Free, yet Priceless!

3 Nephi 8

Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest to the crucifixion of Christ.  Many were destroyed; darkness covered the land for three days.  Those who remained bemoaned their fate.

A couple of things struck me.  One – when this record was made by Nephi, it is said “. . . he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity –“  His goodness was being noted.   He was called a “just man”.  I guess the word that struck me was “cleansed”.  He too went through a cleansing.  I’m sure he didn’t have a lot to repent of, but this is a process that we are all blessed to go through.  Given the events of my week, I’m grateful for this process.  We can be made clean again through the power of the Atonement.   We need to recognize this blessing in our lives and the lives of those we love.

The second thing, and this isn’t new for me.  Every time I read about the darkness that prevailed after the three hours of upheaval, I am reminded of a man my parents met who told of his near-death experience.  He was vivid in the recollection of his experience on the other side.  He had a motorcycle accident and died in the emergency room but was revived.  The one thing he said about that experience that has stuck with me ever since is that Jesus is the source of ALL light – even the light bulbs, candles, matches to light them.  With Him out of the world, there is no light.  He wasn’t a prophet, but somehow this just rings very true to me.

I am grateful for the knowledge of the Atonement.  I am grateful that I will be blessed to partake of the sacrament this morning and renew my commitments and be cleansed from my mistakes.  Some weeks, those mistakes stack higher than others.   Perfect I am not, and I’m grateful for well-meaning acquaintances who will point out my faults; but trying to be better today than I was yesterday is the name of the game.  And in the end, it is the Savior who will make me perfect.  I don’t understand how, but I do know it will be done.

I am forever grateful for the light the Savior has brought into my life.  I was in a dark world for what seemed a very long time.  I recognize the difference and give thanks for it daily.  Perhaps this is why it is possible for me to let a child of mine struggle with her own mistakes.  I want desperately for her to find this light in her life again.  It is there for the taking – free, without price, yet it is priceless.