The Atonement

I've been focusing on the Atonement this week in my scripture reading and study.  What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what does it mean for us?  Jesus's atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. In Gethsemane He submitted to the will of the Father and began to take upon Himself the sins of all people. He has revealed some of what He experienced as He paid the price for our sins.

The Atonement is more than just the crucifying of Christ.  Christ suffered for us that he might satisfy the demands of justice.  We receive mercy as a gift from this act.  We do not have to partake of the pains of sin if we repent.  In Alma 7:11-13, it reads:

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all thing; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

We know that Christ didn't just suffer and atone for our sins.  He suffered for the pains and sadness that we experience.  The sorrows that will come to us in our lives.  Those hurt feelings we experience in our trials and challenges of life.  the Atonement of Jesus Christ encompasses all those feelings and pains that we experience, as well as sins.  As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, we don't focus on this part of the Atonement.  We revere and worship the living Christ, who was resurrected three days after He was killed.  

I know that Christ's Atonement is extremely important to our salvation.  I know that our Father in Heaven loved us so much that He sent His Son to redeem mankind through a selfless act of love.  I'm eternally thankful for this, so that I know there is always one person that knows exactly how I'm feeling when I'm suffering or sad.  I know Christ lives!  He is an active part of our lives, if we will but let him in.  I love the promises that the gospel brings.  The adherence of the gospel will bring about salvation.  It's so wonderful to know that this isn't out of our reach.  Even when we fall short, the Atonement provides us with a way to try again.  How grateful I am for this "good news" that the gospel is!

"To be saved—or to gain salvation—means to be saved from physical and spiritual death. Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected and saved from physical death. People may also be saved from individual spiritual death through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, by their faith in Him, by living in obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel, and by serving Him." -Russell M. Nelson

Remember, Remember

1 Nephi 19:9 - And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

Many times in the scriptures, we are told to remember.  We are told to remember commandments, words from the prophets, lessons learned, etc.  The thing that I love that we are reminded to remember is the Savior.  In the Book of Mormon, we see so many examples of the miracles and love that Jesus has for his children.  Just as Nephi wrote in 1 Nephi 19 – “And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.”  The scriptures are written for our benefit, so that we may learn and know of our Savior – who atoned for us, giving us the ultimate gift.

It really is amazing to me that Jesus would continue to suffer for us.  I know that I’m not perfect – not even close – so it’s hard for me to comprehend the love that He has for us.  I believe that remembering Him is the least that we can do.

In the sacrament prayers, it talks about remembering Christ.  “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” (Moroni 4:3)  “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” (Moroni 5:2)

When we partake of the sacrament, we are renewing those covenants and promises that we made with God.  Part of that is to remember Christ and stand as a witness of Him.  What are we doing in our lives to continually remember Jesus and stand as His witness?  How are we examples of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  How do we show others that we are witnesses of Him?  How do we remember our Savior?

I have a testimony that when we remember Jesus and stand as His witness that we will, as the scriptures say, have his spirit to be with us.  We will receive blessings that can come in no other way.  We will have boldness and power that comes only through His representation.  I know Christ loves me and each person who ever lived, lives, and whoever will live on this earth.  I know He suffered for each of our sins, sorrows, pains, and afflictions.  He did this because of the indescribable love that He has for each of us.  I’m grateful for the gospel in my life that helps me to remember.

"The time is here for you to stand up for what you know is right. You must judge right from wrong. No longer can you be complacent or go with the flow or wonder what to do. You must decide now which path you will follow and which answer you will give. Decide well in advance, before the pressure is on, what you stand for." -Margaret D. Nadauld