Daily Scripture

Doctrine & Covenants 19:1–2, 18–19

1 I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world.

2 I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me …

18 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—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

I couldn’t start this day without reading the Savior’s own account and testimony of His accomplishing His infinite Atonement. I think in some small (infinitesimal, really) way, I understand the morning before His sacrifice better. 

On that Thursday morning, He woke knowing this was the beginning of that moment He had been preparing for since the foundation of the world. He knew the pain and suffering that were coming. I don’t believe He had a full comprehension of the intensity of it until it actually happened. But He anticipated something excruciatingly hard. 

And yet He did not shirk. He went about His day loving and teaching and fulfilling prophecy and doing all the things perfectly, all while knowing He was about to endure something only He, a God, could comprehend. 

Recently, our family had a health scare with my mom. It could have been an imminent, immediate death sentence. But, scarier, it promised great pain and suffering while she tried to fight it. 

Thankfully, It was a false alarm and she will be ok for now. But the very anticipation of what might be ahead, both for her and for those of us who cherish her, almost paralyzed me. It’s all I could think about for a couple of days. I didn’t want her to suffer and die (even though I know that is the ultimate end of mortality for each of us). 

As I look back at the relief I felt over having that cup pass, I am acutely grateful that our Savior did not let the cup pass when it became too hard. He spent the time leading up to His Atonement faithfully and well. And then He submitted. 

As we face the uncertain future of a global pandemic, we can look to our Savior with faith and hope, even in the midst of the uncertainty. Why? Because He not only understands our distress, but He already won the victory over the uncertainty. He asks us to look forward with faith because He already did.

We can never say too much of our love for Him and the great gift He offers us. And we can only show our gratitude if we use it and repent. 

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