When the Savior was invited into the home of a Pharisee to eat, a woman known to be a sinner entered and, weeping as she entreated His forgiveness, washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.
This tender scene offended the Pharisee, who reproached Jesus for allowing a sinner to touch Him. Jesus responded by pointing out that if two debtors were forgiven, he whose debt was the greatest would be the most grateful, and would love the most."Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." (Luke 7:47.)
Love for the Savior and gratitude for His atonement are echoed in many places in scripture and in the addresses of modern leaders.
In his address to his people, King Benjamin of the Book of Mormon referred to these feelings of gratitude and joy:
"And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in the sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.
"And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceeding great joy in your souls. . . ." (Mosiah 4: 10-11.)
Modern leaders have offered gratitude in light of the atoning sacrifice performed in their behalf by the Savior.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency, commented on this subject in April 1985 general conference:
"Thank and glorify His Beloved Son, who, with indescribable suffering, gave His life on Calvary's cross to pay the debt of mortal sin.
"He it was who, through His atoning sacrifice, broke the bonds of death and with godly power rose triumphant from the tomb. He is our Redeemer, the Reedemer of all mankind. He is the Savior of the world. He is the Son of God, the Author of our salvation."
President Marion G. Romney, then of the First Presidency, explained in the October 1982 general conference: "To the Lord Jesus, who bought us with a great price, we owe an undying debt of gratitude. It is impossible for us, weak mortals as we are, to fully comprehend and appreciate the suffering He endured on the cross so that He might gain for us victory over death. And even less can we understand the suffering he endured in Gethsemane so that we might obtain forgiveness of our sins. . . .
"All people who understand what Jesus did for us ought to love Him and demonstrate that love by rendering to Him, in a realistic manner, thanks and gratitude."
*****
(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)
Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Gospel Doctrine course of study.
Information compiled by John L. Hart
Sources: Jesus the Christ, by Elder James E. Talmage; and April 1977, October 1982, April 1983, and April 1985 Conference Reports.