Why is it so easy to get down on ourselves?  We know that we are all sinners, we make mistakes, yet every time we start losing hope and feel as if we'll never make it.  Even peter, Christ's chief apostle had moments such as these.  As Peter told Jesus that he'd never leave His side, Jesus responds my saying "I tell thee Peter, The cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me."  Sure enough as Jesus was being spit upon and mocked right after suffering pain beyond measure, Peter denied knowing Him 3 times.  The verse that strikes me the most is the one that comes after, "And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."  How many times has this happened to us?  Where we make a mistake and after feel so bad that we just feel like weeping.  This moment truly shows that we are all human, and that we are never without hope.  We can always change, no matter the situation.  If the chief apostle of Christ can make such a mistake and come back from it so can we. I know that Christ's atonement is real.  Change is possible and we have our entire life to continue striving to be better.  I love my Savior and His selfless sacrifice.  I am forever indebted to Him for giving me the chance to change and become like Him.

The people of America have been filled with confusion, controversy and confusion this week.  I believe it was perfect timing that in my New Testament class we talked about the last days.  In Joseph Smith-Matthew we read all that Jesus said will happen in the last days.  There will be wars and rumors of wars, the sun will be darkened, wickedness will abound, etc..  And now as we end a very controversial election with results that no one is very sure of, many people are scared that we will be led to downfall.  I loved the first presidency message the day after elections asking us to pray for our leaders.  I believe that we should support our leaders.  It shouldn't be a shock what is happening in America or in the world in general, Jesus as well as countless prophets have prophesied that there will be abounding wickedness and destruction.   We know that that will happen and we can't prevent these prophecies from being fulfilled.  Christ didn't give these prophecies to scare people, He taught them so that we might be prepared.  We need to take His words and live righteously so that we will be saved.  "The righteous need not fear".  I know that those words are true, as we live the commandments and are faithful we will live with the peace that we are worthy of God's kingdom.

I believe sometimes it's important to realize how hard of a thing Jesus has done for us.  He suffered the greatest pains, a suffering we can't even imagine, and I am convinced that there definitely was a part of Him that didn't want to have to do it.  As He said in the Garden of Gethsemane "take away this cup from me, nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt" (Mark 14:36).  He knew it was a necessary step to bring to pass the salvation of mankind.  He did not want to suffer yet did it anyway.
 In Matt 21: 28-30 Jesus shared a parable that reflected this.  The first said "I will not" which in greek actually translates to "I want not", but then he went.  The second says "I go, sir" but did not go.  This parable reflects how Jesus did not want to suffer but went anyways.  This fact is so powerful to me.  As humans when we don't want something it is so hard to give up what we don't want and go.  To me this just emphasizes all the more Jesus's love for us.  He knew He was going to have to suffer unbearable pain yet because He loves us and wants us to return to live with Him and our Father, He was willing to sacrifice His wants for us.