EFY, Youth Conference, Sunday School and Christ's Atonement

This next week I'll be at a church youth camp called Especially for Youth (EFY). It's a hugely spiritually uplifting experience, so I know I'll come back with lots to write about, but I also wanted to write about something before hand to get myself in the right mood for sharing my testimony this coming week. This is a combination of things I learned at this past Youth Conference, EFY two years ago, and as well as some things we talked about in Sunday School today. My main topic is Christ's Atonement.

This is a song from the 2009 EFY called Not the Only One by Cherie Call

There's a man who is trembling at the edge of the sea
With thousands of people leaning on him
And the enemy's gaining, there's no place to hide
So he raises his staff and he runs
Into the mists of the water that followed the will of the Lord
Into the Place where you're living on faith that's
Stronger than fear, stronger than swords

I am not the only one who has ever been cornered
When suddenly God splits the sea
I am not the only one who has needed a Savior
And prayed for the One who could save me
I'm not the only one

I have never had water from the center of a stone
I have never tamed lions or lived in a whale
And the fiery furnace surrounding me now
Is only my doubts and my fears

But deep in a heart that is hurting, I still have to trust
in the Lord
But the words of the ancients tell of a God who is
Stronger than kings, stronger than swords

I am not the only one who has ever been friendless
Or lost in a wilderness place
I am not the only one who's been rescued by mercy
In exchange for my slivers of perfect faith
I'm not the only one

So many people changed by the truth through the ages
of time
So many miracles amazing and new when I hear them
for the thousandth time

I am not the only one who will worship my Maker
On the day that I fall at His feet
I am not the only one who will cherish the heroes
Who lived all these stories that saved me
I'm not the only one
I am not the only one
I am not the only one who has needed a Savior
And prayed for the One who could save me
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one

At Youth Conference I listened to many of the youth's testimonies, and I found that so many of them had felt things very similar to what I have felt. Many of them have gone or are going through things that I have gone through. Although our experiences are not exactly the same, I realize that I'm never the only one feeling what I'm feeling. And even if I were to be the only one in the world to truly understand a trial I had, the Savior would still know what I'm going through. The Savior always knows. Knowing I'm not the only one who struggles through this life helps me to feel less alone. Ultimately, the Savior is the one who can understand us even better than we do ourselves, and because of this we are never ever truly alone. We also can always have the Holy Ghost with us, if we are righteous enough to keep its presence. In this sense, whether or not we are alone is up to us and our agency. When the Savior suffered in Gethsemene there was a time when the Spirit had to withdraw, because He had to know what it felt like not to have the Spirit with Him, otherwise the atonement could not have been completed. The Savior, more deserving than anyone to have the Spirit with Him always, had to go through infinite agony and pain without the comfort of the Holy Ghost. There's no possible way to repay Christ for what He did, but I know that the Lord rejoices in His children when they are righteous. The least we can do is always strive to be worthy to have the Spirit with us, and remain in Holy places that are inviting of the Spirit, and to use the atonement --accepting the glorious gift Christ has given us.
I know that Christ suffered for every person. I know that he suffered for me. He knows my every need, want, desire, hardship, emotion, pain, and sin. Because of this, someday I will go home.
I testify that these things are true, in Christ's Blessed name, amen.