Because of Him

Since this past Sunday was Easter, I have been thinking a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  We often think that the Atonement is just one event in Christ's life.  We fail to remember that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is consisted of three events over the span of Christ's life. 

The birth, and life of Jesus Christ plays a part in the Atonement.  Without the birth and life of Christ we would not know His character.  Elder Bednar states that there would be no atonement without the character of christ.  That begs the question of what Christ's character is.  The attribute that describes all aspects of christ's character, in my opinion, is Charity.  Moroni 7:45 reads "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." Christ emulated all of these things perfectly, that is why he is known to be "the great exemplar."  I think we often forget that Christ did not have an easy life.  He was perfect, but his life experiences weren't.  He often did not have places to live, he was made fun of, and was tempted by satan himself.  The reason Christ's life is part of His atonement, it because it is a way that he experienced similar things to that of which we experience in our lives.  

The second event that is included in the Atonement of Christ is his suffering in Gethsemane, and crucifixion on Calvary.  I love how the scriptures give us a view of what Christ experienced for us. The scriptures describe this event greater than I ever could.  Luke 22: 41-44 reads: " And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."  Doctrine and Covenants 19:16,18 reads: "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; 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—" However, Christ did not just suffer in the garden of Gethsemane for our sins.  Alma 7:11-13 gives us a better idea of what the suffering in the garden of Gethsemane consisted of.  "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 the sicknesses of his people. 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. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; 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." I think this is the aspect of the Atonement of Christ that we can never fully comprehend.  Christ has literally suffered everything that anyone could go through.  No questions asked.  He even suffered death, which is something we will all experience.  However, death does not have power over us simply because Christ rose again.  

Christ's resurrection is the third event that is included in His infinite Atonement.  One of my favorite moments in the Book of Mormon is when Christ himself appears to the Nephites.  This was only possible because he was a resurrected and glorified being. 3 Nephi 11: 14-17 "Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying: Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him."

The resurrection is a miracle that enable us to have hope.  Moroni 7:40-41 reads:"And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise."

I absolutely love that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is consisted of these three events.  It helps us to see the depth of the atonement and begin to understand how it is so infinite.  We are able to utilize the Atonement of Jesus Christ by accepting Him as our Savior, and always remembering Him.  As we do so, we will be able to draw upon the power of Christ's atonement, and find new life because of it.  

In the most recent General Conference, President Russel M. Nelson shared that "As Latter-day Saints, we refer to His mission as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which made resurrection a reality for all and made eternal life possible for those who repent of their sins and receive and keep essential ordinances and covenants.

It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Under the Father’s great eternal plan, it is the Savior who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bands of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.

There is no amorphous entity called “the Atonement” upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did, according to the Father’s plan, so that we may live with hope in this life and gain eternal life in the world to come. The Savior’s atoning sacrifice—the central act of all human history—is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him."

I love President Nelson's words.  For a large portion of my life I never fully understood how to access this "atonement" that people would often mention.  I now understand that it is not something we can utilize unless we come unto the Savior.  Jesus Christ is the source for all peace and love.  I know he lives.  I know, and believe that He lived, suffered, was crucified, and rose again for us.  All we must do is come unto him.  His hands are outstretched in mercy.  He is calling, "come unto me."  Let us all accept this loving invitation, and Come unto Christ. 

"And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."  Omni 1:26