The Greatest Gift We Have Ever Received

Can you think of a time that someone did something nice for you? As I have reflected back on the week, I can think of several acts of kindness that were performed in my behalf. Receiving a priesthood blessing, getting a package in the mail, and having somebody smile at me in the library. I am so thankful for these acts of kindness! Although these gifts were all so great, there is an even greater gift that we have been given. The greatest gift of all is the atonement of Jesus Christ. The atonement is a topic that means so much to me and I loved studying it further in class this week. As we study the atonement, we learn about the pain and suffering that Christ went through. Jesus lived a perfect life so until the atonement he had never experienced guilt, shame, regret, sorrow, pain, fear, depression, or frustration. Can you imagine what it would feel like to have never felt any of those feelings before, and all of a sudden have them thrust upon you at once? He wasn't just feeling those things for one person, but for the whole world. No human could have suffered as he did, Jesus was the only one who could perform the task. Without him, we would have died and been cast out of Gods presence. Isn't it amazing that somebody would do that for each of us? He bled from every pore for the mistakes that we have made. He never got to feel any of the "guilty pleasure" that comes from sinning, but only the sorrow, the grief, the regret. Somebody loves you so much that He would suffer pain unimaginable to any of us for YOU. For your sins, your sorrows, and your transgressions. To be able to feel what you are feeling when you think nobody else understands. That is truly the greatest gift in the history of the world. 2 Nephi 9:19 says "O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil, and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment." Jesus went into the depths of hell, he went below each of us so that he could raise us all up.  This is the most comforting principle to me. We can live with our Heavenly Father again someday because of the atonement. Jesus Christ went through all of the pain and paid the price of our sins. We just need to repent and return to him. I am so thankful for the atonement and all that it has done for me. It has changed my life in ways that I never knew it could. I have been able to come unto Christ because of it, and that has brought me peace and happiness. I love this gospel,I love my Savior, and I am so thankful for the atonement.