Sunday Spiritual thoughts on Christ

Today was an incredible spirit fed day. I love those days! I love making connections and learning about my Savior. I wanted to share some random but spiritual thoughts and connections that I have made today.


We sung Hymn #191 today in sacrament. I had never really studied or pondered upon these words as closely I did today. The text was written by Eliza R. Snow who was the 2nd General Relief Society President and the sister to Lorenzo Snow who was the 5th President of the church.

Behold thy great Redeemer die, A broken law to satisfy. He dies a sacrifice for sin, He dies a sacrifice for sin, That man may live and glory win.

While guilty men his pains deride, They pierce his hands and feet and side; And with insulting scoffs and scorns, And with insulting scoffs and scorns, They crown his head with plaited thorns.

Although in agony he hung, no murmring word escaped his tongue. His high commission to fulfill, His high commission to fulfill, He magnified his father's will.

"Father, from me remove this cup. Yet, if thou wilt, I'll drink it up. I've done the work thou gavest me, I've done the work thou gavest me: Receive the spirit unto thee."

Verse three hit me hard. "Although in agony he hung, no murmring word escaped his tongue." Christ so willingly came down to go through the greatest sacrifice that will ever be known to man-kind and yet he didn't even murmur once. About a month ago I had bronchitis. It took all my energy and I thought I was going to pass out every time I stood up. I was drained and physically exhausted. It was painful, it was hard, and it was frustrating not being able to do the things I could normally do because I just didn't have the strength. I'll be honest, I murmured over my simple burden.

Murmuring is a quiet or depressed reflection of ones circumstances. It is expressing discontentment with the situation you are in. 

I wasn't loud or expressive to those I was around but I was in bed wishing for the illness to go away. I remember praying about the pain I was in asking so fervently for it to go away. I know my trial was so small compared to the pain and trials that others are faced with, but I can't even fathom the sacrifice Christ so selflessly went through for you and I. His willingness to save the world and bring hope unto the lives that may never love or accept him. The pain he must have experienced and he didn't murmur one word. Wow! That's incredible and I stand in awe of the selflessness Christ carried with him everywhere he went. He was always willing to submit his will to the will of the Father. He showed admiration of Heavenly Father by magnifying His will. 

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As I was studying my scriptures today, I studied 3 Nephi 17:1-10 where Christ is appearing to the multitude of the people at the temple.

Verse 1: Christ tells the people it's time for him to leave
Verse 2: Christ tells the people that he can see they are weak and they can't understand His words and teachings right now.
Verse 3: He tells the people to go home and ponder about the words he has spoken, for he will come again. He also tells the people to ask Heavenly Father for understanding.

Ashley's Perspective: Learning in school and understanding the scriptures has always been a struggle for me. I struggled to read the scriptures for awhile because it just didn't come easy and I had no idea what was going on. I've been able to personally experience for myself what it means to ask Heavenly Father that I may understand the things I am studying. The more I pray for help, prepare my mind to learn, and then I take action and study and dig deep, the greater of an understanding I have. If you have ever felt like learning is difficult for you, I testify that with deep faith and sincere prayer for help, you can start to understand and comprehend the things you need to learn. Heavenly Father wants you to learn the scriptures, He wants you to do well in school, so test this principle for yourself.

I think pondering is the greatest thing you can do for understanding.

President Henry B. Eyring said: "Reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully" ("Serve with the Spirit," Ensign Nov. 2010).

Verse 5: Christ was about to leave and he looks around at the multitude of the people and sees them in tears. appearing as they wanted to ask him to stay a little longer. 
Verse 6: He says I am filled with compassion towards you
Verse 7: He tells the people to bring all those who are sick or burdened to come hither and he will heal them.
Verse 8: He saw that their faith was sufficient, it was because of their faith that Jesus heals them.
Verse 10: All who were healed and who were whole bowed down and kissed the feet of Jesus. 

What do I learn from this study? That Christ is so selfless, he was about to leave and he saw the faith of the people and he let his heart full of charity and compassion pour over. Who can you help? Who can you bless and have more compassion for? He didn't just have compassion for one or two, he had compassion for all the multitudes. I want to become like Christ and this is an attribute I want to evaluate in my life more this week. Also in these scriptures we learn how important faith is. It was because of their faith that Christ remained a little longer to heal the sick, pray for the people, and to heal the children.