This is based on the talk by Elder Peter F. Meurs, “He Could Heal Me!”
We are continually counseled to read the Book of Mormon. We are told of the many blessings that study study will bring us. A few are listed below:
President Ezra Taft Benson
“You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. …When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance”
President Gordon B. Hinkley
“There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God”
President Russell M. Nelson
“My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions”
Moroni exhorts us, as we read the Book of Mormon, to “remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down to this time,… and to ponder it in our hearts.”
All that we read, every story, parable and piece of doctrine that is taught in the Book of Mormon testifies of the Savior Jesus Christ and His love, compassion, and mercy.
Elder Meurs spoke of his father and the treasured memories of knowing his favorite scriptures. “He shared them in family gatherings, and he read them with me when I needed counsel, guidance, or strengthening of my faith. … Through sharing scriptures and feelings, my father helped me to establish a firm foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
One of Elder Meurs’ fathers favorite scriptures was 3 Nephi. “In 3 Nephi 11, we read how the Savior descended out of heaven to teach the Nephites that He was Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified would come into the world. He declared that He was the Light of the World and that He glorified the Father in taking on the sins of the world. He invited the people to come forth to put their hands into His side and to feel the prints of the nails in His hands and in His feet. He wanted them to know He was the God of Israel, who was slain for the sins of the world. The people joyfully responded, going forth one by one until they had all seen and felt that it was truly He of whom it was written by the prophets that should come.”
Jesus wanted each person to have a testimony of who He was. A testimony that left no room for doubt. One that when He was gone they could hold close to their hearts and draw strength from the assurity of that testimony, that moment for the rest of their mortal life. No matter what they went through, endured, or faced they would know that Jesus is the Christ. That He loved them, suffered for them, and could strengthen and heal them.
Elder Meurs continues, “Jesus taught the Nephites about the importance of repentance, about becoming as a little child, and about the need to be baptized by one having authority. He then taught much of the doctrine that we are studying this year in the New Testament.”
In 3 Nephi it tells of Jesus telling the people that it was time for Him to go unto His Father. As He did “He noticed that they were in tears, looking steadfastly upon Him as if they were asking Him to stay a little longer. The Savior’s response was both touching and instructive. He said, “Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you.””
As I have read this part of 3 Nephi I imagine sitting beside the Savior after having felt His hands and feet. The love that swamps my soul in that moment. The truth that sears my heart leaving no doubt that this is my Savior. This is the Christ, the Messiah. This is Jesus who suffered for my sins and soothes the sorrows of my heart. He heals my wounded soul and has the power and ability to make me whole.
I would never want that moment to end. The peace and joy and beauty of it nourish my spirit and bring clarity to my mind in ways I had never encountered before. I would silently plead with Him to stay. I would yearn for that with my whole heart.
This is what Jesus felt from the Nephites. It is what they felt for Jesus. Elder Meurs stated, “It seems that He could see them through the eyes of His atoning sacrifice. He saw their every pain, affliction, and temptation. He saw their illnesses. He saw their infirmities, and He knew from His agonizing suffering in Gethsemane and on Golgotha how to succor them according to their infirmities.
Similarly, when our Savior, Jesus Christ, looks upon us, He sees and understands the pain and burden of our sins. He sees our addictions and challenges. He sees our struggles and afflictions of any kind – and He is filled with compassion towards us.”
It is at this point that the Savior says to the Nephites, “Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have you any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leporus, 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.”
Are you sick? Do you hurt? Are you afflicted in any way? Come to the Lord, come to Jesus and He will heal you. He can heal the broken heart and the wounds that no one sees. Come and sit at His feet and feel of His love and be healed. Come and let Him make you whole.
Elder Meurs related a story of a car accident that He caused because he fell asleep at the wheel. His wife was hurt, his daughters shocked and his five month old son was completely non responsive. He said, “Amid the stress and confusion of the accident scene, our eldest daughter, 11 – year-old Kate, said with urgency, “Dad, you need to give Jarom a blessing.”…Carefully I picked Jarom up, … I gently placed him on my chest and gave him a priesthood blessing. By the time the ambulance arrived about 40 minutes later, Jarom was conscious.”
“I struggled for years to forgive myself and to find peace. Then, as a priesthood leader, while assisting others to repent and helping them to feel the compassion, mercy, and love of the Savior, I realized that He could heal
me.
The Savior’s healing and redeeming power applies to accidental mistakes, poor decisions, challenges, and trials of every kind —- as well as to our sins. As I turned to Him, my feelings of guilt and remorse were gradually replaced with peace and rest.”
In panic, fear, chaos, and commotion, Jesus is there. His compassion and mercy are not for our sins alone. We are imperfect beings, mortals living in a fallen world. We will make mistakes and poor decisions. Some have tragic consequences that break our heart or shatter our self confidence. Jesus knows this. He knew it would be this way. He has already felt all the pain and sorrow, all the regret and guilt and paid the price for them all.
If we turn to Him, trust Him He can heal the wounds and give us the mercy of peace and rest.
“President Russell M. Nelson taught: When the Savior atoned for all mankind, He opened a way that those who follow Him can have access to His healing, strengthening, and redeeming power. These spiritual privileges are available to all who seek to hear Him and follow Him.
Brothers and sisters, whether you are carrying the burdens of unresolved sin, suffering, because of an offense committed against you long ago, or struggling to forgive yourself for an accidental mistake, you have access to the healing and redeeming power of the Savior Jesus Christ.”
We have a way to heal the hurt, bind the wounds and mend the broken heart. Through the atonement we have access to His power to do so. Through our covenants we bind ourselves to Him and we follow Him. By doing so He lightens our load and helps us bear the burdens that we must carry.
When you are in pain, when your heart breaks with sorrow, when the guilt and regret eat at your soul and deny you the peace you seek, turn to the Savior. Turn to Jesus Christ and allow Him to heal your wounds however gradually that happens. He will give you peace. He will help you find rest.
I testify that Jesus is the Christ. That He is there for us. That He knows what we feel, what we go through, and how to help us heal and endure. I know that when my life has been the hardest through my own poor choices or through the circumstances that surround me, He has been there. Even when I have to endure the chaos of the storm for a while He is there beside me. I know Jesus loves each of us. He wants to help, heal, and make whole every one of us. All we need to do is turn to Him, trust Him, and follow Him.
