"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. - Alma 7:11-12"
Expanding on this scripture, Elder Henry B. Eyring said, "He could have known how to succor us simply by revelation, but He chose to learn by His own personal experience."
This doctrine has brought me great comfort in my life, and I love that the author starts out this third chapter with these verses from Alma, saying "From His suffering was born an infinite ability to succor." Then she points out that a mother's days and weeks are filled with opportunities to succor her children. Ms. Sorensen comments, "While both we and our children must depend on the Savior for the ultimate healing of physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual suffering, a mother's efforts to heal and comfort her children area reflection of the Savior's ministry.
As a mom, I know I can comfort my son; that often just a simple touch or hug can "fix" whatever's ailing; it amazes me sometimes, how much so. And I love that Ms. Sorensen pointed out the parallels between moms and Christ, in this way. This one's a fairly short chapter, and much of it is examples, with her own kids, when her being there could "make it better".
"Much of this business of succoring is done quietly and privately. When children wake up vomiting in the middle of the night and you rub their back and provide them every comfort within your reach, it is a sacred secret between them and you. It often goes unnoticed even by your husband or other children. That is often how Christ succored. In the book of Matthew, we read the story of a leper who approached Jesus and worshiped him. He asked Jesus to heal him, "and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.' As the leper walked away, Jesus requested, "See thou tell no man; but go thy way."
A mother's role is to treat our children with kindness and love, as Christ treated all those around him. But it doesn't have to be limited just to our individual families. Elder Jeffery R. Holland urged us to be more caring of all people when he said:
"I ask you to be a healer, be a helper, be someone who joins in the work of Christ in lifting burdens, in making the load lighter, in making things better. As children, when we had a bump or a bruise, didn't we say to Mom or Dad, "Make it better"? Well, lots of people on your right hand and on your left are carrying bumps and bruises that they hope will be healed and made whole. Someone you know is carrying a spiritual or physical or emotional burden of some sort, or some other affliction drawn from life's catalog of a thousand kinds of sorrow. In the spirit of Christ's first invitation to his twelve Apostles, jump into this work. Help people... and try to make things better."
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