The Ultimate Sacrifice

So I wanted to focus on scripture today and it struck me while reading. Two verses into my daily reading and there it is…Mosiah 23 verse 10 “ Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of truth.”  Many of my prayers have been answered, and even my prayers for others.  I used to honestly not pay much attention when I was in a bad situation and someone would say “ I will keep you in my prayers.” I just was cynical and thought “Ok what will that really do.” But now I see the importance daily. Not only for me but for those I know, and those I do not know. I see it as an honor now that someone tells me they will keep me in their prayers….and not just because I am a Mormon, but because I see the value in prayer, and thanking the Heavenly Father for all he has done for me.  I mean I have to pray and thank him daily for my life, seeing how I could have it much worse.

Alma 7:11-12 “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. And he will take upon him death which bin d his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, and his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”

“ Thus, the Savior has suffered not just for our sins and iniquities –but also for our physical pains and anguish, our weaknesses and shortcomings, our fears and frustrations, our disappointments and discouragement, our regrets and remorse, our despair and desperation, the injustices and inequities we experience, and the emotional distresses that beset us. There is no physical pain,  no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first.  IN a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor , heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power. Indeed, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” –Elder David A Bednar (Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease) Shared on facebook via Sister Amy Newson.      This is incredibly powerful and humbling all at the same time. Do we really ever stop and think just how much Jesus has done for us? He literally bled from every single pore. He gave his life for everyone. Whether or not we believe in him or will one day will come to. This is so beautiful. I honestly do not know anyone else who would even think of going through an ounce of what he did for us.