Stake Conference 2016

About a year and a half ago, my kids and I went to a pool party. When we arrived, there were already adults in the water, so I let my older kids who were very strong swimmers in the gate to swim. 

I kept my 3 year old, and my baby outside the gate with me. I got carried away introducing myself to those I did not know, and chit chatting with friends, while intermittently watching my big kids jump off a rock waterfall, and putting a swim diaper on my baby. 

Suddenly, there was some commotion in the pool area, and I was being called into the pool gate.

At some point, while I was chatting, my 3 year old...who had, at one point, been sitting right next to me outside the gate, had slipped into the gate with someone else, got into the pool with out his floaties on ....and had quietly sunk to the bottom of the pool. 

By the time he was discovered and pulled out of the water, His body was lifeless and purple. He had broken blood vessels on his face from going so long with out oxygen. His face was almost unrecognizable to me. I had an instantaneous realization that his spirit was NO longer in his body. He was gone. 

Someone called 911

I went into complete Shock. 

Screaming and shaking, I begged our Friend to give him a priesthood blessing. Our friend worthily placed his hands on my sons head, and through the power and authority of God, commanded my son to breath and to live. I remember the power of that blessing. I remember that there was chaos all around me...but...even through the chaos, I felt the spirit of God like I have never felt it before. 

The moment worthy hands were placed on my son's head, intelligence began to pour into me ...and I was given very specific instruction, through the spirit, of exactly what I needed to do in order to bring my son back. It took an intense amount of work...both in expelling the water from his body so that his body could even accept air, and also performing a form of CPR that I was directed by the spirit to use. It took about 8 minutes before he showed any signs of life.... And Finally, took his first breath.

Through the will and power of God, my son not only lived, but made a full and complete recovery.

This was just one of many trials I have experienced in life....so far. The trials we face serve a purpose. They can help us come to know our Heavenly Father.... and our Savior Jesus Christ...and understand the atonement, in a very intimate way...and ultimately help us return to the Father.

Tonight I would like to focus on three parts of the atonement that can help us through any trial, challenge, or adversity we will ever face here in mortality. 

NUMBER 1..... the ENABLING power of the atonement 
NUMBER 2.....The HEALING power of the atonement
NUMBER 3..... The REDEEMING power of the atonement

NUMBER 1: the ENABLING power of the atonement 

The enabling power of the Atonement lends us divine strength, and gives us ability beyond our natural capacity.... to do things we otherwise could NOT accomplish on our own. It was the enabling power of the Atonement that allowed Peter to walk on water

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As The apostles were on a boat crossing the Sea to meet Jesus, a terrible storm began to rage. The wind was tossing their ship, and they feared for their life. 

In their moment of greatest extremity, they saw a figure approaching them in the darkness... walking on the waves of the storm. They assumed it was a spirit and cried out for fear.

Christ responded, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Peter called “ Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And Christ beckoned to him, “Come.”

In absolute faith, Peter sprang over the side of the vessel into the troubled waves.

SO LONG AS PETER'S EYES WERE FIXED UPON THE LORD, NO AMOUNT OF WIND OR WAVES COULD SINK HIM. 

HOWEVER, 

At some point, PETER REMOVED HIS GAZE FROM THE MASTER, AND Looked instead at THE FURY of the WAVES... AND THE BLACK GULF BENEATH HIM. IMEDIATELY, HIS FAITH WAIVERED, AND HE BEGAN TO SINK, CRYING, “LORD, SAVE ME!”

CHRIST with His hand already OUT STRETCHED, PULLED PETER FROM THE WATER.

That same enabling power of the atonement that allowed Peter to

walk on water can be given to us in our daily lives. 

IF WE, LIKE PETER, FIX OUR EYES ON Christ, WE TOO CAN call upon HIS enabling POWER TO help us WALK THROUGH ANY CHALLENGE WE will ever FACE IN MORTALITY.... AND REMAIN Un-affected by THE RISING WIND AND WAVES THAT THREATEN TO ENGULF US. 

As a mother with 7 young children, and having a Husband who is a bishop, I need the enabling power of the atonement daily to keep my own head above water. As often as I ask, The Lord lends me a portion of His strength, enabling me to fulfill His purposes, and accomplish much more than I ever could on my own. 

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NUMBER 2: THE HEALING POWER OF THE ATONEMENT

David A Bednar said, “There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey that the Savior did not experience first. The Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt, and bore, our burdens before we ever did. And because He paid the ultimate price He has perfect empathy and can extend His arm of mercy to us. He can reach out, touch, and succor—literally run to us—and strengthen us."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated: “The Atonement is powerful enough not only to pay the price for sin, but also to heal every mortal affliction. The healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ—is available for every affliction in mortality.”

A few years ago, My father in law took his own life. Our family turned to Christ...and the healing power of the atonement to heal our unanswered questions and absolute aguish. 

Through multiple miscarriages, I turned to Christ and the healing power of the atonement to heal my broken heart. 

Through my recent double mastectomy, I found myself relying on Christ and the healing power of the atonement regularly to bind up both my physical and emotional wounds.

Several years ago, our daughter was diagnosed with a life long debilitating disease. Faith, Prayer, and Priesthood blessings may never heal her in this life, but through Christ and the healing power of the atonement, we have been lifted, strengthened, and will continue to be made equal to our challenges.

Some of the healing we seek won't ever come in this life....But as Elder Wirthlin taught, “The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. Know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundred fold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.”

Healing WILL COME! Ultimately, any wound we could ever receive in this life: physical, spiritual, or emotional is temporary because of the healing power of the atonement.. That knowledge can carry us as we wait for healing to come.

                    NUMBER 3: The Redeeming Power of The Atonement

Elder HOLLAND: Christ has “graven [us] upon the palms of [His] hands.” Considering the incomprehensible cost of the Crucifixion and Atonement, I promise you He is not going to turn His back on us now. When He says, “Come unto me,” He means He knows the way out... and He knows the way up. He knows it because He has walked it. He knows the way, because He IS the way.”

When we struggle with sin, addiction, or even weakness, we can turn to Christ and the Redeeming power of the atonement 

Knowing full well that Christ will guide us back home. 

Christ suffered for our sins, so that we would not have to suffer, so long as we repent. 

He IS the way HOME...and will help us overcome our weaknesses...and shoulder our burdens the whole way back. 

Like Nephi, I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

In Moses 1: 39 it reads, "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

The whole purpose of the creation, the fall, the atonement, and everything in between is for us to return back home. To live with God forever... glorified... in our perfect resurrected bodies... together with our families. 

In life, we are often handed challenges we would not have picked for ourselves. It is all part of the plan. God's will is often different than ours. 

However, we can trust perfectly in His will for us, because His will is Ultimately for us to come home. He knows what trials and blessings WE personally need in this life to accomplish his purpose of bringing us back. 

It's as though we each have our very OWN plan of salvation. Trust in God's perfect plan for YOU! 

Each of us will suffer trials and challenges that feel insurmountable. However, If we turn to Christ and call upon the enabling power of the atonement, He will lend us a portion of His strength to accomplish His purposes.

When our hearts are broken, and we suffer grief, sickness, and loss, we can turn to Christ and the healing power of the atonement. He will bind up our wounds, and heal our broken hearts.

When we struggle with addiction, weakness, or sin, we can turn to Christ and the redeeming power of the atonement, and receive the help and forgiveness we require.

IF we keep our eyes FIXED on the Savior, He will help us through any trial, struggle, or challenge we will ever face in this life... and His arm will be forever outstretched to Save us. 

 Christ is the way through our trials. Christ IS our way Home. 

 Bear Testimony.