it is finished.

I am so full of love and happiness today because I have been reflecting on all that I have learned this semester. One of the things that stand out is how much my Heavenly Father and my Savior love me. My Savior has gone through so much so that I can live with my Heavenly Father again after this life. As I have been reflecting I have thought about how I am surrounded by so many wonderful people here on this campus. I am so lucky to be around so many people that share my beliefs.

This week I learned about the seven last statements Jesus said before he died on the cross. One that stands out is "It is finished" (John 19:30). I have never thought of it this way, but he means that the price has been paid. He went through so much pain and died on a cross so that our sins could be paid for.

I also loved that symbolism that is found in the John 19; verses 28-30 represent the sacrament and how we come to our Savior with a bitter cup; we come as sinners. From there, we are given the bread and water which represent the body of Jesus Christ. This takes the bitterness from us and turns the taste to sweetness. We can change from sinners to saints because of the sacrament and the atonement. I am so thankful for this semester and all that I have learned.

thank you.

This past class we talked about how Jesus had to deal with the most unbearable pain while on the cross and while many people were watching him. I did not know this before this class period and don't know how to express how grateful I am and how much I love Him. My savior went through so much so I could live with my Heavenly Father again and have a body. People mocked Jesus; "when they platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews" (Matt. 27:29). Because of all the terrible things He went through for us, I am inspired to live my life to the fullest and in the best way that I can.

Another interesting this from this week is how we are compared to Barabbas. We are sinners and deserve punishment much more than Jesus does, but He still went through so much pain and the wrath of God for us. He was cut off from the presence of God despite how good He was for us and for our trials. We have been released of this pain as Jesus was taken to die for us.

These past couple of weeks in class has made me so thankful for all my blessings, especially the atonement. I know that I have been so blessed to come to Earth at this time and to be a part of this church.