are universal, infinite, and unconditional. Other aspects of Christ’s atoning gift are conditional. They depend on one’s diligence in keeping God’s commandments. For example, while all members of the human family are freely given a reprieve from Adam’s sin through no effort of their own, they are not given a reprieve from their own sins unless they pledge faith in Christ, repent of those sins, are baptized in His name, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirmation into Christ’s Church, and press forward in faithful endurance the remainder of life’s journey. Of this personal challenge, Christ said, ‘For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I.'”

The grace of Christ is sufficient—sufficient to cover our debt, sufficient to transform us, and sufficient to help us as long as that transformation process takes. Because of the Atonement, the Savior understands my fears, and He comforts me through the Holy Ghost. He knows my weaknesses, and He helps me to overcome them. He has never left me alone, but He has strengthened me and expanded my heart. The Lord held out His hand to me three years ago, and the gospel changed my life. Thanks to His Atonement, I was redeemed from the choices of the past and was able to feel in my heart the miracle of forgiveness. Jesus Christ accompanies and strengthens us each day if we are worthy. Not only are our sins erased and forgotten, but His light radiates in our personal and professional lives. He is our Savior, the Son of God. His love is infinite. If we live as He would have us live, we will share His love and have the hope of returning to live with Him and our Heavenly Father forever.