Fix You

One of my very first experiences at college, two of my roommates and I sat in the hallway of our building with our new friend Grant until boys had to leave, at 1:30. The entire time we discussed music and dancing. My roommate showed me this song and gave a great thought about it. 

This song is called Fix You, by the band Coldplay. When the song was played she mentioned to think of our Savior's atonement. It was like magic! It fit so perfectly. I have thought a lot about this song recently and all the way it was true.

Alma 7:11-14 states the nature of the atonement. Notice how the mention of sins doesn't come until the 3rd verse. Many people think that His grace and atonement only reaches through to our sins to make us clean (see Isaiah 1:18). While this is a highly important part of the atonement, this isn't the only thing. He reaches out to us through all of our pains, sufferings, and heart aches. He felt all of our pains, so that He knows how to best comfort us. 

Elder David A. Bednar gave a fantastic devotional at BYU in which he discusses what this is: "I suspect that you and I are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming power of the Atonement than we are with the enabling power of the Atonement... Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient and worthy and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully. I frankly do not think many of us “get it” concerning this enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement, and I wonder if we mistakenly believe we must make the journey from good to better and become a saint all by ourselves through sheer grit, willpower, and discipline, and with our obviously limited capacities."

I used to be in that same boat. I had walked off the strait and narrow path and was started towards a difficult and lonely path. One day I had the great opportunity to attend a conference that was specific to the youth in my area. I listened to a talk that I really needed to hear. I was touched and knew that I needed to change. At first it was really rough. It was difficult to make the changes that I made because I still wasn't in the habit of reading my scripture and praying daily. I tried to make the changes on my own; drop habits without any help from my Savior. About six months later I came home from a church dance feeling discouraged and alone. I dropped on my knees, and with extreme tears prayed for the first time in a long time. I asked for help and for a friend to be there for me. While the friend I prayed for came a little while later, an answer came that night. It was exactly as described in the chorus of this song. I saw light in my life again. The Holy Ghost wrapped its arms around me and filled me so that I felt like my whole body was burning. And together, Christ and I began a long journey to fix me. 

Ever since that night in my room, I have learned to turn to my Savior to guide me and to help me be fixed. His atonement is real and is there for anyone and everyone to use. However, we have to put in our own work. We have to work to eliminate evil from our lives, walk in His paths, live what we know, and become who He wants us to be. The beauty of this though, is that when we work with Him, the work becomes doable. We can do nothing alone because we have "obviously limited capacities." With Him, we can do anything.

Has my life been easy since I made my turning point? No. Have I been perfect since then? Definitely not. I have a very far way to go. However, my life has been infinitely better, because I have learned to turn to the Savior for help. 

I testify of the realness of both side of atonement. I know without a doubt that it is for us. I know because I have felt its power. I have been purified and cleansed by Christ's blood. I know that he answers our plea for forgiveness, strength and help. I have come to know by putting it to the test. If you do not know, I encourage you to kneel and pray with a sincere desire to learn. He will listen. And He will answer.