Since it is Easter weekend and because of my studies of Ether Chapters 1 - 15 the Atonement has really been on my mind. I find myself being a little frustrated that non-Latter Day Saints do not fully understand the Atonement. So I want to first start off by sharing what the Atonement is - I found this quote in the LDS Youth Curriculum "Come Follow Me" it says; "The Atonement is the sacrifice Jesus Christ made to help us overcome sin, adversity, and death. Jesus’s atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. He paid the price for our sins, took upon Himself death, and was resurrected. The Atonement is the supreme expression of the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.” then I found that Jesus' Atonement was not complete until he was resurrected from the grave in the Guide to the Scriptures entry on Atonement "Jesus’ Atonement was not complete until he was resurrected from the grave. “His atonement included his suffering for the sins of mankind in the Garden of Gethsemane, the shedding of his blood, and his death and subsequent resurrection from the grave (Isa. 53:3–12; Mosiah 3:5–11; Alma 7:10–13).”
There is one more piece that I feel needs to be shared that I just recently learned during my scripture studies. It is that Jesus Christ was capable of sinning. It could not have been a true Atonement if he did not have free will. I know yours going to say that yeah but he was Heavenly Father's son and they spoke directly to each other. Yes, that is true but Jesus Christ had the free will to choose, he was tempted by Satan and he always turned away from him. He could have chosen to run away and hide but he went of his own free will and suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was put on trial and found guilty when he had done nothing wrong, he willing endured all the pain and cruelty inflicted upon him, more pain then anyone else could ever endure. And finally, he was nailed, nailed not tied to the cross and suffered more cruelty and ridicule and finally he died. He did all of this of his free will, because he loved us all so much and knew that it was the only way that we could return to live with him and Heavenly Father when we are done in this live.
So you ask what does this mean to me personally? Because the Atonement is a very personal thing! It means that I too can be made perfect! With Jesus Christ and the Atonement as my direct link to Heavenly Father, I can do it! If I truly believe that Jesus Christ is who he says he is and did what I have described above. I can use my direct link, striving each day to do the best that I can, trying to do a little better each day. Be quick to recognize my mistakes and sins and repent and try to not repeat that mistake. With Jesus Christ making up the difference I too can be perfect! This is the good news for everyone!! We are all at different places in this process and no matter where we are, if we are doing these things, Jesus Christ will do the rest!
Words can not do justice to the gratitude that I feel to Heavenly Father and the Savior, Jesus Christ for making this possible. He knows my every sin and weakness and He who was guiltless but died like the guilty will find me guiltless because of this most precious gift! There is no better news then this!
May the blessings of the Atonement touch your life and bring you grace and peace!
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