In Sister Cristina B. Franco's women's session talk, "The Healing Power of Jesus Christ", she opens with a story about a piano she and her husband purchased, which broke upon its arrival. I recommend to watch the story in her words here. (0:34-3:39)
Upon finishing the story, Sister Franco continued,
"Sisters and brothers, aren't we all like this piano, a little broken, cracked, and damaged, feeling like we will never be the same again? However, as we come unto Jesus Christ by exercising faith in Him, repenting, and making and keeping covenants, our brokenness - whatever its cause - can be healed. This process, which invites the Savior's healing power into our lives, does not just restore us to what we were before but makes us better than we ever were. I know that through our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can all be mended, made whole, and fulfill our purpose, just like a beautiful-sounding, brand-new piano."
Let's review what the manager of the music store said, "The wood is broken, and once the wood is broken, it can never sound the same." The manager's implication is negative. However, when Sister Franco compares our moments of feeling broken to her piano story, she adds that using the Atonement will "make us better than we ever were." That is the difference between us and a piano. We aren't ruined when we break.
How does Christ heal us?
Matthew 11:28-29 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
Yokes bind animals together, so by using this symbolism, Christ is inviting us to be bound to him.
D&C 6:36 "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." (When are we supposed to look to Christ? What is the opposite of doubt and fear?)*
Christ's use of the phrase "every thought" essentially means always. We need to turn to him always. What is the opposite of doubt and fear? Belief and faith. Have faith in Christ.
Revelation 7:17 "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (What does Christ feed us? How can His word heal us?)
We know from the gospels, that when Christ talks about bread (food) and water, He's talking about the word of God. And I think it's safe to say this is what is going on here as well. The Lamb feeding us and leading us to water, is giving us the word of God - reading our scriptures, listening to general conference, testimonies, etc. How can the word of God heal us? Priesthood blessings can heal us physically and spiritually. The knowledge of Christ's love can heal us spiritually. The knowledge of the plan of salvation can bring us hope, which can also heal spiritually.
Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." (How does Christ use others to help us heal? How can we be used to help others heal?)
In this verse, Christ states that Heavenly Father sent him to earth to do several things, healing being one of them. Yet, Christ is not here the way he was during his mortal ministry. Even though he can and still does heal us; one way he heals us is through other people. This can be a physical healing that a doctor performs, or it can be spiritual and mental healing that family, friends, neighbors, and ward members can perform.
What do we do once we are healed?
Mosiah 24:14 "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." (What does Christ expect us to do when he eases our burdens?)
When I read this verse the second half stuck out to me. Christ wants us to share our experiences and testify that He does heal, comfort, and liberate.
Christ can heal us when we have faith, turn to him, and bind ourselves to him. Once we have turned t o him he will feed us with the word of God, heal our broken hearts, liberate us, and comfort us. And when we have experienced that healing and comfort, we need to share our experiences as a witness to others the Christ does heal because He loves us.
*Note: I used this blog post as my lesson plan, so the questions in parenthesis are what I verbally asked during my lesson.
