First take a look at what vs 12-13 says "But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins. Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments." He had murdered God's children and tried to lead people away from the gospel and the following verses explain his pain. "Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds. And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul." His pain is obvious but then he goes on to say "I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
It is the following verses that bring hope to us all and really bring to light the great power of the atonement..
"now as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: o Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I though this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!"
I am so grateful to have the knowledge I do of the Gospel and to be able to use this gift of the atonement in my life. I am so grateful for the truly Christian teachings that come from the great Book of Mormon. I want to echo the following verse in my life as I go forward...
"Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost."
I know that "he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever..."
2 comments:
Michael, thank you! It was so great to read that and hear and feel how close this is to your heart! Jeff and I are very proud of the steps you have made in your life. You're a terrific person and we love you! Thanks for sharing something so dear to your heart!
What beautiful thoughts. It reinforces to me that the Book of Mormon has a message for us in our day, not just for those who lived anciently, if we let it speak to us, as you have. I really like your goal to follow Alma's example to "labor without ceasing" to share the joy of the atonement with others.
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