Complete Opposites.

This week in my Book of Mormon class, we studied in Alma. Particularly on Tuesday, we studied Alma chapters 35 and 36. We spoke about letting Christ really be our Savior. There was one particular verse that stood out to me in Alma 36:18. Up until this point, Alma has been "racked with torment", racked meaning torn in all directions, and in so much pain because of his wickedness. He could not even think of the thought of being in the presence of God someday, he was terrified and felt as though he would rather be "banished and become extinct, both body and soul". However, in vs. 18, something all of the sudden changes in Alma. At his lowest point, Alma remembers the words his father had spoken about Jesus Christ, who would come and atone for the sins of the world. In that moment, Alma cries within his heart, "O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death" (Alma 36:18). In that moment, he could remember his pains no more and goes on to exclaim, "oh, what joy and what marvelous light did I behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!". He tells us that there was nothing that was as bitter and exquisite as was his pain, but then on the other hand, nothing had been so exquisite and sweet as was his joy. My dear brothers and sisters, this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter how much pain you are feeling or where you are in your life, there is a Savior, Jesus Christ, who loves and cares about you deeply. He wishes to help and to save you. He has atoned for our sins. Trust in Him, come unto Him, let Him be YOUR Savior. I know that if we do so, how great shall be our happiness and joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Happy day everyone!
Emmaline