Musings, Miracles, & Mayhem: Greater Love....

It's Valentine's Day...a day where love is celebrated by couples and often despised by those who may be currently single. Regardless of how you celebrate, here's something to always remember, or at least consider:

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Think about what each of these images mean and represent:

Christ prayed and suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for our sins, our pains, our sorrows, our infirmities. He felt every pain we have ever and ever will suffer. He is the only One who really knows exactly what we are going through and can thus perfectly pay the price for us. We are saved only through His grace, His sacrifice, which is greater than any humanly possible love.

"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." (Alma 7:11, The Book of Mormon)

In the midst of this suffering, he was being sought after to be put to death. He could have stopped this, but physical death was another part of the Atonement.

"And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people." (Mosiah 15:5)

"16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS." (John 19:16-19)

Because of the resurrection, the bands of deaths will not hold us. All mankind will be resurrected--wicked or righteous--another essential part of the Atonement.

"And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Mark 10:34)

"And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord." (John 20:20)

At some point, a time that no one knows, except the Father, Jesus Christ will come again. A day I look forward to, a day for rejoicing and gladness. At which point, a Millennium will follow where Satan will be bound and peace will reign on the earth with Jesus as our King.

"29 For in mine own due time will I come upon the earth in judgment, and my people shall be redeemed and shall reign with me on earth.

30 For the great Millennium, of which I have spoken by the mouth of my servants, shall come.

31 For Satan shall be bound, and when he is loosed again he shall only reign for a little season, and then cometh the end of the earth." (Doctrine and Covenants 43:29-31)

Regardless of who you are, where you live, your race, economic status or what you have done wrong, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind loves you. He wants to help you. He wants you to use His Atonement to be cleansed and healed from sins, sorrows and all other pain. We can be made whole through Him. Just do it. We only have to open the door, as he is always there, knocking, waiting for you to let Him in.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)