The Phillips Family

The Healing Power of the Atonement

As we approach the season of Easter, our thoughts naturally turn to the resurrection and the atonement. When we think of the atonement, we often think of the cleansing power of the atonement. The power to cleanse our lives of sin allows us to present ourselves clean before the Father as we do things in this life, like participate in the blessings of the temple, but it ultimately allows us the return to that same Father and live with him. “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;” (D&C 19: 16-17).

There is another side of the atonement we often forget – the healing power of the atonement. When Alma went to preach to the people of Gideon, he taught “ 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 sicknesses of his people.” (Alma 7:11) “ …that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” ( Alma 7:12).

This healing power is demonstrated by His ability to provide comfort to us in our sicknesses, our grief, and at times of despair in our lives. Those two words – suffer and succor, are at the heart of this cleansing power. He suffereth all things according to the flesh so that he might be able to succor us, His people. Whenever we suffer, for any reason, be it because of the consequences of sin, because of illness, grief, or the hurtful decisions of others in our lives, we can know that through the atonement of Christ, we can be succored by Him because he has already experienced the very same feelings in the course of His sufferings in Gethsemane. How could that be? How could that happen?

We have been told by prophets of God that even they do not understand how this works. Somehow, the atonement makes this possible. We don’t know how; we just know that it works. I have felt that healing power exercised in my own life. I have forgotten all hope at times of sorrow and loss. I have felt the feelings of despair as I thought things in my life would never get better. But I, like the father of the handicapped son whom the apostles were not able to heal, have asked my Father to “help thou my unbelief” and found that through the atonement of Christ, this healing power can be of effect in my life.

This power can have effect in your lives too. We all have challenges we face. We all need this comfort, this succor for the sufferings that we experience. The principle of agency requires that we ask for His help. But once we ask for that help, He cannot withhold it. He can succor us. He can heal us. He has the power. He is mighty to save. I testify to this in the name of our Savior, even Christ the Risen Lord.