(Click here for Church News coverage of the 179th Annual General Conference)
In his Sunday morning address, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve said his Easter-season message was directed "in a special way" to all those who feel alone or abandoned.
"To all such I speak of the loneliest journey ever made and the unending blessings it brought to all in the human family," he said. "I speak of the Savior's solitary task of shouldering alone the burden of our salvation."
He then recounted the days and moments leading to the solitary journey through the Atonement and the cross. The Lord would be rejected by the citizenry, betrayed by Judas Iscariot and denied by Peter.
"Thus, of divine necessity, the supporting circle around Jesus gets smaller and smaller and smaller, giving significance to Matthew's short verse 'all the disciples [left] him and fled.' Peter stayed near enough to be recognized and confronted. John stood at the foot of the cross with Jesus' mother. Especially and always the blessed women in the Savior's life stayed as close to Him as they could. But essentially His lonely journey to His Father continued without comfort or companionship."
Elder Holland then reverently spoke of what might have been the most difficult moment of all on the path to Atonement. Christ must have been prepared intellectually and physically for what He would endure — but He might not have fully anticipated emotionally and spiritually the paralyzing despair of His Father's divine withdrawal.
"That the supreme sacrifice of His Son might be as complete as it was voluntary and solitary, the Father briefly withdrew from Jesus the comfort of His spirit, the support of His personal presence," he said. "It was required; indeed it was central to the significance of the Atonement, that this perfect Son who had never spoken ill, nor done wrong, nor touched an unclean thing, had to know how the rest of humankind would feel when they did commit such sins. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly and hopelessly alone."
But Jesus held on. The goodness in Him allowed faith to triumph. The Son of God restored physical life where death had held sway and brought spiritual redemption out of sin, darkness and despair.
"One of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone we do not have to do so," said Elder Holland. "His solitary journey brought great company to us for our little version of that path — the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders and friends.
"All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His gospel."
Elder Holland then asked that the scenes of Christ's lonely sacrifice and those moments of denial, abandonment and betrayal never by reenacted by members today.
"He has walked alone once. May I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance."
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEnJ%2BuqpOdu6bD0meaqKVfZ31xhY5tZnBnYmh%2FdHyScmlopp%2Bjsm7DxKucZq%2BZqbVutMim