“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink; Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men. {1}
If we could be allowed to feel the punishments of which He refers, even the horrific mental, emotional, and spiritual sufferings of a pure, unblemished, and unsullied soul, as the filth and degradation of the sins of the world were laid up Him, to be compounded by the horrors of the cross, yes, in the smallest, even in the least degree, would we not begin to get but a small understanding of what He went through for each of us? Would we not want to repent of our sins? Would we not want to make the full and complete turn required for full repentance, and never look back? Would we not always strive to do better? Having repented, would we not continue to apply the balm and cleansing power of His atoning sacrifice to our lives by obedience to His commandments, all of His commandments, until the effects of our transgression be erased? And then, He promises, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” {2}
Can anything be so wonderful as that moment when we can remember our pains no more, when we are no longer harrowed up by the memory of our sins? Knowing what He went through for us, should we not love Him with all the power we possess? Should we not do all we can do to merit His love? And when we have done that, we will find that yet, it is not enough, for we can never fully repay Him!
I love Him, with all the power of my being. He is my Messiah, my Divine Redeemer, even the Savior of my soul. I can never fully recompense Him, but eternity upon eternity, for what He has done in my behalf, I shall love Him forever.
“Think of me, thou ransomed one;
Think what I for thee have done.
With my blood that dripped like rain,
Sweat in agony of pain,
With my body on the tree
I have ransomed even thee.” {3}
{1} Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19
{2} Jeremiah 31:34
{3} Reverently and Meekly Now, Joseph L Townsend