The Atonement of Jesus Christ: Vast in Its Reach, Intimate in Its Effect

As we celebrate Christmas, we focus our thoughts on the glorious gift our Heavenly Father has given to each of us—the gift of His Son. Gordon B. Hinckley teaches, “The incomprehensible depth of [God’s] love found expression in the gift of His Only Begotten Son to come into the world to bring hope into our hearts, to bring kindness and courtesy into our relationships, and above all to save us from our sins and guide us on the way that leads to eternal life.” During this beautiful season, we will undoubtedly hear the scripture which proclaims, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”1 It is part of the Christmas story, just as the shepherds and wise men are. The shepherds left their flocks to go find the Son of God, of whom the angels bore witness. After seeing the sign of His birth, the wise men traveled from afar seeking the Savior. How imperative it is that we still seek the Son of God, the Savior of the World! How vital it is that we know He is truly wonderful and the Prince of Peace!

In the First Presidency Message this month, Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “We seek Christ. We seek to learn of Him. To follow Him. To become more like Him. Every day throughout the year, we seek Him. But especially at this time of the year—Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of our beloved Savior—our hearts are ever more inclined to Him.”2 A thorough study of Chapter 24, The Atonement of Jesus Christ: Vast in Its Reach, Intimate in Its Effect, is a wonderful way to incline our hearts more to the Savior. It is a poignant reminder of what He has done, and continues to do, for the world as a whole and for each of us individually and why it is necessary that we continually seek the Savior, Jesus Christ. President Hinckley reminds us, “When all is said and done, … nothing is so wonderful, so majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace when the Son of the Almighty … gave His life … so that all … might … live eternally. He did for us what none of us could do for ourselves.

“This is the wondrous and true story of Christmas. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea is preface. The three-year ministry of the Master is prologue. The magnificent substance of the story is His sacrifice, the totally selfless act of dying in pain on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of all of us. The epilogue is the miracle of the Resurrection, bringing the assurance that ‘as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive’ (1 Cor. 15:22).

“There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.”

Reflect on that statement for a minute. It is profound! The Savior’s birth was a necessary and long-promised event. The way He lived teaches us how we should live. But I believe President Hinckley wants us to remember that the ultimate expression of love is found in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Think about it, all our hopes and dreams are anchored to Jesus Christ through the Atonement. President Hinkley taught, “None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. … Without [the Atonement of Jesus Christ], life would be meaningless. … His Atonement … is so vast in its reach and yet so intimate in its effect that it defies comprehension. … We must learn to appreciate it more and more and more.”

We learn to appreciate the Atonement of Jesus Christ more and more as we learn more and more of Him! He has told us, “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.”3

That is exactly what Russell M. Nelson asked the young adults of the Church to do. At the beginning of the year, he gave them this challenge, “to consecrate a portion of their time each week to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works. I invited them to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum. I gave that challenge because I had already accepted it myself. I read and underlined every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide. When I finished that exciting exercise, my wife asked me what impact it had on me. I told her, ‘I am a different man!’”4

If an apostle of the Lord becomes “a different man” through this intensive study, imagine what could happen in our own lives if we accepted such a challenge!

President Nelson also gave some incredible promises to the young adults if they would accept the assignment. “If you proceed to learn all you can about Jesus Christ, I promise you that your love for Him, and for God’s laws, will grow beyond what you currently imagine. I promise you also that your ability to turn away from sin will increase. Your desire to keep the commandments will soar. You will find yourself better able to walk away from the entertainment and entanglements of those who mock the followers of Jesus Christ.” 5

Just think of the increased influence for good if every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints devoted more time to learn everything about the Savior. Let’s start now! Just yesterday, D. Todd Christofferson encouraged the students at BYU, “Take time this Christmas season to set aside some time, at least an hour if not more, to reflect on the wonder and majesty of the Son of God. … Let it be an hour of reassurance and renewal.”6 President Hinckley had a very similar hope for us, “I wish for each of you a time, perhaps only an hour, spent in silent meditation and quiet reflection on the wonder and the majesty of this, the Son of God.”

We can begin with one hour before Christmas and then continue, as President Nelson invited, a weekly study of the Savior. He offered several suggestions for our studies, including studying everything under “Jesus Christ” in the Topical Guide. “Study everything Jesus Christ is by prayerfully and vigorously seeking to understand what each of His various titles and names means personally for you. For example, He really is your Advocate with the Father. He will take your side. He will stand up for you. He will speak on your behalf, every time, as you choose to be more like Him. Get to know Him by studying all He continues to teach through His living prophets and apostles. Study ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World.’ Study ‘The Living Christ’ document. These were both received by revelation.”5

Sister Neill F. Marriott shared a powerful example that kind of study can have after she attended a young women’s camp in Alaska. Speaking of the young campers she said, “Their influence on me was profound. They came to camp spiritually prepared, having read the Book of Mormon and having memorized ‘The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.’ On the third night of camp, all 900 young women stood together and recited the entire document word for word. The Spirit filled the vast hall, and I yearned to join in. But I couldn’t. I hadn’t paid the price of memorization. I have now begun to learn the words of ‘The Living Christ’ as these sisters did. … My hope is to offer the Savior a Christmas gift this year of having ‘The Living Christ’ memorized and securely held in my heart by December 25th.”7 Those words resonated in me. I decided that I, too, would offer the Savior that same Christmas gift. Although I did that as my gift to Him, it has been an incredible gift to me! I cannot adequately express the great blessing that it has been in my life. It is a constant source of strength and peace. My testimony was strengthened as I memorized it and continues to be strengthened as I recite it daily. I testify to the truth of that beautiful document.

During general conference just three months after the First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles issued “The Living Christ,” President Hinckley bore a powerfully tender witness of the Savior and His influence in his life. He spoke of his “living testimony of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One.” Consider President Hinckley’s descriptive words. “Jesus is my friend. He is my exemplar. He is my healer. He is my leader. He is my Savior and my Redeemer. He is my God and my King.”

To know who Jesus is takes study and faith. I am excited to accept President Nelson’s challenge to dedicate time each week to learn everything about Jesus Christ. I hope we will all accept the challenges that have been extended to devote at least an hour seeking the Savior. The sacrifices we make will be worth every second.

As members of His Church, let it be said of us that we seek Christ. We seek to learn of Him. We seek to follow Him. We seek to become like Him because “Jesus is the Living Christ. … He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.”8 We seek Him so we are not only familiar with the way, but also so we are comfortable on the path.

Especially at this Christmastime, let our hearts be more grateful to our Heavenly Father for “the matchless gift of His divine Son.”8