The Ultimate Price: Have I Been Worth It?

In the midst of Easter Parades, Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Bunnies and Easter Eggs, amidst the abundance of pink and yellow ribbons overflowing the shelves in the supermarkets, we might be reminded of the meaning of Easter through days with names like Passover Thursday, Atoning Friday and Resurrection Sunday, that Easter had a beginning and that beginning is about making the choices in deed, and in courage, and in faith; choices that must be made to be true to who we are and what we believe, in response to the charge given us with the atonement.

Jesus Christ paid the price for our every wrong, that as we repent we may be freed from our sins or payment would reach into the eternities. Through the atonement we were given the possibility to repent, to receive forgiveness, and go on, without having to carry the heavy burden of every wrong we ever did.

Because our Saviour, Jesus Christ atoned for us, suffered and paid the full price for our every wrong, we can actually receive forgiveness from God. As we realise our wrongs, do not repeat them, and to the extent that this might be possible, do our best to correct our wrongs; we may if receive His forgiveness and once again find peace in our hearts.

This payment for our sins didn't happen because it was easy or convenient but because of His love for us. While it would be impossible to fully understand how Our Saviour Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, it may help us trying to imagine how difficult this might have been, even for the Son of God. As we remember the words of Jesus, when in Gethsemane: "... Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done... And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22:42, 44)

I imagine that in this dark and sad moment of history, God would desperately want to reach out and lift the pain, to stop everything. Yet, it went on and in preparation for the crucifixion Jesus was beaten, whipped, mocked, rejected, humiliated and treated as a criminal; all while His and our Heavenly Father must have cried heavy tears.

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him," (Luke 23:33) our Heavenly Father, Father of Jesus Christ must have trembled to His very core, with tears flooding His eyes, hearing Jesus lovingly, in a Spirit of kind forgiveness praying and pleading for His assailants:  "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."(Luke 23:34)

Still, amidst a constant flow of mockery, the crucifixion continued in what must have been an abundance of tears and empathy from those who loved Him.

What must have been hours later, drained, fatigued and thirsty, as pain and feelings of abandonment would seem overwhelming in what must have been the most lonely hour of His life, Jesus, overcome with agony of the whole experience cried out in a loud voice of ultimate loneliness: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)

Hearing such a plea, our Heavenly Father certainly would want to reach out and spare His only begotten son from such suffering. As the literal Father of Jesus Christ, He must have wanted to respond in ways I can't begin to imagine. Even with God's perfect knowledge and understanding of what had to happen, He must have have agonised as His son was beaten, whipped and crucified, and finally left to die while hanging on the cross. The Heavens must have grieved and cried that day, to see the Son of God suffer such misery!

Jesus had walked the earth, shared His teachings and dealt with people's doubts, hypocrisy, lies and mockery, all while they conspired against Jesus the Christ to ultimately crucify Him. He had preformed miracles, helped where He could and in return suffered the full extent of evil in the world. Jesus Christ was subjected to a process of blind injustice, suffering every measure of trials, agony and difficulty that we might ever face in a lifetime, only to finally suffer a crucifixion with common criminals. He had truly earned the right to finally say "It is finished." John 19:30 and "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." A long and hard road had finally and mercifully come to an end, and He gave up His Spirit.

Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ both suffered this, all of this, out of love for us that we may be allowed repentance. And, as we truly repent of our wrongs, we may be allowed redemption, to once again find peace in our hearts and sin no more. He walked this long and hard road alone, that we don't have to, and after reviewing some small understanding of what my Saviour did for me, I can't help but ask myself: Have I been worth it, will the sum of my life and what I have done with what I've been given, all be worth His great sacrifice or have I rejected it all with my many shortcomings?

You Can Change the World, Really!

At this time of year, when many people are busy making their own little version of a happy Christmas it's easy to forget those that are so easily overlooked i their quiet and often humble or lonely circumstances. Reach out and be an angel, it's a good thing and it begins with you! 

People also need help during Christmas, problems don't magically disappear during the holidays. Check in on those you care about and make sure they are well taken care of, bring them a plate of cookies and a friendly thought.

At the risk of sounding cliche, Selflessness (love) makes the world go around. When we do something that others are in need of, we become instruments in the hands of God, His extended hands. 

Every single day there is someone near you praying for help and when someone prays for divine help, the most obvious answer to that person's prayer could be the person next to you, or you? Being sensitive to the needs of others we can essentially become momentary angels and blessings in someone's life. Be an angel, won't you?

What a wonderful thought to think that others might in their prayers be thanking God for the very thing that you did for them, the kind and genuine smile that helped their day, the little favor, noticing a need and quietly reaching out to help without waiting for or expecting a thank you. 

A true help doesn't burden the recipient with an added feeling of indebtedness, impossible to pay back, when already low on all resources and deeply in need of help. Help to help, not to earn someones gratitude.

While our help to others might not mean the world to us, it could be the one thing that holds someone's world together when everything around them seems to come crashing down. 

In return for helping others, our lives are enriched, life becomes more pleasant all around and our inner happiness is increased. 

In times of difficulty, world economic crises, personal budget worries, anxiety, stress and thoughts of depression, it's balm to the soul to feel the happiness of helping others and such happiness has staying power. 

By extending our helping hands, we can begin a circle of goodness that soon might spread like rings in the water and come right back to us when we might need it the most. But, that is not why we should help anybody, we should help because it is needed. The world needs more goodness, more smiles, more friendliness and better people, making better choices and it begins with you and me. 

The Atonement Covers All Pain

In the words of Elder Kent F. Richards "None of us are immune to experiencing pain." Our pains don't go unnoticed. God lives and He knows our pain. Like you, I too have experienced pain: Years ago, when sitting in my car with my foot on the brake, stopped for the red light in an intersection, my car was impacted from the back with enough force to total the car and push it out into the intersection. I actually didn't notice any physical consequences until later when my right arm began to tingle and hurt. Soon my life was focused around the daily intake of painkillers. After surgery, the pain continued and still does continue. I often wonder what I could have done different but the situation remains because I like everyone else am subjected to the limitations of mortality. Through the years of hoping, praying and waiting for relief, I have found comfort in my faith in God. I have also at times found an escape and relief in God from the seemingly impossible levels of physical and emotional pain, while at the same time learning a great many things about my mortal state.

Physical and emotional pain takes many forms. Besides physical pain, I have experienced despair, hopelessness, depression, anxiety, surrender, apathy, self-disgust and a heart attack. Through the fog of heavy doses of morphine and other heavy medications it was difficult to feel anything at all. Yet, in the brief moments of clarity I felt the presence of God in my life, guiding and holding me by the hand, helping me survive a time when I had no desire left to live--I wanted to die. Through it all, God was there for me and when I myself felt spiritually numb, others listened to the whisperings of God for me and I felt the compassion of others, reaching out in loving understanding in spite of my then altered perceptions, imposed by so many medications.

After many years in pain and I still can't go through a day without seeking some relief in medicines but my pains have decreased enough that I now occasionally can drive a motorcycle (cars are too dangerous and maybe I'll be a smaller target for those driving cars, when I am on a motorcycle). But, all joking aside. Throughout all of this, my love for our Lord has grown in ways I had never imagined before in my life--and my understanding of God's ways has increased and deepened. God was there for me when I needed Him and He is still there for me, not in the way I might ever have expected but better in the long run.

God understands my situation and although He probably would prefer that I did more with my time, I have felt the love of our Savior in my life and feel closer to Him than ever before. God understands all our situations, He knows our suffering, disappointment and pain.

God is always there for us, waiting for us to draw near to Him. He's patiently waiting, sometimes for a very long time before we finally are ready to come to Him, sufficiently humble, honest and sincere to seek Him and listen for the whisperings of the Spirit in our lives. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered that we may have His atonement available for us when we are ready:

The Book of Mormon, Alma, Chapter 7, verse 13:
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Jesus Christ our Savior, knows about pain and suffering. He could have known about and understood our pains simply through revelation but He chose to learn through His own personal experience. Jesus Christ actually chose to suffer pain and afflictions to better understand us:

The Book of Mormon, Alma, Chapter 7, verses 11 and 12:
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is indeed the best friend any of us will ever have and we can trust that He will understand, as we through Him address our Heavenly Father in our hour of need.