Week 9

In my personal scripture study I was reading in Mark and verse 16 relates how Jesus is eating with the publicans and sinners and the pharisees are shocked because they wouldn't be caught dead eating with such unclean people. Verse 17 is Jesus' response to their disgust and it reads, "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." A lot of times I feel unworthy to go to church or the temple because I've lost my temper and said something unkind to a loved one or didn't keep the Sabbath Day holy or some other infraction that doesn't reflect perfection. At times like this I have to remind myself that there's only one person that lived on this earth who lived a perfect life and I am not that person. Heavenly Father did not ask me to be that person and he did not set me up for failure. Instead, He and His son provided a means whereby every son and daughter could live with their Father again if they only keep the commandments and take advantage of the redeeming powers when they make a mistake. Our only requirement is to try to be the best version of ourselves we can be and try to be a true follower of Christ and He will make up the difference for us because we cannot possibly do it alone.

Similarly, one of my very favorite talks was given by Elder Holland in an April 2009 General Conference talk titled 'None Were With Him'. Elder Holland reminds us that "because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." He's suffered every pain and affliction specifically for us and for the shortest moment I know He suffered only for me. He knows every emotion I've ever felt including loss, guilt, pain, fear, anger, doubt, and loneliness. We do not have to suffer these burdens alone. If we will turn our hearts to Him, He has the power to make us clean- completely free of sin. All we have to do is have faith and put our trust in Him and He will make us whole.