AT GARDEN'S GATE

 

 

“And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God – I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that He is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.

I am one of His witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in His hands and in His feet and shall wet His feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that He is God’s Almighty Son, that He is our Saviour and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through His atoning blood and in no other way.”

-        Bruce R. McConkie, The Purifying Power of Gethsemane, April 1985 General Conference

 

Oh the sweet, sweet agony

That tossed You onto the sea of

Merciless pain and suffering!

The nature shook but silently wept eternity

Cradling in its arms Your glorious destiny.

 

I dreamed that You were waiting

At sweet Garden’s gate;

Your sacrifice complete,

Your promises kept.

I could scarce contain my joy

As in Your arms I wept.

 

You rose to heights unknown

By someone lowly like me.

You are now so high

And I am so low,

Climbing the ladder of my tears

Into Your arms that I will forever know.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Upon the Cross by Greg Collins)

ETERNAL DESTINY

 

"I have stood in the Garden of Gethsemane on many occasions. I've contemplated in my mind the suffering, the agony of the Savior. That agony that was experienced when our Heavenly Father permitted him, in a way our minds cannot even comprehend, to take upon himself the pain and sins of all mankind. My soul was filled with sorrow as I've thought of his great sacrifice for mankind.

I've stood beneath Golgotha, the place of the skull, and contemplated the humiliation of the crucifixion which led to our Saviour's mortal death, but which brought to pass his and all mankind's immortality. And again my soul has been subdued.

And I've stood in front of the garden tomb and imagined that glorious day of resurrection when the Saviour emerged from the tomb alive, resurrected, immortal. In that contemplation my heart has swelled with joy.

Through these experiences I've felt to pour out my soul in thanksgiving and appreciation to our Heavenly Father for the love which he and his Son have given to us through the glorious atoning sacrifice." 

(President Howard W. Hunter, Teaching of Howard W. Hunter, page 9)

If You were not,

I would not be,

Silence would have wept at Calvary!

 

If You were not,

I would not be,

As death would claim me eternally.

 

If You were not,

I would not be,

Joyless would be my destiny.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Upon The Cross by Greg Collins)