
“The peace of the Savior,” said Elder Neil L. If you’ve ever faced a natural disaster, been the subject of cruel gossip, experienced a life-changing challenge, had a falling-out with a friend, or stood up for what’s right, you know you need the Lord’s peace. “That great gift and blessing of the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings a universal inheritance: the promise of the Resurrection and the possibility of eternal life to all who are born.” 6 Jesus Offers Peace Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency. “Our loving Heavenly Father gave us the gift of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior,” said President Henry B. The gift of the Atonement gives us the hope of eternal life-something we need when we suffer trials or the death of a loved one. If you trust in the Lord, truly you can overcome any of life’s challenges.” 5 Through the difficult days before her husband passed away, Sister Gatrell said, “I knew the Lord was watching over us.


Doing so gave them hope in God’s promises that they would be together again after this life. Sister Stevens, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, said the family held tight to the gospel and to their temple covenants after Brother Gatrell was diagnosed with cancer. That’s what happened with members of the Gatrell family, who live in Sister Jean A. But trusting in Him brings us the hope we need in order to face our challenges. When we face serious challenges, sometimes we find it difficult to trust in the Lord. “Our tears of sadness and loss will be replaced with an abundance of happiness and joy.” 4 “We will have glorious, perfect, and immortal bodies, unburdened by sickness or disability.” “Through the Atonement … , we can live forever with our loved ones.” “Our Father has given His children the great plan of happiness.”

Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, listed four in a recent general conference talk: What are some of the great truths the Savior taught? President Dieter F. They offer a foundation for “happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come,” 3 and they guide us safely back to our Heavenly Father and our Savior. You can find the Savior’s “words of eternal life” in the scriptures, the teachings of the living prophets, and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. On one occasion, after a number of people refused to walk any longer with Him, Jesus asked the Twelve Apostles, “Will ye also go away?” Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” ( John 6:67–68). When we don’t invite Jesus to help us become clean through repentance, it’s as if we’re rejecting His gift. Then imagine your friend responding, “Thanks, but I don’t really want your gift.” How would you feel? Imagine giving a special gift to a friend-something your friend really needs and something you prepared through personal sacrifice. The power of Jesus Christ’s Atonement is available to each of us, but we have to choose to let it work in our lives. But we know that “the grace of Christ is real, affording both forgiveness and cleansing to the repentant sinner.” 2

He also wants us to forget that the gospel is “the gospel of repentance” ( D&C 13:1 emphasis added). When we stumble and fall, Satan wants us to think we’re not good enough to get up and get back on the right path. One of the reasons Jesus is so important to those who sincerely try to follow Him is that all of us fall short and need the gift of repentance offered through the Atonement. Jesus is important to us because through His Atonement, teachings, hope, peace, and example, He helps us change our lives, face our trials, and move forward with faith as we journey back to Him and His Father. “And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see Alma 34:14), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy.” 1 Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. No one understands.’ But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens,” said Elder David A. “In a moment of weakness we may cry out, ‘No one knows what it is like. The good news is that we don’t have to handle them alone. We all make mistakes we cannot fix, experience losses we cannot recover, and face pains, persecution, tragedies, burdens, and disappointments we cannot handle alone. Sooner or later, all of us will need the Savior. I was happy she was willing to share her feelings, but I was saddened by one reader’s response: “He is of no importance whatever in my life-never has been and never will be.” Recently I read a blog post where the author talked about how the Savior plays a vital role in her daily life.
