(a transcript-- though not exact-- of the talk I gave in Sacrament meeting on July 22, 2012)
Years ago as part of promoting the book I had just published, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 60 or so prisoners at the Utah State Prison in Bluffdale. Surrounded by fences and barbed wire, guards with guns, video cameras, and bars, I was able to testify to these prisoners (many of them sex offenders or abusers or drug addicts or thieves) that they had two chances in life to have a relationship with their father. The first is with their earthly father (many of them did not know or get along with their earthly fathers) and the second with their Heavenly Father. I felt impressed to paraphrase a scripture from Romans:
Romans 8:38-39
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, no angels, not principalities, not powers, not things present, nor things to come.
"Nor height, nor depth, not any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jest our Lord."
Even these hardened prisoners are not out of the reach of the love of our Heavenly Father. And why is he kind?
Alma 33:11 says "it is because of thy Son that thou hast been merciful unto us."
What has Christ done for you lately? Or a better question: What have you
allowed Christ to do for you?
Alma 33:21
"O my brethern, if you 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 y would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?"
Matthew 11:28
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Christ invites us to 'Learn of Him.' Learn what?
Alma chapter 37 shows us the power of the scriptures. So what do the scriptures teach us about Christ?
Alma 26:12:
"For in his strength I can do all things."
1 Nephi 1:20:
"His tender mercy is over all whom he hath chosen."
2 Nephi 11:
He will gather-- and has gathered-- us as a hen gathereth her chicks.
Alma 38:9:
"There is no other way or means whereby man may be saved."
Alma 34:16:
"He will encircle us in the arms of mercy."
Alma 31:31:
"He will comfort your soul."
Mosiah 24:14:
"I will also ease the burdens which are put on your shoulders that even you cannot feel them."
Mosiah 15:9:
"He is filled with compassion for the children of men."
Knowing his character and goodness-- what do you want Christ to do for you? How much of a part of your life will you make him?
Alma 32:37:
"even if you can no more than desire to believe." Believe that he can make your life better. Alma the younger, while being tormented with the pains o
f
a damned soul, simply thought about and remembered his father
prophesying of Christ. That simple thought brought him great relief.
Christ
brings us happiness, the feeling of being love, peace, contentment,
patience, laughter, courage, the desire to love others, faith. All of
these gifts, and more, are ours for the taking. We just must ask. How
much easier/happier/smoother/calmer/brighter would our lives be if we
allowed Christ to be more involved?
Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I have had my own miracle restoration. I've been told many times that it's a miracle I am alive. It's a miracle for me to be functioning. It's a miracle that I am not consumed with bitterness. It's a miracle for me to be able to reach out and save lives. It's ALL due to the Atonement and His restoration of my life. There was a time when I felt so completely and utterly abandoned. I felt like because I had made some bad, bad decisions that I deserved to be abandoned by God. Now I look forward to watching the divine replay so I can see just how intimately and carefully Heavenly Father was involved in my life during that time.
I was so very, very broken, and Christ made me new again. At the front of my book, I wrote:
To my Father in Heaven, who saved my life.
To my Savior, who restored my life.
To my eternal companion, who makes that life worth living.
I have an analogy about the power of the Atonement. Our lives are like an aquarium. Everyday life turns our water yucky and dirty. At the end of the day, I have a chance to use the power of the Atonement to clean that water out and make it pure & clear again. On good days, I feel like it's as simple as scooping out some leaves or whatnot on top. On bad days, the only thing to scoop out is the few good things I did and then the water needs to be tossed. The point is that I can always start fresh. I can always use the power of the Atonement to make my water fresh, pure, and clear. We have the sacrament, daily prayers, and service to others as a way to use the power of the Atonement.
Invite Christ into your life: in a deeper, fuller, longer way.
I'd like to close with two verses of one of my favorite sacrament hymns. This is the only hymn we sing from the perspective of Christ-- as though he is talking to us instead of us singing of him.
Reverently and Meekly Now
verse 3
Bid thine heart all strife to cease
With thy brethern be at peach
Oh forgive as thou wouldst be
E'en forgiven now by me
In the solemn faith of prayer
Cast upon me all thy care
And my Spirit's grace shall be
Like a fountain unto thee
verse 4
At the throne I intercede
For thee do I ever plead
I have loved thee as thy friend
With a love that cannot end
Be obedient, I implore
Prayerful, watchful evermore
And be constant unto me
That thy Savior I may be
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