I dragged Reeann and Rachel with me on a Wendy's run, which meant walking from the very east side of campus to the very west side of campus and beyond. They were good sports about it though, them being the kind souls that they are.
Remember my roommate who made an appearance in my post last week? Well, I edited some of the pictures I took, and I'm so excited about them that you get to see a few here, if you haven't already on Facebook.
I also get to take some pictures at the reception this weekend :). I would love to be a photographer for weddings and things like that. Just a side note. Now on to the spiritual thought I've got for you guys.
In Book of Mormon this week, we discussed two of my favorite Book of Mormon chapters - Alma 34 & 36 (especially 36). More specifically, we talked about the Atonement and prayer. Of course, there's the spiel about prayer in Alma 34:17-27, and there are some amazing verses at the end of the chapter (take a look at 40 and 41), but I love what Alma the Younger has to say Alma 36:
"[verse 3] I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day...[verse 27] And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me..."
Remember Alma's story? He tried to destroy the church with the sons of Mosiah until an angel came and told him to stop, which led to him being in some sort of coma for three days, during which he felt the pains of his sins and was ultimately born of God. When Alma tells us that he has been supported in his afflictions, he knows what he is talking about. He experienced the Atonement firsthand. He tells us that he was "harrowed up" by the memory of his sins and "racked" with the pains of a damned soul. Only when he calls on Christ for mercy is he released from his pain. The Atonement makes it possible for us to be forgiven of our sins, to have them washed away. I loved the way my professor said it - "Let Jesus own your sins." He felt the pain that comes from the sins of every single person in the world . That means YOU! Not only did He suffer for our sins, but He also felt our punishments, the stupid things we do, the embarrassing things we do, our weaknesses, failures, depression, sicknesses, etc. That's what I love about the Atonement; Christ has personally experienced everything I have felt and will feel. He's ready to take it from us, we just have to give it to Him. How to do that has always confused me though. How do we give our pains to Christ? When I asked my professor, his response was very simple: Pour your heart out. Talk to Him in prayer, and then He will start shouldering the burdens. Notice, however, that verses 3 and 27 don't say that He will take them away, but that we will be supported. He won't necessarily take the burden away (although He can and occasionally does), but He will help carry it because we cannot do this alone. No matter how hard we might try or think we can, we can't. It is okay to rely on the Savior, and a lot of the time He will send friends and family to our aid. I know this is true with all of my heart. I have received support in my trials, and I know that the help I have received has come from my Heavenly Father every time. I encourage you to try this out for yourself, and I promise that the Savior will not fail you.
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