A Little Whining and The Infinite Atonement

Ok. So I tried to share something, but I can't seem to copy and paste from Word to this blog post. I'm really not a technical neophyte, and I even tried copying it to Notepad to remove any strange formatting, then re-copying and re-pasting, but no luck. I even right-clicked and clicked paste. Nothing seems to allow me to copy from an existing document to this publishing box. So if anyone who's not at odds with the blogosphere can clue me in, please do (email me so I don't get too embarrassed).

So now that the whining is over, here's my real post. I won't bore you with my entire reading journal, but I would like to share something that I wrote "the other day" (yes, I'll take the time to re-type it here):

2011-06-29

Alma 7:11-13

Topics: Atonement, Succor, Personal Failings, Pain, Disease, Sickness, Temptations, Repentance

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind..." (v.11) During His life, and certainly during the Atonement, Jesus Christ suffered every pain, affliction, and temptation that man can suffer. There is nothing that we can go through that Christ has not suffered as well.

"... 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." (v.12) This verse is filled with information and love. The definitions of infirmity that I found relevant to this scripture are:

1. Frailty,
2. Disease,
3. Personal failing.

I believe that Jesus Christ knew all these things spiritually (see verse 13), but because he led a life of perfect obedience to the Father, he did not (before the atonement) understand some of these things physically, especially those related to some temptations and personal failings. During the Atonement, our Savior took upon him all pain and suffering related to sickness, disease, frailty (old age and otherwise), and, most astonishingly, the physical pain of temptation and sin (i.e. yielding to temptation). And He did so in order that he might know according to the flesh how to run to, and give aid to, his people according to their infirmities. He knows how too help us, not only spiritually, but also physically, through all our difficulties in life. Most of the time I tend to think that the only way through difficult things is through spiritual means (reading the scriptures, praying, participating in church, fulfilling callings, etc.). However, this scripture sheds light on the fact that Jesus Christ knows how to help us physically as well. He knows how to help us overcome these weaknesses and troubles.

The Savior of the World knows how to help each of us overcome, and learn from, our pain, disease, sickness, personal failings, temptations, and sin. Once we are ready and willing to listen, learn, and obey, he will get us through these things and teach us a lot about ourselves, mortal life, and Eternal Life in the process. Some of these things might not go away until the end of our lives, the Resurrection, or possibly much later, but if we continue on in faith, and faithfully serve, not giving up, at some point the Savior will help us remove these difficulties and temptations. Then verse 13 applies: "... the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."