Thoughts on healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

 From mom:

Sydney Snarr who’s going on her mission soon posted on our ward Facebook page and asked this:

“Looking for thoughts on healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Any insights or experiences you have would be great!”

Do you have anything brilliant I can share? I know that she would appreciate it.

___

This counts as missionary work in my book so I'm not gonna wait till Monday.

This might sound kinda righteous but the Atonement is literally my favorite topic in the whole world so if you need anything more hit me up, but for now here's my talk outline for when I spoke in the Bay ward on that subject:

The first assures us that through His suffering for the sins of which we repent, we can be cleansed of those sins. Then the merciful final judge will “remember them no more” (President Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan" April 2020)

Alma 36:13-14, 17-21

          13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.

           14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror

            17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

    18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

    19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

    20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

    21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

Second, as part of our Savior’s Atonement, He took upon Him all other mortal infirmities. This allows us to receive divine help and strength to bear the inevitable burdens of mortality, personal and general, such as war and pestilence. The Book of Mormon provides our clearest scriptural description of this essential power of the Atonement. The Savior took upon Him “the pains and the sicknesses [and infirmities] of his people. … 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” (President Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan" April 2020)

Liberty Jail

Conditions of Liberty Jail

Freezing temperature (and virtually no blankets to keep the cold at bay)

Dim light

Poor ventilation/rancid odor

Low ceilings (can't even stand up straight)

Poor food (often made them sick)

Abusive guards

"Hell surrounded by demons"

                                               -Joseph Smith

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8

           7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

           8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

122:7-8

           7 ...if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

    8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o’erflow,

For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine

Testimony 

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

(How Firm a Foundation, hymns, 85)