We will not be able to comprehend nor understand the full implications of the sufferings of Christ in this life, but we can be sure of this:
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Doctrine & Covenants 19 10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore- 11 Eternal punishment is God's punishment. 12 Endless punishment is God's punishment. 13 Wherefore, I command you to repent, and keep the commandments which you have received by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., in my name; 14 And it is by my almighty power that you have received them; 15 Therefore I command you to repent-repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore-how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. 16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink- |
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"And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people." Mosiah 3:7 |
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Forgiveness is available because of the atoning sacrifice of the Great Jehovah. Forgiveness is available because Christ the Lord sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he bore the incalculable weight of the sins of all who ever had or ever would repent. Forgiveness is available because "God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance." (Alma 7:13.) (The Messiah Series, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 1978-82) D&C 29: 17. "And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not." D&C 29:17 |
Recently I have come to understand suffering a little bit more. We are called to suffer, not to the magnitude of Christ, but we will suffer hardships similar to what Christ did, but that is not the point, the point is how we handle that suffering, this is the test. We can only recognize our strengths and weaknesses by how we handle suffering.
Of course as has been already shared, if we are worthy then the suffering will be only in mortality, but if we carry on sin then the suffering will continue.
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17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink- |
I appears to me that we teach that the price of sin appears to be suffering, and I am certainly capable of suffering. The scriptures even say that the unrepentant will eventually suffer "even as" Christ (D&C 19:17). What, then, prevents me from rejecting Christ's suffering and saving myself? Why is Christ the only way to salvation? (Mosiah 3:17).
The answer that I am comming to is that perhaps the atonement is not about "paying" for sins as we usually think of it. it seems that suffering alone cannot remit sins. The plan of mercy is made possible through repentance, which the atonement made possible through the gift of conscience. The real purpose of suffering I belive(even in Doctrine and Covenants 19) is to bring us to repentance and to spur progress.
Alma set up his experience as the model of what happens in hell. He said he was "racked with eternal torment" and 'tormented with the pains of hell," even with 'the pains of a damned soul" (Alma 36:12-16). That suffering brought about a change of heart, so that when he finally did turn to Christ, his torment ended abruptly. Alma's experience describes the painful path the wicked will tread on their way to the telestial kingdom (D&C 76:103-106). Perhaps the pains of hell will motivate change in those who were wicked on earth. If they were wicked on earth, then they will have to repent and reform before they can be saved in the telestial kingdom.
"The disciples of Christ receive a call to not only forsake the pursuit of worldly things but to carry the cross daily. To carry the cross means to follow His commandments and to build up His Church on the earth. It also means self-mastery (Alma 39:9, footnote . As Jesus of Nazareth instructed us, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me' (Luke 9:23). 'And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple' (Luke 14:27)."
Ref. (James E. Faust, "Discipleship," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 20)
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17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink- |
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Where in scripture do we read that suffering is a satisfactory punishment for sin? |
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...your sufferings be sore-how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. |