The Atonement of Jesus Christ

Sometimes I'm tempted to think that what I do doesn't matter, that what we see before us is all there is to life, that when we die it's all over.

But those are momentary temptations. There is a God and He is very literally our Father, and there is nothing He wants more than to have us, His children, back with Him. He said, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immorality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

Of all of His children, He had one Son who was perfect. This perfect Son offered to sacrifice Himself, to reach down and help the rest of us up, so that the rest of us would be able to make it back to Father in Heaven. He was the only one who could do it, because He was the only one righteous enough. He is our elder brother, Jesus Christ.

We are often tempted, by the adversary, to think that you can't do it, to give up, that you're not good enough. In short, by ourselves, we really aren't good enough. But with Jesus Christ, we can make it (see Philippians 4:13).  He has descended below all things to lift every single one of us.

There was an occasion when I felt complete despair, and my thought was "What's the point? Everything I have tried to do right hasn't amounted to anything. I might as well give up." Deep down, however, I knew that I should not give up, but I also knew that I didn't have the strength to continue on my own. I did the only thing I could do, and that was to call upon my Father in Heaven for help. And then He gave me the help I needed. He poured out such a feeling of peace and assurance on me that I will never forget it. He gave me the confidence and strength I needed to keep going.

I know that my Heavenly Father lives, even though I cannot see Him. I know that through the atonement of His perfect son, Jesus Christ, we can be strengthened in all things and ultimately return to live with Him again.