Feeling the Prints

When I was serving as a counselor in a prior bishopric, we planned a youth activity at the Mesa temple. The youth were to take part in baptisms for the dead, and then have a mini-fireside in the Christus room of the Visitor's Center. I was assigned to go with them to the baptismal area, so I was late getting back to our fireside portion. I will never forget how I felt when I finally entered the Christus room and saw all of our marvelous youth sitting there. It was like being at the feet of the Savior as He taught us. As the bishop finished his words, I looked up at the Christus with new eyes of understanding. I couldn’t help but think that the prints of the nails in His hands represented my sins. I know them well, and He does too. The implication of reaching out and feeling those prints hit me at that moment: that in doing so I was acknowledging His sacrifice, and He was acknowledging back that He knows my sins and has willingly paid the price for them. The impact of that moment has since stayed with me, and I think of it often.

3 Nephi 11:14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

LESSON LEARNED: In The Book of Mormon, the Lord patiently had each member of the congregation come and individually feel the prints of the nails in His hands and side. This is a reminder of how individualized the atonement is for each of us, and that we must come and place our sins and our broken hearts upon His altar.

FEEDBACK: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SAVIORS SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS?