Understanding the Depths of Mortality

Shouldn't we try our hardest to understand Jesus Christ, His character, His perfections, as well as understand the depths of mortality that He submitted Himself to in His atoning sacrifice?

Why would we?  What good would it do for us?  Why should we try to know and understand the gift that has been given to us?  Shouldn't we try?

The answer is: YES!

Now, comes the hard part--how do we?  How can we?  Where should we start?

I think that we have the right idea when we start by praying, when we are sacrificing, when we are fasting, when we are studying and learning, and when we try imitating His charity.

Now, none of us is a god and none of us have accomplished the eternal and infinite atonement--but even though none of will ever experience the fullness of that suffering and borne the griefs of world without end, carried the children of God's sorrows, be wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities.  Yet, if we are trying to be like Him and trying to become more like Him, then, I submit that we need to try our very hardest to the utmost (try like we've never tried before with and for anything or for anyone else...) to understand Him almost as He understands us.

Next, there must be an element of pain.  I'm not exactly sure where it fits in to the model of becoming like Jesus Christ, but I know that it's in there somewhere--how much, I don't know; I suppose it depends on the person.

Pain, though, is a necessary element to bring yourself closer to the level of humility required in order for you to make the changes that you need to make and to become what it is that Christ would have you become.  (I am intentionally not using the third person singular, "one," as this discussion must be very personal and I don't want to run the risk of intellectualizing the topic!)

You will can and will need to, however, to experience pain--either the pain that comes from sincere repentance or the pain that comes with authentic empathy for others in charity or a combination of both.

What do you think?  How can we best understand the depths of mortality and become more like Christ?

JPS