"Encircled in His Gentle Arms"

We got our new Liahona today.  It is a combination of the Ensign, Era and Friend.  I always enjoy it, but in the newest issue particularly enjoyed the article by President Uchtdorf titled "Encircled in His Gentle Arms."

He begins by telling about the Danish Artist Frans Schwarz's painting The Agony in the Garden. I know I have posted it before, but I am so taken with it, and wanted to share with you what I read today.   I have not seen it yet, but I am hoping that sometime in the Spring SK and I will be able to make the 4 hour trip to north Jutland to the church where it resides.



President Uchtdorf describes it as "achingly beautiful."  It is that.  The portrayal of Christ shows a gentle and sensitive man who is suffering terribly.  He is the focus, yet the angel who is there to comfort and sustain him is so very compassionate.  My eyes are drawn back over and over again to that angel.

"...we each will have our own dark and bitter hours - times when our sorrow and grief may appear to be greater than we can bear......
Even so, if we will lift our hearts to the Lord during those times, surely He will know and understand.  He who suffered so selflessly for us in the garden and on the cross will not leave us comfortless now.  He will strengthen, encourage, and bless us.  He will encircle us in His gentle arms."
"He will be more than an angel to us."
"He will bring us blessed comfort, healing, hope, and forgiveness."
"For He is our Redeemer."
"Our Deliverer."
"Our merciful Savior and our blessed God."

We have been working on finding the YSAs in the greater Copenhagen area who have fallen away from the Church, contacting them and inviting them to join with us at the center.  This message from President Uchtdorf and Franz Schwarz is our message.  I hope we can convey that.