Atonement

• Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments (Jeffrey R. Holland) “So partly in answer to why such seriousness, we answer that when one toys with the God-given–and satanically coveted–body of another, he or she toys with the very soul of that individual, toys with the central purpose and product of life, “the very key” to life, as Elder Boyd K. Packer once called it. In trivializing the soul of another (please include the word body there) we trivialize the atonement, which saved that soul and guaranteed its continued existence. And when one toys with the Son of Righteousness, the Day Star Himself, one toys with white heat and a flame hotter and holier than the noonday sun. You cannot do so and not be burned. You cannot with impunity “crucify . . . the Son of God afresh.” Exploitation of the body (please include the word soul there) is, in the last analysis, an exploitation of Him who is the Light and the Life of the world.”
• Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments (Jeffrey R. Holland) “The purchase price for our fullness of joy-body and spirit eternally united-is the pure and innocent blood of the Savior of the world. We cannot then say in ignorance or defiance, “Well, it’s my life’ or worse yet, “it’s my body.” It is not your life or your body. “Ye are not your own,” Paul said. “Ye are bought with a price.” As a result of the excruciating suffering endured by Him in the atonement-the payment, He made for our sins-we are eternally indebted to Jesus. That is the one reason we call Him “Master,” in the holiest sense of the word. So in answer to the question, “Why does God care so much about sexual transgression?” It is partly because of the precious gift offered by and through His Only Begotten Son to redeem the souls-bodies and spirits- we too often share and abuse in such cheap and tawdry ways. Christ restored the very seeds of eternal lives, and we desecrate them at our peril. The first key reason for personal purity? Our very souls are involved and at stake.”
• [On the Atonement]: “I cannot comprehend it all. It is so vast in its reach and yet so intimate in its effect that it defies comprehension. When all is said and done, when all of history is examined, when the deepest depths of the human mind have been explored, there is nothing so wonderful, so majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Church News, 10 Feb. 2007, 16)
• “March 17th, 2013 at the Tegucigalpa, Honduras Temple Dedication,” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke during the dedication and explained that each member that enters the House of the Lord, and does endowments vicariously, were in essence Saviors on Mount Zion for those they were doing the ordinances for. He said the ultimate vicarious act was that of Jesus Christ and his atonement. That Christ vicariously suffered through the atonement for each of us individually, and that vicariously resurrected so that we all could be resurrected. As we do Temple work, we are essentially giving people that do not have the ability to do ordinances, the opportunity to accept them.” Clinton Brown”
• “President Joseph F. Smith taught: “Men cannot forgive their own sins; they cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins. Men can stop sinning and can do right in the future, and so far [as] their acts are acceptable before the Lord [become] worthy of consideration. But who shall repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others, which it seems impossible for them to repair themselves? By the atonement of Jesus Christ, the sins of the repentant shall be washed away; though they be crimson they shall be made white as wool [see Isaiah 1:18]. This is the promise given to you.” 2012 October General Conference, The Atonement, Sun. Morning Session – By Boyd K. Packer
  
• “In that most burdensome moment of all human history, with blood appearing at every pore and an anguished cry upon His lips, Christ sought Him whom He had always sought—His Father. “Abba,” he cried, “Papa,” or from the lips of a younger child, something akin to “Daddy” (Mark 14:36). This is such a personal moment it almost seems a sacrilege to cite it. A Son in unrelieved pain, a Father His only true source of strength, both of them staying the course, making it through the night—together. Broken Things to Mend (Jeffrey R. Holland) Kindle Loc. 365-69
• “I cannot comprehend it all. It is so vast in its reach and yet so intimate in its effect that it defies comprehension. When all is said and done, when all of history is examined, when the deepest depths of the human mind have been explored, there is nothing so wonderful, so majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Church News, 10 Feb. 2007, 16)
• “No grief is so great, no pain so profound, no burden so unbearable that is beyond His healing touch.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, Apr. 2001, 9)
• “His clearly defined footprints are easy to see. They are pressed distinctly and deeply into the soil of the second estate, deeply and distinctly because of the enormous weight which pressed down upon Him; including the awful burden of all of our individual sins. Only He could have carried it all. I thank the Savior personally for bearing all which I added to His hemorrhaging at every pore for all of humanity in Gethsemane. I thank Him for bearing what I added to the decibels of His piercing soul-cry atop Calvary.” (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, May 1988, 9)
• “Jesus waits ‘with open arms to receive’ those who finally overcome by faith and hope. His welcome will consist not of a brief, loving pat but, instead, of being ‘clasped in the arms of Jesus’!” (Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1994, 36)
• “ ‘Here am I, send Me’ – Never has anyone offered to do so much for so many with so few words…” (Neal A. Maxwell, Searching for God in America, 131)
• “It is most natural and just that he who commits the wrong should pay the penalty—atone for his wrongdoing. Therefore, when Adam was the transgressor of the law, justice demanded that he, and none else, should answer for the sin and pay the penalty with his life. But Adam, in breaking the law, himself became subject to the curse, and being under the curse could not atone, or undo what he had done. Neither could his children, for they also were under the curse, and it required one who was not subject to the curse to atone for that original sin. Moreover, since we were all under the curse, we were also powerless to atone for our individual sins. It, therefore, became necessary for the Father to send His Only Begotten Son, who was free from sin, to atone for our sins as well as for Adam’s transgression, which justice demanded should be done. He accordingly offered himself a sacrifice for sins, and through his death upon the cross took upon himself both Adam’s transgression and our individual sins, thereby redeeming us from the fall, and from our sins, on condition of repentance.”  Chapter 3: The Plan of Salvation, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 58–71
• “… No man could do what he did for us. He did not have to die, he could have refused. He did it voluntarily. He did it because it was a commandment from his Father. He knew what the suffering was going to be; and yet, because of his love for us, he was willing to do it. …”  Chapter 3: The Plan of Salvation, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 58–71
• “The driving of the nails into his hands and into the Savior’s feet was the least part of his suffering. We get into the habit, I think, of feeling, or thinking that his great suffering was being nailed to the cross and left to hang there. Well, that was a period in the world’s history when thousands of men suffered that way. So his suffering, so far as that is concerned, was not any more than the suffering of other men who have been so crucified. What, then, was his great suffering? I wish we could impress this fact upon the minds of every member of this Church: His great suffering occurred before he ever went to the cross. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane, so the scriptures tell us, that blood oozed from every pore of his body; and in the extreme agony of his soul, he cried to his Father. It was not the nails driven into his hands and feet. Now do not ask me how that was done because I do not know. Nobody knows. All we know is that in some way he took upon himself that extreme penalty. He took upon him our transgressions, and paid a price, a price of torment.”  Chapter 3: The Plan of Salvation, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 58–71
• John 15:13…Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
• Alma 5:21…No man can be saved unless his garments are washed white, purified, cleansed through the blood of Christ.
• Alma 19:13…Christ shall redeem all mankind that BELIEVE ON HIS NAME.
• Mosiah 18: 13…Christ  and His redemption have been prepared since the foundation of the world
• Mosiah 14: 9-11…Christ’s Atonement was necessary
• Mosiah 14: 12…Thanks to Christ’s atonement there is an intercession for the sinners
• Mosiah 15: 9…Christ redeemed us taking over Him our iniquities and transgressions
• Mosiah 14: 9…Christ was innocent
• Mosiah 14: 4-5…Christ wounded, bruised, and did suffer for our transgressions and iniquities
• Jacob 7: 12…W/out Atonement, the whole human race would perish
• Mosiah 13: 27-28…The Law of Moses was important to keep, but the Atonement saves
• Mosiah 13: 32… No man can be saved except through the redemption of God
• Mosiah 10: 8-9…Christ came to earth to call sinners to repent, not the just.  The curse of Adam is taken from little children through Christ.
• Mosiah 3: 7…Christ suffered unto the point of death
• 2 Nephi 9: 25-26…Where there is no law, there is no punishment, thanks to the atonement
• Mosiah 3: 11…Those that ignorantly sin, without knowing God’s will, are atoned through Christ’s blood
• Mosiah 16: 4…God sent Christ to rescue us from the fallen state
• Mosiah 3: 7…Christ will bleed form every pore for our iniquity & abominations
• Mosiah 4: 6, 7…The atonement was prepared before the foundation of the world
• Mosiah 15: 11-12…Christ died for those who listen to the prophets & look forward to His coming
• Mosiah 15: 19…Without the redemption, all mankind would have perished
• Mosiah 15: 19…The redemption has been prepared since the foundation of the world
• Moroni 7:26…People before Christ needed faith on His name to be saved
• Mosiah 16: 6-7…If Christ would never have come to earth and died & resurrected, then there would’ve been no redemption or resurrection
• Mosiah 16: 5…Those that continue to sin, rebel, and stay in their fallen state are as though the redemption never happened
• Mosiah 18: 2…Christ’s Atonement
• 2 Nephi 25:16…Atonement is infinite
• 2 Nephi 25:13…Atonement (crucifixion, burial, resurrection)
• 2 Nephi 26:24…Atonement of Christ
• 2 Nephi 26:33… For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men, and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
• Revelation 12:11…And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
• “The tree of life is the central focus in Lehi’s dream. Everything points to the tree of life. The tree represents Christ, who is the clear manifestation of the love of God. The fruit is His infinite Atonement and is great evidence of God’s love. Eternal life with our loved ones is sweeter and more desirable than any other thing. To realize this gift, we must “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” 4 He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” 5 We can fill our lives with accomplishment and well-doing, but in the end, if we do not enter into sacred covenants to follow Christ and faithfully keep them, we will have utterly and completely missed the mark.”  Kevin W. Pearson, April 2015 General Conference
• “God’s desire that Latter-day Saints keep on trying also extends beyond overcoming sin. Whether we suffer because of troubled relationships, economic challenges, or illnesses or as a consequence of someone else’s sins, the Savior’s infinite Atonement can heal even—and perhaps especially—those who have innocently suffered. He understands perfectly what it is like to suffer innocently as a consequence of another’s transgression. As prophesied, the Savior will “bind up the brokenhearted, … give … beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, [and] the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” 9 No matter what, with His help, God expects Latter-day Saints to keep on trying.”  Dale G. Renlund, April 2015 General Conference
• “President Thomas S. Monson has taught, “One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final.” 8 Even if we’ve been a conscious, deliberate sinner or have repeatedly faced failure and disappointment, the moment we decide to try again, the Atonement of Christ can help us. And we need to remember that it is not the Holy Ghost that tells us we’re so far gone that we might as well give up.”  Dale G. Renlund, April 2015 General Conference
• Alma 17: 13…  And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.  14 And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites, and robbing and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon riches, or upon gold and silver, and precious stones; yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that they might not labor for them with their own hands.  15 Thus they were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers; notwithstanding the promises of the Lord were extended unto them on the conditions of repentance. 16 Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption.  17 Therefore they separated themselves one from another, and went forth among them, every man alone, according to the word and power of God which was given unto him.
• 2 Nephi 9:26...  For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death, and hell, and the devil and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
• “Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly. Because the Atonement of Jesus Christ is very practical, you should apply it generously 24/7, for it never runs out. Embrace the Atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance as things that are to be welcomed and applied daily according to the Great Physician’s orders. Establish an attitude of ongoing, happy, joyful repentance by making it your lifestyle of choice. In doing so, beware of the temptation to procrastinate, and don’t expect the world to cheer you on. Keeping your eyes on the Savior, care more about what He thinks of you, and let the consequences follow. Spiritual confidence increases when you voluntarily and joyfully repent of sins, both small and great, in real-time by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ”.   Jörg Klebingat, October 2014 General Conference
• “We were taught in the premortal world that our purpose in coming here is to be tested, tried, and stretched. 3 We knew we would face the evils of the adversary. Sometimes we may feel more aware of the negative things of mortality than we are of the positive. The prophet Lehi taught, “For it must needs to be, that there is an opposition in all things.” Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith. Such exercise invites the positive, faith-filled power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ into our lives.”  Richard G. Scott, October 2014 General Conference
• “… No man could do what he did for us. He did not have to die, he could have refused. He did it voluntarily. He did it because it was a commandment from his Father. He knew what the suffering was going to be; and yet, because of his love for us, he was willing to do it. …”  Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 58–71
• “The Son of God [said]: “I’ll go down and pay the price. I’ll be the Redeemer and redeem men from Adam’s transgression. I’ll take upon me the sins of the world and redeem or save every soul from his own sins who will repent.” 12  Let us illustrate: A man walking along the road happens to fall into a pit so deep and dark that he cannot climb to the surface and regain his freedom. How can he save himself from his predicament? Not by any exertions on his own part, for there is no means of escape in the pit. He calls for help, and some kindly disposed soul, hearing his cries for relief, hastens to his assistance and by lowering a ladder, gives to him the means by which he may climb again to the surface of the earth. This was precisely the condition that Adam placed himself and his posterity in when he partook of the forbidden fruit. All being together in the pit, none could gain the surface and relieve the others. The pit was banishment from the presence of the Lord and temporal death, the dissolution of the body. And all being subject to death, none could provide the means of escape. 13  The Savior comes along, not subject to that pit, and lowers the ladder. He comes down into the pit and makes it possible for us to use the ladder to escape. 14”  Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 58–71
• Mosiah 3: 5-11…5  For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.  6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men. 7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people. 8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.  9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men. 11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.
• Mosiah 3: 16…And even if it were possible that little children could sin they could not be saved; but I say unto you they are blessed; for behold, as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so, the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins
• Mosiah 3:18…  For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
•  Mosiah 3: 13… Prophets were sent to earth to declare to every kindred, nation, and tongue that those that Believe Christ will come, they will receive a remission of their sins, with great joy, as if he had already come.   Before Christ, prophets helped people believe in the future atonement of Christ because it hadn’t happened yet.
• Mosiah 3: 5-11… Prophecy of Christ coming to earth to work might miracles, like healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, the deaf to hear, and curing of diseases, casting out devils, suffered all we did/do on earth, even until blood came from every pore.  His name to be Jesus, and his mother Mary. He comes to his own (the Jews), and his own shall crucify him. After 3 days, he will resurrect. He will judge the children of men with a righteous judgment and will atone for all.
•  Mosiah 3: 16…  The blood of Christ atones for the Fall of Adam and saves little children.
• (Abr. 3:27) “ ‘Here am I, send Me’ – Never has anyone offered to do so much for so many with so few words…”  (Neal A. Maxwell, Searching for God in America, 131)
• Doctrine and Covenants, Section 19: 16-19… For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— 19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.
• Mosiah, Chapter 3: 19… For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
• Matthew, Chapter 26: 56… But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.
• D&C 19:16–17…The Savior tells us, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer … even as I”. Christ did His part to atone for our sins. To make His Atonement fully effective in our lives, we must strive to obey Him and repent of our sins.
• 1 Corinthians 15:21–22…Christ thus overcame physical death. Because of His Atonement, everyone born on this earth will be resurrected.
• “We accept Christ’s Atonement by placing our faith in Him. Through this faith, we repent of our sins, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and obey His commandments. We become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We are forgiven and cleansed from sin and prepared to return and live forever with our Heavenly Father.” Chapter 12, Gospel Principles
• “President Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve gave the following illustration to show how Christ’s Atonement makes it possible to be saved from sin if we do our part.  “Let me tell you a story—a parable. There once was a man who wanted something very much. It seemed more important than anything else in his life. In order for him to have his desire, he incurred a great debt. He had been warned about going into that much debt, and particularly about his creditor. But it seemed so important for him to do what he wanted to do and to have what he wanted right now. He was sure he could pay for it later. So he signed a contract. He would pay it off some time along the way. He didn’t worry too much about it, for the due date seemed such a long time away. He had what he wanted now, and that was what seemed important. The creditor was always somewhere in the back of his mind, and he made token payments now and again, thinking somehow that the day of reckoning really would never come. But as it always does, the day came, and the contract fell due. The debt had not been fully paid. His creditor appeared and demanded payment in full. Only then did he realize that his creditor not only had the power to repossess all that he owned but the power to cast him into prison as well. I cannot pay you, for I have not the power to do so,’ he confessed. Then,’ said the creditor, ‘we will exercise the contract, take your possessions, and you shall go to prison. You agreed to that. It was your choice. You signed the contract, and now it must be enforced.’ “Can you not extend the time or forgive the debt?’ the debtor begged. ‘Arrange some way for me to keep what I have and not go to prison. Surely you believe in mercy? Will you not show mercy?’“The creditor replied, ‘Mercy is always so one-sided. It would serve only you. If I show mercy to you, it will leave me unpaid. It is justice I demand. Do you believe in justice?’“‘I believed in justice when I signed the contract,’ the debtor said. ‘It was on my side then, for I thought it would protect me. I did not need mercy then, nor think I should need it ever. Justice, I thought, would serve both of us equally as well.’“‘It is justice that demands that you pay the contract or suffer the penalty,’ the creditor replied. ‘That is the law. You have agreed to it and that is the way it must be. Mercy cannot rob justice.’”  Chapter 12, Gospel Principles
• John 3:16…How Jesus loves us, to suffer such spiritual and physical agony for our sake! How great the love of Heavenly Father that He would send His Only Begotten Son to suffer and die for the rest of His children. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
• Matthew 28:6…On the third day after His Crucifixion, Christ took up His body again and became the first person to be resurrected. When His friends went to seek Him, the angels who guarded His tomb told them, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” His spirit had reentered His body, never to be separated again.
• D&C 19:18–19…The Savior atoned for our sins by suffering in Gethsemane and by giving His life on the cross. It is impossible for us to fully understand how He suffered for all of our sins. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the weight of our sins caused Him to feel such agony that He bled from every pore. Later, as He hung upon the cross, Jesus suffered painful death by one of the cruelest methods known to man.
• Articles of Faith 1:3…The Savior’s Atonement makes it possible for us to overcome spiritual death. Although all people will be resurrected, only those who accept the Atonement will be saved from spiritual death.