Through our Trials, the Lord Deepens our Understanding of How the Atonement of Jesus Christ Strengthens Us and Changes Us

Elder Bednar teaches that the deepest power in the scriptures (Reservoir of Living Water) is when we look for “connections, patterns, and themes.” Here are my notes that I review regularly to remind myself that the Lord “customizes our curriculum” (Elder Maxwell), so we can find Him in a way we wouldn’t otherwise.

 In my notes, I bold the parts that I feel help me see the theme, so sometimes I just read the bolded phrases:

  

The Grace of Jesus Christ & the Strength of the Lord - All based on the Atonement of Jesus Christ

• Theme: Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he can ease our burdens by strengthening us.
• Theme: When we know the strength of the Lord is the only reason we made it, we will know of a surety the Lord helps his people and that he is the only reason we can perform miracles.
• Theme: The Lord gives us weakness and trials, so we have to be humble and rely on His atonement.

 

BURDENS: Mosiah 24:14-15 I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. ...Yea the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

 

THORNS 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 

Job 1:21-22: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. [Theron taught me that Job is thanking the Lord for his trials.]

 

Mosiah 3:19: and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, …willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

 

WEAKNESS Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

 

BURDENS: Alma 33:23 Plant this word in your hearts...nourish it by your faith...And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his son. And even all this can ye do if ye will.

 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

2 Corinthians 4:8–10, 17 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 

Jacob 4:6-7 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and have the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea. Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

 

Elder Kearon: "1 Peter 4:12–13. Think of those surprises and think of the shocks we are dealt: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice [what a word to use in that context], inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

 

1 Ne. 17:12-13 For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not;  And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

14 Yea, and the Lord said also that: After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.

 

1 Ne 1:20 I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty, even unto the power of deliverance.

 

1 Ne 3:7 For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they many accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Francis Webster “Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with him in our extremities. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company.”

 

Elder Patrick Kearon: https://speeches.byuh.edu/commencements/give-me-a-light-that-i-may-tread-safely-into-the-unknown

I would like to share some words written by the poet Minnie Louise Haskins:

“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’
And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day." [1]

The Law of Sacrifice: A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit

3 Nephi 9:19-20 – “And ye shall offer up onto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, and ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.”

D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted,” Ensign, May 2004, 11

Let me mention one other thing. In ancient times when people wanted to worship the

Lord and seek His blessings, they often brought a gift. For example, when they went to the temple, they brought a sacrifice to place on the altar. After His Atonement and Resurrection, the Savior said He would no longer accept burnt offerings of animals. The gift or sacrifice He will accept now is “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” As you seek the blessing of conversion, you can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit. In reality, it is the gift of yourself—what you are and what you are becoming.

Is there something in you or in your life that is impure or unworthy? When you get rid of it, that is a gift to the Savior. Is there a good habit or quality that is lacking in your life? When you adopt it and make it part of your character, you are giving a gift to the Lord. Sometimes this is hard to do, but would your gifts of repentance and obedience be worthy gifts if they cost you nothing? Don’t be afraid of the effort required. And remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Jesus Christ will help you make of yourself a worthy gift. His grace will make you clean, even holy. Eventually, you will become like Him, “perfect in Christ.”

President Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989

Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore.

This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” (See 3 Ne. 9:20; Moro. 6:2; D&C 20:37; 59:8; Ps. 34:18; Ps. 51:17; Isa. 57:15.) Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance.

Elder Dale G. Renlund, Accessing God’s Power through Covenants, Gen. Conf. April 2023  

The covenant path leads to the ordinances of the temple, such as the temple endowment. The endowment is God’s gift of sacred covenants that connect us more fully to Him. In the endowment, we covenant, first, [Law of Obedience] to strive to keep the commandments of God; second, [Law of Sacrifice] to repent with a broken heart and contrite spirit; third, to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. We covenant, fourth, to keep the law of chastity and, fifth, to dedicate ourselves and everything the Lord blesses us with to build up His Church.

 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/10/a-broken-heart-and-a-contrite-spirit?lang=eng

A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit

Those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit are willing to do anything and everything that God asks of them. How I love Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin!

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2004/04/when-thou-art-converted?lang=eng

When Thou Art Converted

The gift or sacrifice He will accept now is “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” As you seek the blessing of conversion, you can offer the Lord the gift ...

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/10/yielding-our-hearts-to-god?lang=eng

Yielding Our Hearts to God

“Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit,” the Lord declares. ... When we offer our broken heart to Jesus Christ, He accepts ...

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/04/28holland?lang=eng

Behold the Lamb of God

Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. ... broken hearts and sorrowing spirits that surround us. Seated not far away ...

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/04/16gavarret?lang=eng

A Mighty Change of Heart: “I Have Nothing More to Give You”

... broken heart and a contrite spirit.” I also thought of the people's reaction to King Benjamin's words: “Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast ...

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/04/being-accepted-of-the-lord?lang=eng

Being Accepted of the Lord

Know that our hearts are honest and broken,. Know that our spirits are contrite, and. Be willing to observe our covenants by sacrifice, as commanded by the Lord ...

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/32yee?lang=eng

The Joy of Our Redemption

“As we prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the ...

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/04/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

... broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost ...

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/55renlund?lang=eng

Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God

A broken heart and contrite spirit prompt us to joyfully repent and try to become more like our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. As we do so, we receive the ...

What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our Advocate, Mediator, and Intercessor

 Of all these verses below, I love these two that show that not only does Christ advocate to have our sins remitted, He also advocates to bring us blessings to help us with our challenges in life:

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, ““Behold I Am the Light Which Ye Shall Hold Up,” Oct 2024

The Savior is not absent from our mortal journeys. Time and again, with His pure love and mercy, He sustains us as we face the drama of life. Nephi describes: “My God hath been my support; he hath led me though mine afflictions. … He hath filled me with his love.”

Elder Patrick Kearon, “Welcome to the Church of Joy,” Oct. 2024

The glorious focal point of our services is the blessing and receiving of the sacrament itself, the bread and the water representing the atoning gift of our Lord and the whole purpose of our gathering. This is “a sacred time of spiritual renewal.”

We may have been conditioned to suppose that the purpose of the sacrament is to sit in the pew thinking only about all the ways we messed up during the week before. But let’s turn that practice on its head. In the stillness, we can ponder the many ways we have seen the Lord relentlessly pursue us with His wonderful love that week! We can reflect on what it means to “discover the joy of daily repentance.” We can give thanks for the times the Saviour entered into our struggles and our triumphs and the occasions when we felt His grace, forgiveness, and power giving us strength to overcome our hardships and bear our burdens with patience and even good cheer.

Doctrine and Covenants 32:3

I myself will go with them and be in their midst; and I am their advocate with the Father, and nothing shall prevail against them.

Moroni 7:26–29

28 wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.

29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

As Elder Rasband taught:

Elder Ronald A. Rasband, ““Behold I Am the Light Which Ye Shall Hold Up,” Oct 2024

The Savior is not absent from our mortal journeys. Time and again, with His pure love and mercy, He sustains us as we face the drama of life. Nephi describes: “My God hath been my support; he hath led me though mine afflictions. … He hath filled me with his love.”

1 Timothy 2:5–6

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

Hebrews 7:25

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 

Hebrews 9:2-24-26

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

 

John 14:5–6

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5

3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—

4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

 

Doctrine and Covenants 29:5

Doctrine and Covenants

5 Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.

 

Doctrine and Covenants 32:3

Interesting to note that with Christ as our advocate with the Father, nothing shall prevail against us now and he will plead for mercy in the judgement day.

3 And Ziba Peterson also shall go with them; and I myself will go with them and be in their midst; and I am their advocate with the Father, and nothing shall prevail against them.

 

Moroni 7:26–29

26 Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.

27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?

28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.

29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

 

Mosiah 15:8–9

Book of Mormon

8 And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men—

9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice.

 

2 Nephi 2:9–10

Book of Mormon

9 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.

10 And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. 

 

Dale G. Renlund, Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny, 2022–A:

As often as we repent and seek forgiveness with real intent, we can be forgiven.^{29[See  Mosiah 26:29–30  Moroni 6:8  Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43]} What a remarkable gift from our Savior, Jesus Christ!^{30 [See  Moroni 7:27–28] Remarkably, our Judge is also our Advocate.}

 

M. Russell Ballard, Hope in Christ, 2021–April

Fifth, our confidence in these assurances is rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ, by whose grace all things pertaining to mortality are set right.^{16[See  Alma 7:11–13]} All promised blessings are made possible through Him, who, by His Atonement, “descended below all things”^{17[ Doctrine and Covenants 88:6]} and has “overcome the world.”^{18[ John 16:33 see also  Doctrine and Covenants 19:3]} He “hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men … ; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men.”^{19[ Moroni 7:27–28]} 

 

Dale G. Renlund, Choose You This Day, 2018–Oct.

In Jesus Christ, “we have an advocate with the Father.”^{7  1 John 2:1 see also Joseph Smith Translation, 1 John 2:1 (in 1 John 2:1, footnote a).]} After completing His atoning sacrifice, Jesus “ascended into heaven … to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men.” And, having claimed the rights of mercy, “he advocateth the cause of the children of men.”^{8  Moroni 7:27–28}

Christ’s advocacy with the Father in our behalf is not adversarial. Jesus Christ, who allowed His will to be swallowed up in the will of the Father,^{9 [See Mosiah 15:7} would not champion anything other than what the Father has wanted all along. Heavenly Father undoubtedly cheers for and applauds our successes.

Christ’s advocacy is, at least in part, to remind us that He has paid for our sins and that no one is excluded from the reach of God’s mercy.^{10 [See 1 John 2:2} For those who believe in Jesus Christ, repent, are baptized, and endure to the end—a process that leads to reconciliation^{11 [See  2 Corinthians 5:16–21  Colossians 1:19–23  2 Nephi 10:24}—the Savior forgives, heals, and advocates. He is our helper, consoler, and intercessor—attesting to and vouching for our reconciliation with God.¹²  [The Greek word for advocate (paraklētŏs) means intercessor, helper, comforter, or consoler (see  1 John 2:1 footnote b; ^{The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible [1984], Greek dictionary section, 55;  2 Nephi 10:23–25  Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5}

Jesus Christ's Atonement Purifies Us by Strengthening Us to Overcome Sin

 In our family gospel study time, we often discuss what the atonement of Jesus Christ looks like in our life. When we say we are purified by His atonement, I usually thought about being forgiven of my sins. But we are also purified because He strengthens us and gives us gifts of charity, faith, meekness, humility, etc.

Moroni 10:32-33 - Book of Mormon

 32 Yea, ^acome unto Christ, and be ^bperfected in him, and ^cdeny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and ^dlove God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be ^eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye ^asanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the ^bblood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your ^csins, that ye become ^dholy, without spot.

 Jacob 4:6-7 - Book of Mormon

“Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things” (Jacob 4:6–7).

Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Atonement: All for All”, Ensign May 2004

One early Australian convert said: “My past life [was] a wilderness of weeds, with hardly a flower Strewed among them. [But] now the weeds have vanished, and flowers Spring up in their place.”⁸

We grow in two ways—removing negative weeds and cultivating positive flowers. The Savior’s grace blesses both parts—if we do our part. First and repeatedly we must uproot the weeds of sin and bad choices. It isn’t enough just to mow the weeds. Yank them out by the roots, repenting fully to satisfy the conditions of mercy. But being forgiven is only part of our growth. We are not just paying a debt. Our purpose is to become celestial beings. So once we’ve cleared our heartland, we must continually plant, weed, and nourish the seeds of divine qualities. And then as our sweat and discipline stretch us to meet His gifts, “the flow’rs of grace appear,”⁹ like hope and meekness. Even a tree of life can take root in this heart-garden, bearing fruit so sweet that it lightens all our burdens “through the joy of his Son.”¹⁰ And when the flower of charity blooms here, we will love others with the power of Christ’s own love.¹¹

We need grace both to overcome sinful weeds and to grow divine flowers. We can do neither one fully by ourselves. But grace is not cheap. It is very expensive, even very dear. How much does this grace cost? Is it enough simply to believe in Christ? The man who found the pearl of great price gave “all that he had”¹² for it. If we desire “all that [the] Father hath,”¹³ God asks all that we have. To qualify for such exquisite treasure, in whatever way is ours, we must give the way Christ gave—every drop He had: “How exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.”¹⁴ Paul said, “If so be that we suffer with him,” we are “joint-heirs with Christ.”¹⁵ All of His heart, all of our hearts.

 

The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality - Elder Bednar

King Benjamin teaches about the journey of mortality and the role of the Atonement in navigating successfully that journey: “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord” (Mosiah 3:19; emphasis added). We can increase our capacity to overcome the desires of the flesh and temptations “through the atonement of Christ.”

 

Most of us know that when we do wrong things, we need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives. The Savior has paid the price and made it possible for us to become clean through His redeeming power. Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. We may mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves, through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities.

 

Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains – President Russell M. Nelson

April 2021 general conference

Your growing faith in Him will move mountains—not the mountains of rock that beautify the earth but the mountains of misery in your lives. Your flourishing faith will help you turn challenges into unparalleled growth and opportunity.

 

 Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You - Elder Holland

April 2016 general conference

President George Q. Cannon once taught: “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]. … He will [always] stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them.”

  The Gift of Grace - Elder Uchtdorf

But the grace of God does not merely restore us to our previous innocent state. If salvation means only erasing our mistakes and sins, then salvation—as wonderful as it is—does not fulfill the Father’s aspirations for us. His aim is much higher: He wants His sons and daughters to become like Him.

With the gift of God’s grace, the path of discipleship does not lead backward; it leads upward.

 

It is by God’s amazing grace that His children can overcome the undercurrents and quicksands of the deceiver, rise above sin, and “be perfect[ed] in Christ.” Though we all have weaknesses, we can overcome them. Indeed it is by the grace of God that, if we humble ourselves and have faith, weak things can become strong.

Throughout our lives, God’s grace bestows temporal blessings and spiritual gifts that magnify our abilities and enrich our lives. His grace refines us. His grace helps us become our best selves.

 

Many people feel discouraged because they constantly fall short. They know firsthand that “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” They raise their voices with Nephi in proclaiming, “My soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.” I am certain Nephi knew that the Savior’s grace allows and enables us to overcome sin. This is why Nephi labored so diligently to persuade his children and brethren “to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God.” After all, that is what we can do! And that is our task in mortality!

 

“My Peace I Leave with You” 

Moroni said that when he “heard these words,” he “was comforted” (Ether 12:29). They can be a comfort to all of us. Those who do not see their weaknesses do not progress. Your awareness of your weakness is a blessing as it helps you remain humble and keeps you turning to the Savior. The Spirit not only comforts you, but He is also the agent by which the Atonement works a change in your very nature. Then weak things become strong.

 Grace Bible Dictionary

It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by His atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

 The Divine Gift of Repentance 

Second, repentance means striving to change. It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part. Rather, we seek His grace to complement and reward our most diligent efforts (see 2 Nephi 25:23). Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome. 

 

“If Ye Had Known Me”

We believe and come to know the Lord as the key of the knowledge of God administered through the Melchizedek Priesthood unlocks the door and makes it possible for each of us to receive the power of godliness in our lives. We believe and come to know the Savior as we follow Him by receiving and faithfully honoring holy ordinances and increasingly have His image in our countenances. We believe and come to know Christ as we experience personally the transforming, healing, strengthening, and sanctifying power of His Atonement. We believe and come to know the Master as “the power of his word [takes root] in us” and is written in our minds and hearts and as we “give away all [our] sins to know [Him].”

 

Holiness and the Plan of Happiness

“Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day.

“When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!”

 There are also quotes where they talk about how the Savior’s atonement can strengthen us to overcome weaknesses. I suppose that means overcome weakness to become purer:

 

Jesus Christ: The Caregiver of Our Soul

As we draw nearer to Him, surrendering ourselves spiritually to His care, we will be able to take upon ourselves His yoke, which is easy, and His burden, which is light, thus finding that promised comfort and rest. Furthermore, we will receive the strength we all need to overcome the hardships, weaknesses, and sorrows of life, which are exceedingly difficult to endure without His help and healing power. The scriptures teach us to “cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.” “And then may God grant unto [us] that [our] burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son.”