"If ye love me, keep my commandments"

In Matthew 26 we learn about when Christ suffered for our sins and afflictions in the Garden of Gethsemane.  In verse 38 Christ says, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here and watch with me."  Christ suffered beyond comprehension and was in so much pain that he feared that he may not live.  He returned back to his disciples and found them sleeping, unaware of the agony that he was experiencing.  In verse 40 Christ says unto his apostles, "...What, could ye not watch with me one hour?"

Throughout my life I have read this verse in shock that his very own apostles, the ones who had stood by his side and watched him perform miracles, could fall asleep when he needed them the most.  The first time that this scripture became so much more personal was when I was on my mission.  I was in my training, I was fatigued, I was exhausted from trying to understand bits and pieces of a language that I didn't know, and I was so hot I was dripping sweat.  During the sacrament I felt my head begin to nod and my eyes begin to droop and then all of the sudden I was reminded of this scripture and I could instantly relate with these disciples.  I was wearing the name of Christ on my chest and had been representing and testifying  of him all week, but I let my natural man overcome me when Christ needed me to be focused on Him the most.

I am so grateful to know that God is merciful and that if we strive to "stay awake" and focus on Christ rather than letting our natural man take over, he will allow us to progress and become like him someday.

In John 14:15 Christ explains, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."  There is no better way to show him our love and loyalty than by giving up what we want, for what he knows we need.  I love this gospel, and I will forever cherish the knowledge that we have that through obedience to God and Christ's commandments, we can all be saved.