“Because you breathe and live and have part of God within you, you have the power to influence others for good…to bless, lift, inspire and strengthen,” was the testimony of a man who stood at the pulpit of a meeting in a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unlike any I had ever been to.  The branch exists for inmates transitioning from prison to civilian life.   Their worship service does not include the sacrament, rather, once a month, the sacred sacrament prayers recorded in scripture are read from the pulpit and all are given a moment for reflection where there was a feeling of what it means to “hunger and thirst after righteousness” with the yearning of those who want to obtain that blessing.  

 

Gratitude was expressed to the Savior for His “help making it through each day.”  A brother testified, “As you go through struggles, you will see sandaled feet and crucified hands lifting you up.” Several bore gratitude for the teachings of their youth, “I thank my mom for teaching me to pray and read the Book of Mormon.”  Twenty years after turning from faith, one shared his witness that the doctrines he had taught on his mission were true and bore witness that “we worship the God of Plan B,C,and D” and we can exhaust the alphabet without Him exhausting His efforts and ability to help us.  

 

In that meeting we caught another glimpse of just what the infinite power of the atonement of Jesus Christ looks like.  Infinite means infinite for us and for those we love.  “We read of those who turned away from what they were taught or who were wrestling with God for forgiveness, such as Alma the Younger, the sons of Mosiah, and Enos.  In their moments of crisis, they remembered the words of their parents, words of the doctrine of Jesus Christ.  Remembering saved them.  Your teaching of that sacred doctrine will be remembered.” (President Henry B. Eyring, October 2024)

 

Remember, remember, He is reaching out so “cry unto God for all thy support;…let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.” (Alma 37:36).

 

His power is infinite.