Perfectly Dealing with The Father's Will

     Undeniably the most important doctrine, event and act of love that we could possibly talk of is the Atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Being such a sacred topic, not many words are required to get a glimpse of God’s eternal love for us. In fact, words could not possibly teach us anything worthwhile of Christ’s atonement, for it is truly the spirit that conveys the sacred teachings of this important doctrine.

     I was truly struck and humbled by the spirit this week as I studied Jacob’s words in 2 Nephi 9, and studied the powerful touch of the spirit. Never had I reached so great an understanding of the suffering that occurred in our behalf. Try listing out all the pains, sorrows, temptations and trials that you have ever gone through. Even though Christ felt all of this, it amounts to an infinitesimally small and insignificant part of what He experienced. Never had I understood so clearly Mathew’s account of Jesus “[falling] on his face, and [praying], saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…” The Son of God, falling on his face, overwhelmed with agony, being crushed under a symbolic oil press of sorrow, in this moment pleaded for mercy. There was no other way. As Christ came to this realization, he subjected himself not to his own understandable desires, but to his Father’s perfect will.

     Imagine an eternity in which there was no redemption? As Jacob puts it, “…this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death… is hell.” How grateful I am for a savior that ultimately carried out the greatest challenge to ever arise in the eternities, the redemption of man. We will never reach a full understanding of the Atonement in this life, for our finite intellects could not possibly comprehend its eternal effects. Christ is The Son of God, sent in the flesh to die, and rise on the third day, so that we, may follow his divinely set path.