The key to unlocking the power of His covenant daughters is covenant daughters learning to unlock the power of Jesus Christ – Sheri Dew
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ATONEMENT
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that, “... the Atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths.” (“The Purifying Power of Gethsemane”, Apr. 1985)
Elder Bednar added “I suspect that you and I are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming power of the Atonement than we are with the enabling power of the Atonement. It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us. That is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us – not only to direct us but also to empower us.” (“In the Strength of the Lord, Speeches, Oct. 2001)
WHY
BELIEVING CHRIST?
Why do we need to understand the power of the Atonement?
President Faust once said, “Our salvation depends on believing in and accepting the Atonement. Such acceptance requires a continual effort to understand it more fully.” (“The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope, Oct. 2001)
Listen to two descriptions of what the Savior can do:
Sheri Dew has said that “The Savior has all power in Heaven and on Earth. He has power to cleanse, forgive, and redeem us. The power to heal us in weakness, illness, and heartache; power to inspire us; power to conquer Satan and overcome the flesh; power to work miracles, power to deliver us from circumstances we can't escape ourselves; power over death and power to strengthen us.” (“Sweet Above All That Is Sweet”, BYU Women's Conference, May 2014)
Elder David Bednar said, “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.” (“In the Strength of the Lord”, Speeches, Oct. 2001)
We claim to believe in Christ. We teach lessons about His life. We talk about His love for us. We bear testimony of Him. But do we really believe Him? Do you believe Him when He says, “I can heal you of your sin. I can heal you of your addiction, of your depression, of your loneliness, of your need to eat an entire bag of cookies at midnight, ….... fill in the blank?
Do we really comprehend the power, the peace, the protection that Christ offers to us individually....?
Here's another description:
“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. (vs. 11)
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and 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.” (vs. 12)
Christ knows how to “succor” His people... That word succor literally means “to run to”.
Of this definition, Elder Holland said, “...
“What a magnificent way to describe the Savior's urgent effort in our behalf. Even as he calls us to come to him and follow him, he is unfailingly running to help us.” (Come Unto Me, Speeches, Mar. 1997)
But don't forget that Satan knows how to “sucker” us too – He suckers us into thinking that our sins are too great to be forgiven. He suckers us into thinking that we'll never be good enough. He makes us feel unworthy, discouraged or afraid.
Who do we really believe? Who are we really listening to?
MY STORY – ATONEMENT
I grew up in the church. Over the course of my life, I had felt forgiveness come when I repented of things. I had felt peace during times of sadness or heartache. I had felt the Savior's love for me. So, I thought that I had a pretty good understanding of the Savior and His atonement.
But then, suddenly, my life was turned upside down. I was in my twenties, I was married and had a five month old baby. My husband, Kevin, was working and going to school. I had been struggling with some complicated health issues. I had had to quit working and consequently, we had moved in with family – so we didn't even have a home of our own.
In the middle of all of that, I got a call that Kevin had been in a car accident and was told that we needed to get to the hospital right away. I jumped in the car with his parents, handed my baby off to my sister-in-law, and took the longest drive of my life.
The news was devastating. Kevin was unconscious. Among other things, he had a severe brain injury that would likely kill him. The doctor made it clear that if Kevin survived, we were in for months, if not years of recovery and that he would never again be the same. His exact words to me were, something like... “whatever else happens, the man you knew this morning died today.”
There were many, many times that I could have been crushed by the weight of the experiences that followed that day if it were not for the Savior's rescuing power. But there is one experience in particular that I would like to share.
I didn't know immediately how the accident had happened. In the middle of everything going on that first night, I had this kind of random thought where I wondered if I could forgive the person responsible for turning our lives upside down. I hoped that it hadn't been Kevin's fault, because as he lay dying in the next room, I didn't need a reason to be angry with him. I wondered if the guy that hit Kevin was drunk. Could I forgive that? It certainly wasn't my main concern. It was just something that randomly popped into my head with about a million other things.
A day or so after the accident, Kevin was in a coma and I had spent most of the morning at his bedside watching the numbers on the monitor climb over and over again into near fatal territory. The weight of everything came crashing down.
I began walking through the hospital to try to get away from everything and everybody and soon found a quiet spot on the landing of an empty stairwell. As I sat down on the floor against the wall my mind was racing and I again realized that I didn't even know how the accident had happened and wondered if I would find it difficult to forgive the person responsible.
This time, as the question came to my mind, I heard these words very distinctly...”You will have enough to worry about. Let me take this one for you.” Immediately, any worry or anxiety I felt about this question left me. I felt an overwhelming peace.
Soon after that experience, I learned that Kevin had been hit by a guy my age. A 20 something kid rushing late back from lunch to a new job. As he approached the intersection, he swerved to miss a car turning left in front of him. He panicked and hit the gas instead of the brake and hit Kevin right through the driver's side door, going about 50 miles an hour.
After learning the details of the accident I felt like it was probably something that I could have forgiven. So why have that experience? That experience gave me absolute knowledge that Heavenly Father knew exactly what was happening. He was there with me every moment. He knew my every thought and exactly what I needed to stay on my feet.
In the years since the accident, most of our significant challenges as a family have come as a result of that accident and my husband's lingering disabilities. But I have never felt any anger toward the other driver or even anger that the accident happened. That is not true for some others in our close circle of family and friends. Some are still very angry to this day. I was spared the experience of having to find forgiveness over and over again as each new loss or hardship came. That experience was so clear, and so complete, and so clearly a result of the atonement of Christ, that it set me on a kind of quest to know more; to understand the power of the atonement better.
WHAT
WHAT IS THE POWER OF THE ATONEMENT
We call the power of the Atonement many things... grace, enabling power, or divine help.
Elder Bednar explains the power of the atonement this way. “The enabling power of the Atonement of Christ strengthens us to do things we could never do on our own. Sometimes I wonder if in our latter-day world of ease – in our world of microwave ovens and cell phones and air-conditioned cars and comfortable homes – I wonder if we ever learn to acknowledge our daily dependence upon the enabling power of the Atonement.”
Sheri Dew once described grace as a “... divine power that enables us to handle things we can't figure out, can't do, can't overcome, or can't manage on our own.... We have access to this power because Jesus Christ, who was already a God condescended to endure the bitterness of a fallen world and experience all physical and spiritual pain.” (“Sweet Above All That Is Sweet”, BYU Women's Conference, May 2014)
So, in other words, when we feel unexplainable joy or peace, when we have strength beyond our own, when we are inspired to understand things we just couldn't grasp, when we want to stay a little longer because the feeling we are experiencing is just so sweet or tender... we are experiencing grace or the enabling power of the atonement.
EXAMPLES:
During Kevin's recovery, I had to learn how to take care of him and continue some of his therapy at home. Now, I have no background in medicine or physical therapy. Nor do I have a natural ability to understand the body and how it works. But there were many times while I was being trained that I literally felt like my hands were being taken over and shown what to do. My mind was opened so that I could understand the process and what it was I was trying to accomplish. I knew that I was receiving the divine help I needed to take care of my husband.
Sister Carolyn Rasmus shared a story about a friend who “...lovingly cared for her brilliant husband for many years. He [had developed] early-onset Alzheimer's disease” and left her a widow at the age of 55. Of this experience she said, “'There are times when the sadness is overwhelming. I get on my knees and plead, “Please carry this for a while. I can't do this alone.” And I feel God's strength – strength enough to allow me to move forward one day at a time. 'To me, this is the power of the Atonement.” (The Enabling Power of the Atonement, Ensign, Mar. 2013)
HOW
TOOLS TO ACCESS THE POWER OF THE ATONEMENT
The path of Discipleship
Look and Live –
In Numbers chapter 21, we find that the children of Israel are still with Moses out in the wilderness. They have just fought the Canaanites and won but are discouraged and tired; they begin to complain. They ask Moses why they were brought out of Egypt just to be left to die in the wilderness. (vs. 5)
In response to their murmuring...
Numbers 21: 6-9 “And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. (vs. 6)
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, 'we have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. (vs. 7)
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. (vs. 8)
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (vs. 9)
Alma clarified this experience in this way....
Alma 33:19-21 “Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; (He meaning Christ) yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. (vs. 19)
But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them. (vs. 20)
O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?” (vs. 21)
Sisters, do not be fooled by the easiness of the way. The secret to unlocking the power of the Atonement is that there is no great secret.
We simply walk the path of discipleship.
HOW
PATH OF DISCIPLESHIP
The whole purpose of discipleship and experiencing the power of the Atonement is to become like God; to change ourselves from the natural man or woman to one that will one day be comfortable in His presence.
Elder Oaks said, “In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.” (“The Challenge to Become”, Ensign, Nov. 2000)
President Monson explained, “We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were – better than we were, more understanding than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before...” (“I Will Not Fail Thee, Nor Forsake Thee”, Oct. 2013)
So, we walk the path of discipleship that we might become more like Him and that we might understand and qualify for the blessing of the atonement.
FAITH
The first step on the path of discipleship
Matthew 14:22-32 Peter walking on the water.
The Savior had spent the day healing the sick and tending to a large crowd that had gathered. He performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes.
Then ....
“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. (vs. 22)
And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. (vs. 23)
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves; for the wind was contrary. (vs. 24)
And in the fourth watch of the night (between 3 and 6 in the morning), Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. (vs. 25)
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. (vs. 26)
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (vs. 27)
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (vs. 28)
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (vs. 29)
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (vs. 30)
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (vs. 31)
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.” (vs. 32)
Peter believed that he could walk on the water with the Savior's help. And in fact he did, at first. But he took his eyes off of the Savior for just a moment and noticed the storm around him. His faith was replaced with fear and he began to sink.
We can do all things if we keep our eye on Christ.
REPENTANCE
As our faith grows, we desire to become more like Christ. We begin to see our imperfections and want to rid ourselves of the burden of sin and guilt.
Elder Holland once said that repentance is “perhaps the most hopeful and encouraging word in the Christian vocabulary. We thank our Father in Heaven we are allowed to change, we thank Jesus we can change, and ultimately we do so only with Their divine assistance.” (Broken Things to Mend, Apr. 2006)
Do we see repentance for the gift that it is? Do we take the necessary time to change what can be changed, fix what can fixed? And then forgive the rest?
Repentance is a gift that we should use daily.
COVENANTS
Faith and repentance lead to a desire to make and keep covenants with God.
David Bednar said that “Covenants are essential. They are not merely rituals. They are doorways to the blessing of the Savior's atonement.” (Ogden Institute, 2010)
When speaking about the road that leads to Christ, Elder Holland said, “...in as many ways as possible we try to take upon us His identity, and we begin by taking upon us his name. That name is formally bestowed by covenant in the saving ordinances of the gospel.” (Broken Things to Mend, Apr. 2006)
SACRAMENT
To help us remember the covenants we have made, Heavenly Father gave us the gift of the sacrament.
Sheri Dew taught that, “At the heart of becoming disciples is doing what we promise to do every time we partake of the sacrament - which is to 'always remember' the Lord.” (“Sweet Above All That Is Sweet”, BYU Women's Conference, May 2014)
That word remember is so important. The word itself implies a previous knowledge or understanding. An understanding of the Lord.
We cannot be a disciple of someone we do not know. We get to know Him through study and practice.
President Kimball said, “Remembering covenants prevents apostasy. This is the real purpose of the sacrament, to keep us from forgetting, to help us to remember... [that which we have] covenanted at the water's edge or at the sacrament table and in the temple.” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pg. 112)
As we take the sacrament, do we think about our relationship with Him? Do we remember the covenants we have made with Him?
How about when we go home and go on with our week?
Are we remembering the Savior when we discipline our children, or when we decide what media will be allowed in our home, or when we are speaking to our spouse? Are we remembering the Lord when we have an opportunity to bear witness of Him? When people look at us, do they think of Him?
Are we living up to our promise to remember?
When we truly remember the Savior in all that we do, our thoughts become elevated, our actions become more Christlike, our hearts become more pure. We become more like Him.
ASK – PRAYER
All along the path of discipleship, we should pray and ask for the Lord's guidance and help. Praying might seem like the easiest part of all that we are asked to do. But, I suspect that praying and asking Heavenly Father to bless us with the enabling power of the atonement is where we sometimes get tripped up.
We just forget to ask.
In the Bible Dictionary we learn that “The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.”
Sheri Dew observed, “... Discipleship is not easy, but it is easier than not becoming a disciple... As disciples, we can ask for more energy, more revelation, more patience, more self-discipline, more hope, more love, more healing, more happiness. We can ask for miracles, for freedom from pain, and for the desire to forgive. We can ask for more faith and for help in becoming better disciples. We can ask for angels to walk with us, because if we live up to our privileges, angels can't be restrained from being our associates.” (“Sweet Above All That Is Sweet”, BYU Womens Conference, May 2014)
WHEN
OUR DAILY DEPENDANCE ON THE LORD
Again, walking the path of discipleship and learning to access the power of the Atonement is not about completing an endless to do list. It is about becoming more like Christ.
In 2 Nephi 25:23 we find the grace / works equation
2 Nephi 25:23 “... for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
“After all we can do.” What does that mean? Does grace only kick in after the trial is over? After we've climbed the hill alone? After this life? What does it mean?
Sheri Dew explained, “The Lord is not saving up His grace, His power, for one dramatic display at the Final Judgment, nor is grace something that kicks in at the end of an ordeal. It is there from the moment we exercise even a 'particle of faith' and ask for His help. Jesus Christ is Alpha and Omega, literally the beginning and the end, which means He'll stick with us from start to finish.” (“Sweet Above All That Is Sweet”, BYU Women's Conference, May 2014)
Later she added, “Doing all we can do is about becoming and behaving like true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is our part... We can never earn exaltation. But we can indicate by the way we live our lives that we want to be part of the kingdom of God more than we want anything else. And that is discipleship.” (“Sweet Above All That Is Sweet”, BYU Women's Conference, May 2014)
HOW DOES IT WORK
So how does discipleship give us access to the power of the Atonement?
EXAMPLES:
Elder D. Todd Christofferson related an experience of two sister missionaries serving in Croatia who were headed home late one evening after an appointment. He told the story this way: “Several men on the trolley made crude comments and became rather menacing. Feeling threatened, the sisters got off the trolley at the next stop just as the doors closed so no one could follow them. As they turned to ask for help, they saw a woman... She knew where they could find another trolley to take them home and invited them to follow her. On the way (to that trolley) they had to pass a bar with patrons waiting along the sidewalk... These men also appeared threatening. Nevertheless, the two young women had the distinct impression that the men could not see them. They walked by, apparently invisible to the men... When the sisters and their guide reached the stop, the trolley they needed was just arriving. They turned to thank the woman, but she was nowhere to be seen.”
Of this story, Sheri Dew said, “How could we explain that sequence of events – a remarkable sequence of events for those two sister missionaries? The discipleship of two sister missionaries gave them access to the Lord's protecting grace.” (“Sweet Above All That Is Sweet”, May 1, 2014, BYU Women's Conference)
Because they were worthy, they were given the protection they needed in the moment that they needed it.
Another example comes from the life of Sheri Dew. “Not long ago, I was assigned to make a sensitive presentation to a group of senior General Authorities, which is just always a little nerve-wracking – let me just be honest about it. I prepared the best I could and sought the Lord's help, and even asked if angels who cared about that presentation could accompany me to the meeting. Well, things went better that day than I expected, and that should have tipped me off. As I walked back to my office thinking, 'That went pretty well,' I had a very immediate and clear impression: 'You don't think you're the one who did that, do you?' I literally looked up and said, 'Oh yeah, I didn't think it was me. I really didn't think it was me.' That's when I realized that the Lord had indeed sent help.” (“Sweet Above All that is Sweet”, BYU Women's Conference, May 2014)
Sister Dew had done all she could to prepare and prayed for the Lords help. She was literally blessed with angels responding to her call.
In these examples we see that as we walk the path of discipleship, we qualify for the blessings of the Atonement, not just in our darkest moments but in every moment. We can receive divine help whenever we begin to “exercise even a particle of faith...” and ask for help. (Alma 32:27)
There are two hymns that we sing frequently in church that describe our daily need for the power of the atonement.
Come, Come Ye Saints, “... Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day”
How Firm a Foundation, “...In every condition, in sickness, in health, in poverty's vale or abounding in wealth, at home or abroad, on the land or the sea – as thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.”
Several years ago, while living in Colorado, I was asked to attend a regional training meeting. It was held in a chapel that belonged to the Stake just north of us. So, I had never been there before. As I got closer to the building I realized that it was surrounded by construction and I had to follow detour signs to get where I needed to be.
By the time the meeting let out, it was dark... very dark. I started to make my way home but again got caught in the detour lanes through the construction. The more I drove, the more I got turned around. Soon I realized that I had no idea where I was or even which direction I was headed.
If you've ever lived in Colorado you know that if you are lost you look for the mountains. The mountains are always west. But it was too dark. I couldn't make them out.
I said a silent prayer asking Heavenly Father to help me see something I could recognize so that I could find my way. Primary songs were playing over the radio. And just as “I Love to See the Temple” began to play, I came up over a hill and there, all lit up, was the Denver temple. I immediately knew right where I was and how to get home.
That wasn't a big thing. But, that's just it. The tender mercies of the atonement can come in any moment that we need them; great or small.
REVIEW
What are the blessings that come through the power of the atonement:
Going back to quotes above:
*we can be cleansed, forgiven, redeemed
*we can be healed in weakness, illness, and heartache
*we can be inspired
*we can be strengthened
*we can ask for more energy, more revelation, more patience, more self- discipline, more hope, more love, more healing
*we can ask for miracles, freedom from pain and for the desire to forgive
*we can ask for help to become better disciples
*we can feel joy and peace
*we can ask for angels to walk with us
We qualify for these blessings by working to become more like Christ. We move forward with faith, not fear. We repent. We make and keep covenants. We study, practice and pray.
We ask for divine help for ourselves, in our marriages, on behalf of our children. We teach our children to follow the Savior's example and to turn to Him when they need help.
CLOSING
It is my testimony to you that the blessings of the atonement will come. Whether you are sitting on the floor of the hospital, or on a bus in Croatia, or driving around lost in Denver.
I testify that we can be made stronger, we can be comforted and find peace... and even have angels attend us if we are willing to become disciples of Christ.
In John 14:27, says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Of this verse Elder Holland said, “I submit to you that may be one of the Savior's commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation could be any more grievous to the Lord's merciful heart....I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands or trust in his commandments.” (“Come Unto Me," Speeches, Mar. 1997)
We are not to be troubled or afraid because we can do all things with the Savior's help. Life isn't easy. It's not meant to be. It is meant to challenge us, to stretch us and to teach us. But, we need not do it alone. Paraphrasing Sister Dew... It is not easy to be a disciple of Christ, but it is easier than not being one. God rarely moves the mountains in front of us, but He always helps us climb over them.
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