The Testament

My little sister Ashlyn called the other day and planned for our entire family to go see The Testament, a movie shown at the visitors center at the Mesa Arizona Temple. We all went as a family for FHE. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. With everything I have gone through over the last month I felt that this movie was made just for me. Ava didn't move the entire time. She definitely felt the spirit.... It was so sweet. The story is told about the Nephites in the Book of Mormon who for the most part have become wicked. There were only a few that were willing to stand up for what is right. They were told by a prophet that the Savior was born and that a sign would be given of his death. He would later be killed for telling the people to repent of their wickedness. This evil continued on for many years . During this time of wickedness on the promise land there were few that were willing to stand up for what was right. The righteous followers of Christ became the minority and it was very diffcult for them to openly be Christians. The greatest parts of this movie were when they would show the Saviors back amongst the Jews performing all kinds of miracles. Several stood out to me, but one in particular brought peace to me. It was when a young boy who appeared to have cerebral palsy was carried before the Savior, the same way Jason carried Emmie when she was not in her wheelchair. I sat and watched in as the Savior performed a miraculous miracle. He took the young boy in his arms and held him close and whispered in his ear. Instantly the young boy was healed. It was at that moment when Jason reached over and grabbed my hand. His timing was right in sync with mine. Almost instantly the tears started to roll down my face. We both felt the spirit so strong. Our hope was in the Savior and we knew that he was the only one that could help raise up our daughter. It made me think about the painting Jason had painted for me by an artist in Mesa when Emmie was 3 yrs old. It was of Emmie and I sitting on the steps of the temple with the Savior. In this painting I am sitting down with Emmie, she is partially facing the Savior and he has his hand extended to Emmies, helping her up. She is standing there on her own because of her faith she has in Christ. This picture is hanging in my living room and has so much meaning to me... especially now. I know the Savior has made my sweet angel Emmie whole. Later the movie showed another special scene in the Saviors life. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane where he atoned for all of our sins. He said , "Oh father please let this cup pass from before me, but nevertheless not my will by thine be done." Then the Savior went on to be alone and suffered all things for all of us. As they showed the anguish he had to endure I found myself thinking about how much he means to me. I wondered why someone would endure such pain for another human being. I felt unworthy of being a recipient of such a great gift of salvation. I then started to think about Heavenly Father. Why would he allow such a thing to happen? His own son... I could never stand by and watch as my child was tortured. I know the Plan of Salvation, but why was I questioning Heavenly Father in this instance. He being God could have intervened and saved his Son. I felt like I wanted to save Him, the way I longed to save my daughter. Then it became clear that he suffered these things to satisfy the law. His Son was the ransom, the price to be paid so all of his children could return. He did it because he loved all of his children. Then I realized that I had something in common with Heavenly Father, I realized he has felt this very pain that I am going through now. I am not alone and he mourned for his son the same way that I mourn for Emmie. This brought me so much comfort. I felt at peace.

The last part of the movie is after the Savior is crucified and gives up the Ghost. He appears to the Nephite survivors in the promise land of America. It is here where he establishes his church. The last scene shows a most glorius Savior, dressed in a brilliant white robe. His countenance was bright, and he was full of love. You could see it and it made me want to be better. I found myself hoping for more time, to make a difference on this earth. I know that one day I will stand before him and I will either feel ashamed or proud how I served him diligently on this earth. I loved the way I felt as I watched how pure he was. It is hard to explain, but all I can say... is that I felt like I knew him very well. It was the perfect night.