In part one, we discussed how sometimes we fall into the category of honoring our Heavenly Father with our lips and not our heart (Matt 15:8). In detail, we talked about how we can honor Him by honoring our stewardship. I would like to present the second way we can honor our Heavenly Father and that is by applying the atoning blood of Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16) and by doing so, His only begotten suffered “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.” (D&C 19:18).
The Savior’s atoning sacrifice has been the central message of the prophets throughout the ages, and it opens the door for us to be cleansed of our personal sins so that we can return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.
From the hymn “How Great Thou Art”,
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin.
(Hymns, 1985, no. 86.)
Brothers and sisters every day we have the opportunity to honor the atoning blood of Christ by striving to keep the commandments and our covenants and by repenting of our sins. Thus we ensure that the suffering of our Lord does not go unnoticed.
I learned a great lesson about repentance many years ago. One day I was in an awful mood and was being mean and rude to my wife and children. I went to my bedroom for my morning prayers and as soon as I knelt down, I had an overwhelming feeling of guilt and felt a stern Heavenly Father tell me that before I could expect Him to answer any of my prayers, I would need to repent of my sins. I immediately got off my knees and returned to my family and with tears in my eyes asked for forgiveness from each of my family members. As we hugged and cried, the sweet feelings of peace overcame each of us.
As I returned to my knees in my bedroom, I felt the sweet spirit of Heavenly Father pat me on the back and whisper “now you may come to me with the desires of your heart.” Not only do we honor our Heavenly Father by repenting, but true repentance turns sorrow, guilt, pain, and suffering into joy, happiness, peace, and eventually eternal life with Him that gave us that gift.
But this is not all. We need to share the knowledge and testimony we have of the atonement with the families we home and visit teach. Help them to feel the joy, happiness, and peace that comes with honoring the atoning blood of Christ. “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).
Posted by John in Feature Articles