A friend today shared a personal experience with me. She related that a few years ago she was struggling with the above mentioned feelings herself. She felt insignificant, small, and alone. She wanted to better understand how the Atonement, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, could really help her individually. One day, she drove through a canyon and noticed something seemingly seemingly simple but deeply profound. The sun shown down on all of the beautiful trees in the expansive forest on both sides of her. There was enough light for all of them to have the nourishment they needed to grow. Just like the sun for life on earth, the Son (Jesus Christ) gives light and life to us all. His love, influence, and power touch each of us in ways that we don't now understand. In John 8:12, Jesus taught, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The Son will give you what you need. Christ is the light in our lives. The scriptures teach us more about His great influence in Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-13, which reads, "He that ascended up on high, and also he descended below all things, in that he comprehendeth all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth. Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he in in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. And also he in the moon, and is the light of the moon. and the power thereof by which it was made. And also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; and the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth you understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space-The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth up on his throne, who is in the boson of eternity, who is in the midst of all things." The influence of the Savior, the light of Christ, is in all things. He created all things, knows all things, and has all power. He will touch each of our lives because of that power and because He loves us individually and completely, for who we are now and who we will be in the future. If we rely on our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, who makes all this possible, we will become all they yearn for us to become.
President Uchtdorf in the 2013 October General Conference taught, "Every person, young and old, has had his own personal experience with falling. Falling is what we mortals do. But as long as we are willing to rise up again and continue on the path toward the spiritual goals God has given us, we can learn something from failure and become better and happier as a result....The Lord is mindful of you!
We acknowledge that your path will at times be difficult. But I give you this promise in the name of the Lord: rise up and follow in the footsteps of our Redeemer and Savior, and one day you will look back and be filled with eternal gratitude that you chose to trust the Atonement and its power to lift you up and give you strength.
My dear brethren, my dear friends, there will be times when you think you cannot continue on. Trust the Savior and His love. With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the power and hope of the restored gospel, you will be able to walk tall and continue on.....My dear friends and brethren, no matter how many times you have slipped or fallen, rise up! Your destiny is a glorious one! Stand tall and walk in the light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! You are stronger than you realize. You are more capable than you can imagine. You can do it now! Of this I testify in the sacred name of our Master and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen."
I hope we can always remember that we are never alone, that just like the tiniest seedling or tall Redwood, we need the Son! And I know that we are never alone in our journey to grow and become like them. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love us individually. If we are obedient they will help us become clean and worthy and even holy so that we can live with them again. I know these things are true, and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
{CTR Always, ETTE}
No comments