The great prophet Alma taught a beautiful truth about the atonement of Jesus Christ that many of us are unaware of. He said…

(Jesus Christ) will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.  (Alma 7:12)

Most of us have been taught that the atonement of Jesus Christ is just for repentance of sin, but it is so much more than that! He didn’t just suffer for sin, he suffered and endured all pain including that of the innocent. Jesus Christ knows and understands painful life experiences and he knows how to heal us.

After the Savior was resurrected he appeared to the people on the American Continent. Many were suffering and afflicted and he healed everyone of them. In a compassionate, caring voice the Savior told them…

Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or holt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy. (3 Nephi 17:7)

Some believe that healing and miracles only happened anciently but I am here to prove that our Savior is alive and is able to heal all afflictions even painful emotions.

During a workshop I did on the topic of healing a women stood up and shared her story. She had been sexually abused as a child which caused her great heartache, pain, and anger. Her journey of healing lead her to eventually turn to the Lord, and he healed her. She wrote a poem that shared her journey of healing.

Vaporized Vines and Sunlit Space

By Sarah C. Murray

The poison roots, spread thick and deep,

Are reaching down and up and steep.

The blossoms drip with oozing puss,

That stings, and burns and smells like dross.

 

This Tree of Malice with roots so thick,

Is the Deceiver’s oldest, cruelest trick.

First it starts with the spore of pain,

Then spreads to hurt, then anger, then shame.

 

Though the fault of sorrow isn’t yours to bear,

By nurturing enmity, hatred, and care,

The spore soon turns from shrub to tree,

Then sucks and shrinks your soul, you see.

 

You can clear, and carve, and try to purge,

But when one stem’s gone another will emerge.

The more you examine and fret on this beast,

The more the poison on you will feast.

 

So how do you clear this terrible muck?

And free yourself from whence you are stuck?

You don’t.

You can’t.

It’s not your job.

I’ve tried and tried with every sob.

 

The answer lies in one little word.

Forgiveness is this gleaming sword.

But this heavy sword is not yours to wield,

And neither is the gleaming shield.

 

For the hardest job of all, in the end,

Is letting go of hate, my friend.

Those two little words, “I forgive”,

Will be the means to let you live.

 

You see, the Hero of us all,

Has already fought and suffered this Fall.

He drank the bitter, poised root,

Absorbed your sorrow that pierced His Foot.

 

So the sword is His.

The Shield He wields.

And when you make this hardest choice,

And whisper with determined voice,

 

‘I forgive my enemy’,

It is only then that you are free.

For letting go of poisoned vines,

Is giving up a land of mines.

 

But when you do, and you shall see,

He’s vaporized that ghastly tree.

For all that’s left is an empty room,

With sunlight streaming through the gloom.

 

And if you look and scour and search,

There is no trace of that Deathly Birch.

For what you have instead of pain,

Is pure joy bursting from your frame.

 

For you are free and you are pure,

And the whole world is yours to explore.

And when you think upon this space,

You’ll know He’s made YOU a holy place.

That beautiful poem is an incredible story of a young women turning to Jesus Christ in her pain and finding peace and joy beyond description. I too have felt pain that has turned into joy which comes only through my Savior and I invite you to do the same.

His words healeth the wounded soul!