Neal A. Maxwell on the blessings of the infinite atonement

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

"Moreover, Jesus not only took upon Him our sins to atone for them, but also our sicknesses and aching griefs (see Alma 7:11-12; Matt. 8:17). Hence, He knows personally all that we pass through and how to extend His perfect mercy—as well as how to succor us. His agony was all the more astonishing in that He trod 'the wine-press alone' (D&C 133:50).

"On occasion, the God of heaven has wept (see Moses 7:28). One ponders, therefore, the agonies of Jesus' infinite Atonement and the feelings of the Father—for His Son and for us....

"If, like the Savior, we do not 'shrink,' then we must go with the demanding flow of discipleship, including where the tutoring doctrines of the Master take us. Otherwise, we may walk with Jesus up to a point, but then walk no more with Him (see John 6:66). Shrinking includes stopping as well as turning back.

"The more we know of Jesus, the more we will love Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will trust Him. The more we know of Jesus, the more we will want to be like Him and to be with Him by becoming the manner of men and women that He wishes us to be (see 3 Ne. 27:27), while living now 'after the manner of happiness' (2 Ne. 5:27).

"Therefore, with the help of the Holy Ghost, we can glorify Christ by repenting and thereby accessing the blessings of the astonishing Atonement which He provided for us at such a stunning cost! (see John 16:14). So, brothers and sisters, given what Jesus died for, are we willing to live with the challenges allotted to us? (see Alma 29:4, 6)."

- Neal A. Maxwell, "Plow in Hope," Ensign, May 2001, pp. 59-61
Click here to read the full article

Elder Maxwell spent the last several years of his life fighting cancer, eventually losing. I think he felt personally and deeply this message about how the Savior's atonement and love apply to "our sicknesses and aching griefs" and how to feel the "succor" of his "perfect mercy."

In the midst of the trials of mortality, the challenge is not to shrink or turn back. The Savior will walk with us, but we must walk with Him and not turn away.

The "how" of not shrinking is the challenge. Perhaps the answer lies in this next passage. As we draw nearer to the Savior, as we grow to love him more, then He will be nearer to us always and we will be able to draw on His strength.

This is a glorious conclusion and challenge to each of us:  "Therefore, with the help of the Holy Ghost, we can glorify Christ by repenting and thereby accessing the blessings of the astonishing Atonement which He provided for us at such a stunning cost!"