My earliest memory of having to stand up for myself was in third grade. I remember being bullied quite a lot. I had faced hard trials in my life and when I turned to a friend, I received unkind words. I will not repeat the story, or the words that were said. However I will share the part of the story when I stood alone.
While in the playground this friend came to me with a group of kids. They started teasing me about what I had shared with her. I can remember feeling betrayed and hurt. During this moment I expressed "I do not care what you think of me. Christ is the only friend I need." They teased me for that statement; however I could not recant what I knew to be true.
As I look back at that moment in my life I am grateful that at that time I knew I had a Heavenly Father. I knew that Jesus Christ was my friend. He was my Savior and redeemer. I most likely did not know everything he had done for me but I did know he loved me.
I did not have the Fullness of the Gospel. I had just a small portion of who Christ was and What Heavenly father had planned for me; but I knew that through Christ I could be healed.
Now as a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I can say that that moment in my life was healed by what we call the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement consists of Christs suffering for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, his suffering on the cross, and his resurrection three days after his death.
My favorite scripture about the Atonement is in Alma 7:11-13
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions andbtemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose 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 csuccorhis people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the bflesh that he might ctake 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.
I know that Jesus Christ knows what we are going through. He feels the pains, sicknesses and weaknesses that we have. Through him we can be healed as we follow his teachings. I also know that the fullness of his gospel has been restored. We have a prophet today. He loves us and cares about us. As we listen to the council of prophets of old and our modern prophet we will live better and happier lives.
Sister Renfro
Sister Renfro
Thomas S. Monson
