He Will Take Upon Him the Pains of His People

I had an experience this week that helped enlighten me about the atonement. We read in Alma chapter 7 how the Son of God would take upon him the pains and sicknesses and infirmities and sins of His people. We sometimes focus mostly on Him taking on Himself our sins, but he also took upon Himself our pains and sicknesses and infirmities.

Here's my experience. Monday Michael was driving from Boise to Logan for a very important modeling job. He had told me before that being late to these things was not even an option so he always gave himself plenty of time. I learned from Mom that Michael's tire blew out near Mountain Home. He called Mom to express how distraught he was by the whole ordeal - not only was there the expense of the repair, but the problem would delay him enough that he would be late to his appointment. I felt so bad for Michael. In fact, I sometimes think when our children are in distress, the parents feel it worse than the children.

Then I made the connection. Just as I felt so bad for Michael, even though the experience wasn't happening to me, the Savior has suffered that same pain for all of us. Not only that, he took upon himself Michael's pain and my pain, and multiply that by millions, because the Savior has experienced the pain and suffering of every human being who has lived, who is now living and who will yet live upon the earth. He did it all the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. The magnitude of what Jesus Christ did for us through the atonement struck me by that simple comparison.

Not only did He do it, but he did it willingly. In addition, we don't even need to bear our burdens, because if we are suffering in mind or spirit he invites us to "cast our burden upon the Lord and he will sustain thee." I am, and forever will be so grateful for the atoning sacrifice of our Lord, Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.