The Atonement Covers All Pain

This past General Conference was wonderful as usual, but this talk, given by Kent F. Richards, was one that really stuck out to me. Throughout a vast majority of my blog posts I've written on emotional and spiritual pain. I think that's something no one is immune too. However, when I heard this talk I thought specifically of my physical pains.

Some of you may know that I have really bad knees. I had surgery on one, but it still gives me grief. In addition to the pain in my knees I have undiagnosed back and chest pain. I've been to a chiropractor and I've had x-rays, bone scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and CAT scans, but to no avail. Do you know how frustrating it is to have a problem that only you know exists? I mean, I tell other people that it exists, but since they can't find a problem, and they can't feel it like I can; they can't really know, only believe.

On top of that, these pains can also be really disabling. There have been somedays that I just sit in a warm bath to ease the pain a bit. And on days that the pain isn't as severe, it's still there, constantly reminding me that I'm still fighting. It's exhausting. I have fight the pain to do things I love, and that's frustrating.

When I heard this talk I was especially frustrated with my back pain. It had disappeared for a few months, and I was so very grateful. However, starting in February (February was a bad month for me... It seems to be every year too.) the pain came back. I wondered why it couldn't just stay away. What had I done to call it back? This talk gave me hope and comfort. Here are some highlights that gave me comfort. May they provide you with that same feeling of peace and hope.

Pain is a gauge of the healing process. It often teaches us patience.

Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire."

Elder Robert D. Hales has said:
“Pain brings you to a humility that allows you to ponder. It is an experience I am grateful to have endured. …
“I learned that the physical pain and the healing of the body after major surgery are remarkably similar to the spiritual pain and the healing of the soul in the process of repentance.”

Sometimes in the depth of pain, we are tempted to ask, “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?” I testify the answer is yes, there is a physician.

...during His mortal life Christ chose to experience pains and afflictions in order to understand us. Perhaps we also need to experience the depths of mortality in order to understand Him and our eternal purposes.

President Henry B. Eyring taught: “It will comfort us when we must wait in distress for the Savior’s promised relief that He knows, from experience, how to heal and help us. … And faith in that power will give us patience as we pray and work and wait for help. He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He chose to learn by His own personal experience.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks has taught: “Healing blessings come in many ways, each suited to our individual needs, as known to Him who loves us best. Sometimes a ‘healing’ cures our illness or lifts our burden. But sometimes we are ‘healed’ by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.” All that will come may be “clasped in the arms of Jesus.” All souls can be healed by His power. All pain can be soothed. In Him, we can “find rest unto [our] souls.” Our mortal circumstances may not immediately change, but our pain, worry, suffering, and fear can be swallowed up in His peace and healing balm.

Our great personal challenge in mortality is to become “a saint through the atonement of Christ.” The pain you and I experience may be where this process is most measured. In extremity, we can become as children in our hearts, humble ourselves, and “pray and work and wait” patiently for the healing of our bodies and our souls. As Job, after being refined through our trials, we “shall come forth as gold.”