The Tender Blessings Of The Atonement

My favorite scripture for a long time has been Alma chapter 7 versus 11 and 12. It says "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." This has always been so powerful to me because often we think that Christ only suffered for our sins, yet these verses never mention sins, it speaks of pains and sicknesses and infirmities, and isn't that a way we might look at sins, as sicknesses and pains. Sins are the cancer of our spiritual lives, and if left unchecked it will lead to an infinitely more pain full death than any real cancer. As we apply the atonement in our lives we will see a Remission of our sins. Its interesting that remission is used to describe the condition of the cancer sufferer and the repentant person. It seems this word implies that the problem could come back, and indeed it can. If we fail to be vigilant, to watch our selves, those pains and sicknesses (speaking spiritually) could come back. To over come this Christ suffered for us, and the scripture says that he did this so that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. Basically so he could be the perfect doctor, and not that he would know just the medicine to use, but he would also know how we felt, what anguish we were going through, so that he could help us in such a way that only one who had been through what we were going through could. This is why the atonement is so perfect to me. Its not a one size fits all hat that we get to wear, but tailor made suit to fit our personal circumstance. In this way it is equal to all. Just like a suit made for a 200 lb 5'10" man will not fit a 300 lb 6'7" person but if the Lord makes each of us a suit then no one has to go naked. People who know me know that all my life I have tried to be the good Mormon boy. I have never gotten into any real trouble, or been trouble to those around me. Some mistakenly think that somehow the atonement works more for me than it does for them, all because I have never done anything really bad. Plain and simple, that idea is wrong. We all fall short, weather by inches, feet or miles, its the same for all of us. We, on our own can not make it back to our Heavenly Fathers presence. That where the tender blessings of the Atonement make up the difference. Christ our Savior comes in and makes it possible for us to return. One final thought on this subject, the scripture mentions death, and I believe that it speaks of spiritual death, for it says that he will loose the bands of death. Notice it didn't say break the bands. Why would that be important, well Christ broke the bands of physical death, that is to say that all who have ever lived on this earth will be resurrected, but He only loosed the bands of spiritual death. In my mind I imagine being hand cuffed, and Christ coming to me with the key, but instead of taking the bands off my hands He just loosens them a click or two, just enough for me to pull my hands out. Now the choice is up to me, do I stay bound by these cuffs or do I use the gift of freedom given me and pull my hands out. The Atonement only works when we decide to do our part and just pull our selves out of the bonds that we are in. Christ has turned the key of our bonds, healed us of our cancer and even made us cloths to wear to our own home coming celebration, we should do all in our power to use theses precious gifts so that we might be at that glorious celebration above.