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