We are all sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, the one God. He loves us so much that He remembers us in the details of our lives. When we think of Heavenly Father, we think of Him as an embodiment of Love. Because He loves us so much, He sent His only begotten son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to us as a gift, the greatest gift of salvation and eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” 1
I was born in this world to a hardworking and loving parent who had a zeal to bring up their children in a righteous way as Christians. Working my way through Army life and its various challenges made me a better man, but my real change as a better human being came when I came to know of the fullness of the Gospel. It was like brushing away the cobwebs of doubt in my knowledge of Jesus Christ.
When we think of Jesus Christ, we see an exemplar of divine Love and mercy, and when we think of Christmas and Easter, we understand the plan of salvation better and could relate with the birth and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Be it Christmas or Easter, we think it is a time for celebration and Joy, true. However, these two important events are a time for introspection and prayer. We also need to be grateful to our Father in Heaven for sending His only begotten son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to be born as a mere mortal and sacrifice Himself to save imperfect people like you and me and to give us hope for eternal life. We need our Saviour, Jesus Christ and His Atonement to get us safely through the doors of difficulty, doubts, careless mistakes and uncertainty in this mortal journey of life.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important event that ever occurred in our universe to claim us back to where we actually belong. It is a gift not only for our last breath and the last day of our lives, but it is also for every day of our lives and every breath of our lives.
For it is during this mortal life on earth that we work out for our salvation, usually unseen by others. Through His Atonement, He makes available all the power, peace, light, and strength that we need to deal with life’s innumerable challenges—those ranging from our own mistakes and sins to trials over which we have no control, but we still feel the pain.
In the third year of His ministry, Jesus Christ completed the Atonement. He suffered for the sins of all mankind in the Garden of Gethsemane so that we might return to live in God’s presence. In that garden, He felt the pain, anguish, and wrongdoings of every single one of God’s children. Having experienced our suffering for Himself, He is able to understand, comfort, and strengthen us in our struggles.
After suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, Christ was betrayed by His friends, arrested without a rightful cause, and put on trial before biased men who sought to see Him wrongfully accused. He willingly suffered a cruel death by crucifixion and offered His life to atone for our sins.
We believe that Christ rose triumphantly from the grave and showed Himself to many, including the people in the ancient Americas. Because He overcame death, we will all be resurrected one day. We look forward to the day when He will return to the earth in glory and reign over all people. We hope to live forever with Him, with God our eternal Father, and with our own families.
I know that our Saviour, Jesus Christ, lives, and I love Him. I know that the Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ written by the ancient prophets of the Americas for these Latter-days. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, and it is through him, the fullness of the Gospel is reaching the four corners of the world. And I know the Atonement of my Saviour will and can change my heart with a conviction and a precious testimony that He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Notes:
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John 3:16
