I mean, I had heard all the lessons and talks on it and what it meant, but I felt so confused that what it actually was.

I think it was my “General Conference” question for like four years straight.

My question was slowly answered in me becoming less concerned with what my Savior’s atoning sacrifice looked like, and instead what it meant to me personally.

But I also have grown a great love for this scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants because it gives us the only first-person account of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.

This is Jesus describing what it was like for Him to atone for the sins of all mankind.

“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—

and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink” – D&C 19:18

God the Son trembled because of pain and bled at every pore.

But the last line of that scripture is one of the most powerful lessons to me.

Because the Savior of the world, faced with a truly painful and unpleasant task…

Asked to NOT have to face it.

In the moment, He did not want to drink the extremely bitter cup that was placed before Him.

It is okay to ask.

It is okay to ask for our pains and sorrows to be taken away.

It is okay to ask for trials to end.

It is okay to ask for miracles.

But then, our Perfect Example said:

“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father”.

God’s will be done.

We can ask for what we want, while also submitting to the Father’s will if it is different than ours.

Christ did difficult things.

And because He willingly went through with an excruciatingly painful act, my life has been completely changed.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to not always love whatever life throws at me.

I can wish and pray that it was different.

But ultimately, I have found the most peace when I give the glory to my Father no matter the circumstances.

And that when I do hard things, the greatest blessings await on the other side.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Christ’s sacrifice- in His own words first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.