What does Jesus mean to you?

My bishop posed this question yesterday at sacrament meeting.  And then he called people from the congregation to briefly share their thoughts at the pulpit. I wondered what I would say - such a weighty question.  Where to begin?  How to encapsulate my feelings about my Savior in a few short minutes?  Thankfully, I wasn't called on and I get to keep working on my answer.

A few Easters ago, I wrote my thoughts on Christ in my journal.  It has been on my mind lately and I'm going to share it.  (As a hand written journal entry, it's kind of raw and unpolished - tempted to edit it but going to try not to change it too much.)     

8 April 2007:  Christ's atonement - infinite and eternal - makes holy the penitent sinner.  Jesus, in his perfect love and divinity, overcame mortality so that his imperfect brothers and sisters may through his perfection overcome this world.  

I have been blessed by the power of the atonement and experienced Christ's perfect love.  When my heart was broken and an aching darkness filled my chest - I pressed onward - striving to be obedient but unsure of where the strength to endure would come.   Unexpectedly, in the midst of my depression, the testimony of a friend ignited something inside of me.  The spirit filled me and I felt the dank darkness that had taken up residence in my soul being consumed by light and love.  Christ's love filled my soul, and by the power of the atonement my heart was healed - I found courage to go and do.  

My Savior and Redeemer suffered great agony of soul for me, that I may be delivered from the shackles of mortality - that I may be made whole and return to my beloved Father.  Through the atonement of Christ, I may with surety hope for a better world - even a place at the right hand of God.  This hope is an anchor to my soul that will enable me to endure the storms of mortality.  God be thanked for the matchless gift of his son, Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of my faith.  In meekness and humility, he overcame the world and redeemed the souls of his brothers and sisters.  And through him we may all become holy.