The semester is finally coming to a close.  Its amazing how in such short time one can learn so much.  I loved finishing off the semester by learning of Jesus Christ's resurrection.  After all He suffered and went through for us, He finished this great atonement by raising from the dead, breaking the bonds of death and providing the way for us to be able to return to our Father in Heaven.  I've loved learning of Christ's life.  He truly is the perfect example for us.  "He went about doing good yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example." -The Living Christ.  He came to earth to serve and that is what He did.  Then this perfect man, who had never sinned, willingly took upon Him the world's sins; suffering for every pain, affliction and sin.  He suffered through it, without a word of complaint, and didn't give up the ghost until He had paid the price for every man.  Truly "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me.  I tremble to know that for me He was crucified; that for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died".  My love for Jesus grows daily as continue to stumble and He ceasingly lifts me up again.  This semester showed me that by studying His life we can grow ever-closer to Him.  I love my Savior, I am forever indebted to Him.  I know that if I apply His infinite atonement in my life, then one day I will have the chance to kneel at His feet, to see Him face-to-face and live with Him and my Father in Heaven for eternity.

There is no doubt that Jesus Christ's atonement is the single most important event that ever occurred on the earth.  Thanks to Him we can be saved, we can be forgiven and we can return to live with God again.  To bring such a giant blessing to pass was not easy.  My small mortal mind cannot even comprehend the amount of pain and suffering that Christ went through.  He suffered in Gethsemane, then as he was scourged and beaten and then suffered even more on the cross as the same pain He felt in Gethsemane returned intensified.  He bled from every poor, He felt pain that no mortal can begin to imagine.  People say they love Christ because He died for them.  The better statement is that we love Christ because He lived for us.  Despite all the pain and anguish which should have killed Him, He chose not to give up the ghost until the atonement was complete.  With the power He possessed and the pain He was suffering He could have, at any given moment, given up and chose to die.  But He didn't.  He loves us so much that He suffered on.  I am so grateful for my Savior, I am so grateful that He lived and suffered willingly so that I might be made clean.  It was a necessary part of God's plan.  Had it not been for Christ we would all perish in sin.  There are no words to express my gratitude and love for the Savior.  We have no excuse to not do what he asks of us.  Like the scriptures say, "if ye love me, keep my commandments".  He has shown His endless love for us and all He asks for in return is that we follow Him, that we obey Him and that we strive to be the best we can be.