The Atonement of Jesus Christ

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is March’s doctrinal topic for the youth. There is no more glorious doctrine! Jeffrey R. Holland has said, “The Atonement of the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh is the crucial foundation upon which all Christian doctrine rests and the greatest expression of divine love this world has ever been given. Its importance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot be overstated. Every other principle, commandment, and virtue of the restored gospel draws its significance from this pivotal event."1 No wonder as we read and study the talks from our last general conference we can find the Savior’s Atonement referenced in some way in nearly all of them.

Adilson de Paula Parrella gave us this beautiful definition, “A Savior and Redeemer was needed to free us from death and sin. Under Heavenly Father’s direction, Jesus Christ came to earth, suffered, died on the cross, and was resurrected so that we too can be resurrected and, with sincere repentance and the making and keeping of sacred covenants, be once again in the presence of God.”2

Dale G. Renlund taught, “Because of His atoning sacrifice, Jesus Christ has the power and authority to redeem all mankind. … The atoning power of Jesus Christ is essential because none of us can return to our heavenly home without help. In mortality, we invariably make mistakes and violate God’s laws. We become stained by sin and cannot be allowed back to live in God’s presence. We need the Savior’s atoning power so that we can be reconciled to Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ broke the bands of physical death, allowing resurrection for all. He offers forgiveness of sins, conditioned on obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel. Through Him, exaltation is offered.”3

Most often when we think of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we think of our rescue from sin and death. While such rescuing is clearly vital, consider these other powerful words—resurrection, redemption, reconciliation, repentance, perfection. These are only possible because of the Savior’s atoning grace. Even still, there is so much more! Here are just a few of the valuable truths we learn from last October’s general conference:

“The Savior, through His great atoning sacrifice, opens the way for us to partake of God’s loving power.” Neill F. Marriott4

“It is only through Jesus Christ, and the miracle of His infinite Atonement, that we can receive eternal life.” O. Vincent Haleck5

“Because of Christ’s Atonement, He can not only cleanse us but also perfect us.” Tad R. Callister6

“As we press forward submissively with faith in the Savior, then because of His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, ‘a mighty change [takes place] in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.’ We are ‘born again; ye, born of God, changed from [our] carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God.’ ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’” David A. Bednar7

“Because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement, which includes the gifts of redemption and resurrection, we are able to repent, change, and progress eternally. Because of the power He gives us as we are obedient, we are able to become more than we ever could on our own. We may not understand completely how, but each of us who has felt faith in Christ increase has also received a greater understanding of our divine identity and purpose, leading us to make choices that are consistent with that knowledge.” Jean B. Bingham8

“Hope and peace are always available through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate corrective and healing measures to every wounded body, damaged spirit, and broken heart.” W. Christopher Waddell9

Using one of the Savior’s parables, Elder Holland helps us more fully contemplate the magnitude of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. "A servant was in debt to his king for the amount of 10,000 talents. Hearing the servant’s plea for patience and mercy, ‘the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and … forgave … the debt.’ But then that same servant would not forgive a fellow servant who owed him 100 pence. On hearing this, the king lamented to the one he had forgiven, ‘Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?’ There is some difference of opinion among scholars regarding the monetary values mentioned here—and forgive the U.S. monetary reference—but to make the math easy, if the smaller, unforgiven 100-pence debt were, say, $100 in current times, then the 10,000-talent debt so freely forgiven would have approached $1 billion—or more! As a personal debt, that is an astronomical number—totally beyond our comprehension. (Nobody can shop that much!) Well, for the purposes of this parable, it is supposed to be incomprehensible; it is supposed to be beyond our ability to grasp, to say nothing of beyond our ability to repay. That is because this isn’t a story about two servants arguing in the New Testament. It is a story about us, the fallen human family—mortal debtors, transgressors, and prisoners all. Every one of us is a debtor, and the verdict was imprisonment for every one of us. And there we would all have remained were it not for the grace of a King who sets us free because He loves us and is ‘moved with compassion toward us.’ Jesus uses an unfathomable measurement here because His Atonement is an unfathomable gift given at an incomprehensible cost.”10

It is truly humbling to think of what the Savior did, and continues to do, for each of us! His unfathomable gift should instill in us a desire to be more like Him. Elder Holland encourages us, “We may not be able to demonstrate yet the 10,000-talent perfection the Father and the Son have achieved, but it is not too much for Them to ask us to be a little more godlike in little things, that we speak and act, love and forgive, repent and improve at least at the 100-pence level of perfection, which it is clearly within our ability to do.”10

It is always within our ability when we rely upon the Savior! Even when—maybe especially when—things are hard. The scriptures teach us, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”11 John C. Pingree Jr. lovingly reminds us, “God … sent His Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can depend on Him for strength beyond our natural abilities.”12 Perhaps when we most depend on Him for strength beyond our own is when we need to forgive. Quentin L. Cook said something powerful that may help us as we struggle in that process, “When we do not forgive those who trespass against us, we are in effect rejecting the Savior’s Atonement.”13 Sometimes the one we have the most difficulty forgiving is ourselves. I believe the same concept applies. When we do not forgive ourselves when we have truly repented, we are in effect rejecting the Savior’s Atonement.

Stephen W. Owen said, “The Savior Jesus Christ worked out a perfect Atonement and gave us the gift of repentance. … We can try to change our behavior on our own, but only the Savior can remove our stains and lift our burdens, enabling us to pursue the path of obedience with confidence and strength. … The moment we set foot on the path of repentance, we invite the Savior’s redeeming power into our lives. That power will steady our feet, expand our vision, and deepen our resolve to keep moving forward, step by step, until that glorious day when we finally return to our heavenly home and hear our Father in Heaven say to us, ‘Well done.’”14

The greatest gift our Heavenly Father has given us is “the matchless gift of His divine Son.”15 Another priceless gift we have is the Book of Mormon. Tad R. Callister describes it as “God’s compelling witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ.” He declares, “God’s fingerprints are all over the Book of Mormon as evidenced by its majestic doctrinal truths, particularly its masterful sermons on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” He reminds us that it is in the Book of Mormon that we find “King Benjamin’s sermon on the Savior’s Atonement, perhaps the most remarkable sermon on this subject in all of scripture.”6 And Russell M. Nelson testifies, “The Book of Mormon provides the fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to be found anywhere.”16 Our testimony of and love for the Savior and His Atonement will increase as we study the Book of Mormon.

Jesus Christ “shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.”17 May we increase our faith in the Savior and “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon [us].”18