Scrub, Scrub, Scrub!

This past week I decided I was going to clean a couple cookie sheets which have 6 years worth of baked-on grease and grime.  I got out my steel wool pads and began scrubbing.  About an hour later I had one shiny cookie sheet, a throbbing arm and a dirty shirt.  Whoa...that was a lot of work!  I decided to leave the other cookie sheet for later!

Just like this cookie sheet, we must be spotless to live in the presence of Heavenly Father.  We all sin, hence the need for a plan to be cleansed.  Heavenly Father's plan was for someone perfect to come to Earth who overcome physical death, and also would be willing to pay the price of our sins and sorrows, to provide a way to overcome sin and spiritual death.  Jesus Christ was that man. He's kind of like a heavy duty sin scrubber (I hope that's not irreverent, but it's true!)

Christ died on the cross, but had power over death and was alive again the third day with a glorified and immortal body.  He showed himself to many people.  This act of resurrection is a gift to all mankind.  Everyone who ever lived and died will have their spirit and body reunited and will live forever.

Christ made it possible for us to return to Heavenly Father, by paying the price of sin demanded by justice.  He makes it possible for us to be clean (however, we still have to pick up that scrubber and go to town!)  The Atonement is a gift, given only to those who humble themselves (admit they have dirty cookie sheets), have faith in Jesus Christ, confess and forsake sins, are baptised by immersion, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.  Through continued repentance, we can be forgiven and cleansed from our sins and the burden guilt and shame places upon us.  We can be worthy to return to the presence of God.

As we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, He can help us endure our trials, sicknesses, and pain.  We can be filled with joy, peace, and consolation.  All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  

In paying the penalty for our sins, Jesus did not, however, eliminate our personal responsibility. We must show that we accept Him and that we will follow His commandments.  Only through the gift of the Atonement can we return to live with God (Preach My Gospel, 52).

AND....I could not help but leave that gleaming cookie sheet out on the counter for a couple days.  It would be a shame to stick it away in the drawer and not show how beautiful it was!  So, if you feel so inclined...share the gospel so that we may all be cleansed from the grime of this world.

Scripture Study

Resurrection
2 Nephi 9:6-7
Alma 11:42-45
Alma 40:23
Helaman 14:15-19
D&C 88:27-32
JST, 1 Corinthians 15:40-42
Bible Dictionary, "Death", "Resurrection"

Atonement
2 Nephi 2:6-8
Alma 7:11-13
Alma 34:8-10
D&C 19:15-19
D&C 45:3-5
John 3:16-17
1 John 1:7
Bible Dictionary "Atonement"

The Gospel--The Way
2 Nephi 9:1-24
2 Nephi 31
Alma 11:40
3 Nephi 11:31-41
3 Nephi 27
Moroni 7:27-28