Atonement: Remission of Sins and then Reconciliation

We have hope through the Atonement of Christ to be raised unto life eternal.

Jesus's atoning sacrifice took place in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary. In Gethsemane He submitted to the will of the Father and began to take upon Himself the sins of all people. He has revealed some of what He experienced as He paid the price for our sins:

“I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

“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—

“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men”

See Atonement of Jesus Christ, Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Scripture References

Isaiah 49:13-16;  53 
Matthew 26;  27;  28 
Mark 14;  15;  16 
Luke 22;  23;  24 
John 10:14-15;  11:25-26;  14:6;  15:13;  19;  20 
1 Corinthians 15:20-22 
Hebrews 4:14-16 
1 John 1:7 
1 Nephi 10:6 
2 Nephi 2:1-10;  9;  25:23-26 
Jacob 4:12 
Mosiah 3:1-19 
Alma 22:14;  34:5-18;  42 
Helaman 5:9-12;  14:13-19 
3 Nephi 9:14-22;  27:13-22 
Mormon 9:10-14 
Ether 12:27, 41 
Moroni 8:5-26;  10:32-33 
Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-12;  19:15-24;  20:17-34;  45:3-5;  76:40-43 
Moses 1:39

Christ's Atonement: Greatest Single Act of Love

The ordeal of the Atonement centered about the city of Jerusalem. There the greatest single act of love of all recorded history took place. Leaving the upper room, Jesus and His friends crossed the deep ravine east of the city and came to a garden of olive trees on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives. There in the garden bearing the Hebrew name of Gethsemane—meaning “oil-press”—olives had been beaten and pressed to provide oil and food. There at Gethsemane, the Lord “suffered the pain of all men, that all … might repent and come unto him.” He took upon Himself the weight of the sins of all mankind, bearing its massive load that caused Him to bleed from every pore. 

^{Atonement, October 1996 General Conference, Elder Russell M. Nelson}

Jesus Christ: Meek and Lowly

As a young missionary, Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931), who later served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, had a dream so powerful that it changed his life forever. He later wrote:

“One night I dreamed … that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony. … I stood behind a tree in the foreground. …Jesus, with Peter, James, and John, came through a little wicket gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, He passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed … : ‘Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt.’

“As He prayed the tears streamed down His face, which was [turned] toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I wept also, out of pure sympathy with His great sorrow. My whole heart went out to Him. I loved Him with all my soul and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else.

“Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling—fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or scolding, asked them if they could not watch with Him one hour. …

“Returning to His place, He prayed again and then went back and found them again sleeping. Again He awoke them, admonished them, and returned and prayed as before. Three times this happened, until I was perfectly familiar with His appearance—face, form, and movements. He was of noble stature and of majestic mien … the very God that He was and is, yet as meek and lowly as a little child.

“All at once the circumstance seemed to change. … Instead of before, it was after the Crucifixion, and the Savior, with those three Apostles, now stood together in a group at my left. They were about to depart and ascend into heaven. I could endure it no longer. I ran from behind the tree, fell at His feet, clasped Him around the knees, and begged Him to take me with Him.

“I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped and raised me up and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real that I felt the very warmth of His bosom against which I rested. Then He said: ‘No, my son; these have finished their work, and they may go with me; but you must stay and finish yours.’ Still I clung to Him. Gazing up into His face—for He was taller than I—I besought Him most earnestly: ‘Well, promise me that I will come to You at the last.’ He smiled sweetly and tenderly and replied: ‘That will depend entirely upon yourself.’ I awoke with a sob in my throat, and it was morning.”

“The Divinity of Jesus Christ,” Improvement Era, Jan. 1926, 224–25; see also Liahona, Dec. 2003, 16; punctuation, capitalization, and spelling standardized.

JESUS CHRIST: SHILOH

Jesus Christ Lift Our Burdens

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh

come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

--Genesis 49:10

Jesus is Shiloh that would come, and He came to fulfill this and many other prophecies pertaining to His coming to the earth to rule and reign and Savior and Redeemer of the world. People would gather unto Him to be healed of their afflictions and to receive from Him guidance and direction. Jesus came and fulfilled His Father’s will by performing the infinite atonement, the perfect atonement, the only atonement that would satisfy the Father’s will and plan the salvation and exaltation of His children.

Jesus suffered in Gethsemane for the sins of all people, suffered death on the cross, and resurrected himself, becoming the firstfruits of them that slept. Because of His resurrection, all will be resurrected to a newness of life to inherit mansions in the heavens predicated upon their lifestyles here in mortality.

CHRIST'S ATONEMENT IS SUPREME

Jesus Christ's Atonement: The Single Most Important Event

President Joseph F. Smith testified: "On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures; and reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world; and the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world; that through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved."

--Doctrine and Covenants 138:1-4

God the Father demonstrated His deepest love for us by sending to us His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins and the sins of the world, to enable us with a resurrection of body and spirit. Jesus’s great atoning sacrifice marked the single most important event to ever occur throughout history. His atonement brought redemption to the world and affects all eternity. His atonement makes salvation possible, for without Christ’s atonement, no one could gain forgiveness of sins and inherit eternal life predicated upon our obedience to gospel principles. Christ’s atonement is supreme.

JESUS CHRIST: REPENTANCE MADE POSSIBLE

Repentance

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.

Book of Mormon Alma 7:13

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He suffered, bled, and died so that He could fulfill the Father’s purpose: working out the infinite atonement for all humankind and all living things. Jesus suffered according to the Father’s will in order for us to receive a remission of our sins and transgressions based upon our faith and repentance. Read a thorough description of Repentance here. REPENTANCE: From the LDS Bible Dictionary, Repentance is defined as followers: The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined. Without this there can be no progress in the things of the soul’s salvation, for all accountable persons are stained by sin and must be cleansed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is not optional for salvation; it is a commandment of God.

Repentance denotes:

1. A change of mind: We are literally in charge of our thinking. We control our thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs. “As a man thinketh, so is he.”
2. A fresh view about God: As we study the holy words of God, ponder, and pray, our views and perceptions about God improve that increases our faith in Him. Faith leads to good works.
3. A fresh view about oneself: The more we learn about God, the better we feel about ourselves, that we are His spirit offspring, His children, and that He loves us and wants the best for us, that which we need.
4. A fresh view about the world: Knowing God and His gospel gives us reasons for living, purposes for being on the earth. Knowing the ‘WHY” of earthlife motivates to action in doing that which is righteous and pleasing to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Our lives become single to the Glory of God.

Jesus is our Master teacher and friend. We sin-He saves. He is our Savior and Redeemer. May we repent and enjoy our mortal experience.

JESUS CHRIST: THE ONLY WAY

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:8-9)

We sing a new song to our Savior, Jesus Christ, expressing our love and devotion, our remembrance of and acknowledgement of Him and His atoning sacrifice for us, that He has redeemed us by the shedding of His blood in Gethsemane and on the cross of Calvary. He suffered, bled, died, and was resurrected for every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. He is the only one with power to perform the perfect atonement. 

If we live righteously, apply the atoning blood of Christ in our lives, and endure faithfully to the end of mortality, we can become kings and priests, queens and priestesses to God our Heavenly Father forever and forever. We can lay our burdens and concerns on Christ, and He will lift us through. We can get through them like the children of Israel went through the Jordan River on dry ground; God the almighty made it possible; otherwise they couldn’t have done by themselves, without His divine assistance. If we have the will, Christ is the way. Look to Him in every thought, deed, motive, and desire, and He will seal us to Him.

JESUS CHRIST: LOOK FOR HIM

Hebrews 9:28

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Learn about the "Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ", here, by Elder LeGrand Richards, Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus, our Brother, suffered excruciating pain and agony in Gethsemane and on the cross for us, for our sins. All we need to do to make Christ’s atonement impact our lives the most is obey his commandments and laws, to acknowledge His hand in all things, and express gratitude. After all is said and done, this is the only way of life for true success now and in the hereafter throughout eternity. All other paths lead to lower levels of achievement and even misery like satan.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Following Christ is the only way to exaltation and eternal life. Look for Christ, prepare for His Second Coming, joyfully anticipate His return to rule and reign for 1000 years, when the ‘government will be upon His shoulders’ (See Isaiah 9:6). No one knows the day or the hour of His return, but it will occur when we least expect it, as a thief in the night. Jesus is chief governor and king of kings. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Go here to see and listen to Elder LeGrand Richards, Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, teach about Christ's Second Coming.

Jesus Christ: Blood of the New Testament

Matthew 26:27-28

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Jesus shed His blood in Gethsemane and on the Cross for the remission of sins. The Cross was Jesus’ altar of sacrifice, for here upon is where Jesus offered and sacrificed His own life by suffering to the end. He never faltered, but He always did the will of His Father. Jesus’ blood represents life, mortal life and eternal life, the most desirable life one could desire, but many don’t know about this life that can be eternal., and eternal life is the greatest of all the gifts that God can offer.

Jesus Christ: Supreme Lovingkindness

Isaiah 63:7-9

7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Jesus, our Redeemer, constantly demonstrated lovingkindness. His  supreme love and kindness came to a summit on two occasions in two places:

(1) While suffering and bleeding from every pore when in Gethsemane

(2) While bleeding and dying when on the cruel Cross

Jesus suffered, bled and died, sacrificing His life for all humankind and all living things. He shed His blood in the perfect atonement so that we might be forgiven of our sins and gain eternal life.

How do we gain access to the Power of the Atonement?

1. Put God first: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”
2. Exercise faith in Christ
3. Repent
4. Be worthily baptized by proper authority
5. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
6. Make and keep sacred covenants in the temple
7. Obey all God’s commandments
8. Be meek and humble
9. Pray 100% perfectly honest prayers
10. Praise the Lord with all our hearts
11. Be perfectly honest and upright at all times
12. Serve others with love
13. Acknowledge God’s hand in all things
14. Always be temple worthy

Jesus is the author and finisher of our salvation through His perfect atonement

Jesus Christ: A Man of Sorrows

Isaiah 53:4

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Jesus, our Redeemer, suffered in the flesh. HE suffered the pain of all. He bore our griefs and sorrows. He experienced and felt all our pain and suffering and guilt. He knows what we are going through in this lifetime. He knows how we feel when we are sick, are disappointed, get hurt, feel inadequate, sin. He experienced all these things in Gethsemane and on the Cross. He was stricken and smitten and afflicted in every possible manner, beyond our comprehension.

Jesus experienced pain, afflictions, and temptations of  every kind. He knows what cancer is like, what heart attacks are like, what brain damage is like, how it feels to be criticized. He experienced all these things and all other possible things we can’t even imagine. He is the Savior and Redeemer. It pleased the Father to bruise Him , to make Him the Savior of the world. He lives and loves everyone.  He died that all might live.

Christ Atoned for Our Sins

Atonement of Jesus Christ

Book of Mormon, Alma 34:8

8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

To atone--to pay for, to reconcile, to make right.
Atonement--payment

Christ came into the world to take upon himself the sins and transgressions of all people, and to atone, to pay for, the sins of the world. According to the justice of the Father, when one sinned, there must be a punishment. In Gethsemane and on the cross, Jesus suffered the punishment  and paid the penalty for everyone’s sins. Our responsibility is to exercise faith in Christ, repent of our sins, and stop sinning.

Life is a constant process of repenting, being forgiven, and striving to cease sinning. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (I Philippians 4:13). By the grace and power of Christ, we can do it.  Grace is divine assistance, heavenly help, divine intervention.

Jesus said, (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19)16 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.

Therefore, come unto Christ and partake of His salvation.

Christ's Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane

Elder James E. Talmage taught: 

Christ’s agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. … He struggled and groaned under a burden such as no other being who has lived on earth might even con-ceive as possible. It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused him to suffer such torture as to produce an ex-trusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of expe-riencing. … In that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, ‘the prince of this world,’ could inflict. … In some manner, actual and terribly real though to man incomprehen-sible, the Savior took upon Him-self the burden of the sins of man-kind from Adam to the end of the world‖ (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 613). 

Christ's Infinite and Eternal Atonement

President Ezra Taft Benson taught:

In Gethsemane and on Calvary, He worked out the infinite and eternal atonement. It was the greatest single act of love in recorded history. Thus He became our Redeemer—redeeming all of us from physical death, and redeeming those of us from spiritual death who will obey the laws and ordinances of the gospel. (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988],14).

Christ in Gethsemane

Several years before Elder Orson F. Whitney was ordained an Apostle, he received a vision of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane. Elder Whitney’s description of his vision: 

―I seemed to be in the Garden of Geth-semane, a witness of the Savior’s ago-ny. I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone. Standing behind a tree in the foreground, I beheld Jesus, with Peter, James and John, as they came through a little … gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, af-ter telling them to kneel and pray, the Son of God passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed. It was the same prayer with which all Bible readers are familiar: ‘Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.’ “As He prayed the tears streamed down his face, which was toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I also wept, out of pure sympathy. My whole heart went out to him; I loved him with all my soul, and longed to be with him as I longed for nothing else. “Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling—fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender re-proach, untinctured by the least show of anger or impatience, asked them plaintively if they could not watch with him one hour. There He was, with the awful weight of the world’s sin upon his shoulders, with the pangs of every man, woman and child shooting through his sensitive soul—and they could not watch with him one poor hour! “Returning to his place, He offered up the same prayer as before; then went back and again found them sleeping. Again he awoke them, readmonished them, and once more returned and prayed. Three times this occurred‖ (Through Memory’s Halls [1930], 82).

The Pains, Afflictions, and Temptations of Jesus

Book of Mormon-Alma 7:11

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.

Jesus suffered pains, afflictions, and temptations of every kind. Jesus said, "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations" (Luke 22:28). Through His atoning sacrifice, He knows what it is like to have cancer, a severe common cold, leukemia, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, toothache, hurt feelings, broken hearts, brain damage, heart attack, depression, stroke, leprosy, and all the other countless diseases that afflict mankind. In Gethsemane, He descended below all things, including the experiencing of every pain and disease and suffering and temptation. He knows what it is like to be tempted by Satan, and there isn’t anything He doesn’t know.

Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection constitute the Atonement. He is The Great Atoner. While hanging on the cross, the pains and sufferings of Gethsemane returned to Him. Yet, He never complained nor murmured against the Father. He accepted His role as The Great Atoner in perfect stride. He never forsook His responsibilities. He atoned out of His infinite love for His Father and all humankind.