My Savior, My Brother, My Friend

Lately, my mind has been swarming around a lot of different topics. I've actually been studying a lot of politics, watching a lot of Glenn Beck and CNN. Also, my husband and I have been working out a lot and so I've been studying healthier food and meals, and calculating my miles run, etc. Not to mention, my life has been going on as normal and so I've also had the joys and stresses of motherhood and life on my mind. I have to admit, my central focus has not been where it should be. But...


I've been thinking about today's post topic for a few weeks. It's always on my mind, but I've felt very inadequate to even write about it. (Not that I am even experienced enough to write on any of the topics I write on, which is kind of the point...I find strength in the topics as I study about them, and vent about my feelings via this blog). But still, this particular topic is of the greatest importance to me...and its very sacred and personal. This is my relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I was explaining to my friend that this relationship is SO multi-faceted- so many angles to come from when writing on the Savior. However, its also completely simple. He is my Savior. He suffered for my sins, and He bled and died for me that I might live eternally one day.

There is nothing more important or sacred to me. And at the same time, there is nothing more that I take for granted each day, than this. I'd say, the majority of the time, I forget to think about it. Even in my daily supplication and prayers, I feel like I pray for my thankfulness of the Savior and His Atonement, but that sometimes its said without real remembrance and no more time spent thinking about it than the few seconds it took me to say it.

I read an amazing book a few years ago called, "Believing Christ". The main point to me was that if we believe in Christ, we have to believe that what He suffered was for each and every one of us individually. That there is no one exempt from the redeeming power of the Atonement if we but come to him with a humble heart and contrite spirit, and a true desire to change.

In today's world, a lot people view believing in Christ to be a childish myth, much as a belief in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Honestly, maybe that was partly the reason I was afraid to write about this...because I've written about a lot of things that most people can relate to as human beings. Parenthood, Marriage/Relationships, Love of Country, Honesty, Kindness, The Golden Rule...etc. Talking about Christ or God now days is like something that people are afraid to do publicly for fear of sounding like a fanatic. But, after beginning this post and now writing it, I am ashamed I ever let what the world thinks influence me into believing I should maybe keep my mouth shut about this topic.

There is no topic of greater importance. No topic that better applies to the lives of each and every one of us, because whether you believe it or not, Christ suffered for YOU! He is your Savior, your Brother, and your Friend, every bit as He is mine. Whether you believe in Him or not.

Without my belief in Him, to live in this world without the hope that I can one day return to live with eternally with God, my Savior and family...I would be lost in this world, and life would be without purpose. He is my ultimate source of strength.

Christs Atonement for mankind was part of God's Eternal plan. For God to give us a world where we had the free agency to choose, there had to be Savior, because we would inevitably make incorrect choices at one point or another. How then can He expect us to live a life worthy to return to Him, if there is no one to be our Advocate? The fact is, is that we do have an Advocate. We have a Savior who understands every suffering, because He has suffered it, and He will speak on our behalf and take upon our sins, if only we let Him.

Yeah, like I said, multi-faceted topic...and I could go on for hours. Instead, I wanted to quote yet another page from Stand A Little Taller .

"BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? -1 John 5:5

Believe in Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, the Son of God, who came to earth and walked the dusty roads of Palestine- the Son of God-to teach us the way of truth and light and salvation, and who, in one great and glorious act offered an atonement for each of us. He opened the way of salvation and exaltation for us, under which we may go forward in the Church and kingdom of God. Be not faithless, but believe in the great and wonderful and marvelous blessings of the Atonement."~ Gordon B. Hinckley

It was for you and for me. He is your brother and you've known Him before. All He asks is that you come unto Him and remember Him.

I was reading a blog of someone who was describing their sister-in- law, (we'll call her "C") who was born missing part of her brain, the corpus callosum, which is responsible for the communication between the two hemispheres of the brain, leaving her in a child like state, unable to learn things like speaking and walking. She described how "C" has a hard time recognizing faces. Even her own brothers face, this woman's husband, and she, her sister-in-law, as they don't see her every day. But she described how "C" became attached to a picture of the Savior that she found in a church handbook. The one of Christ in the red robe that I have pictured above. "C" carries that picture every where she goes, by her own free will. The sister-in-law explains how no one has forced this idea upon her, but that it is something that is a constant in her life. Her parents placed it onto a piece of wood in order to keep it from tearing, but still have to keep back up pictures in case one is lost. If "C" can't find her picture, she freaks out until it is found. She recognizes her Savior, her Brother, her Friend. She knows Him well and remembers Him.

What a testimony builder to me...Christ knows us all. This young woman doesn't physically have the full capacity to understand a lot of concepts, but she understands more fully even than I, the importance of a grateful and loving relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. I, too, should be just as attached to His image. I, too, should be constantly reminding myself of what He suffered on my behalf, so that I may live my life according to His will.

I testify that He lives. He lived a life of teaching, healing and miracles. He suffered in the Garden of Gesthemane, and died on the cross at Calvary, all for me and you. And He rose and lived again in similitude of the opportunity He has given us. To live eternally, if we but turn our hearts to Him, live our lives worthily and believe.