The Infinite Atonement

SISTER CEDEÑO CAME TO VISIT!

Yesterday 8 of our investigators were supposed to come to church and not one showed up.

It was hard.

I felt a little defeated and destroyed. We had done everything we could to get them there. We had texted, begged, invited, showed up in the morning, promised blessings and.... nothing. I asked a lot of questions as I sat there in the chapel.

I asked myself "Why am I here right now?" And then I looked down at the book I was holding.

I've recently started reading "The Infinite Atonement", a book which explains more about what exactly Jesus Christ went through and why it is essential on an eternal scale.

Without the atonement there would be no hope. There would be no point to this beautiful, merciful plan our Father created for us. We would be lost in a very dark world.

But there is an atonement. There is hope and light in this world because Christ took upon Him our pains and our sins and our sicknesses.

As Alma 7:11-12 says:

"11 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.

12 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."

Christ knows us. He knows what we need. He is merciful and loving and the only perfect person to walk the earth. And He died and rose again, having taken upon Himself our sins, so that we may gain a remission of them and be brought to stand before God in the end.

So yesterday as I partook of the sacrament, I received my answer to why I was there.

It wasn't necessarily to welcome anyone to the church or to learn more or to build relationships with members. It wasn't to sing hymns or pray together or see my investigators there.

I was there to apply the infinite atonement to my life and change. To renew my covenants and receive a remission of my sins.

With that perspective a lot changed. I've always know the importance of these things but yesterday I came to know them at my core.

I am grateful for a plan of redemption that a loving Father in Heaven created for me. I'm grateful that I have the chance every week to think more deeply about the sacrifices of my Savior as I partake of the sacrament. I am grateful for an infinite and enduring atonement that makes it possible for me to return to my Heavenly home.

I'm grateful for this week because it truly was a great week. Sister Neahusen and I invited every investigator to be baptized, almost all accepted, lost some, found others, saw miracles and felt the Holy Ghost guiding us every step of the way. It was awesome (well except for Thanksgiving when we had four dinners and I almost died...that was a rough day) and I am so, so grateful for my Savior who made it all possible.

To the Moon and Back:

Hermana Showalter

1. Dinner #4 with the Lopez clan - I sneeze in every photo I swear
2. Mija y yo
3. Sister Barlow repping the awesome Christmas sweaters my mom got us!