Atonement

Atonement:

#1. “No matter what our transgressions have been, no matter how much our actions may have hurt others, that guilt can all be wiped out” (Elder Packer-The Atonement)

Knowing what my Savior did for me so that I may be forgiven for my sins heals any guilt that I am ever overcome with. It's not easy to admit when you need the help of another to heal your broken heart, but there is no better "medicine" than to humbly come to God and ask to use the Atonement to fix the painful feelings of guilt. God wants to forgive us, Christ desires that we recognize all that He did for us, for when we do these things, joy and peace is restored to our souls. 

 #2. “If you will turn away from sin, you will be able one day to know the peace that comes from following the pathway of complete repentance.” ( Elder Packer-The Atonement)

Sin leaves marks on our spirit; even repented sins leaves damage to our soul. The Atonement heals and dismisses sins that we repent of, but it is better to go without sinning so as to not hinder our spiritual progression. With choosing righteousness you are better able to see the tender mercies of God 

and peace is found in moments of tribulation. By trying our hardest to go without sin, to turn away from all temptations, we will be blessed with the moment of looking back and gaining an understanding that God's way is the way of happiness.  

#3. “The scriptures clearly state that He yielded Himself to scourging, humiliation, suffering, and finally crucifixion because of His great love towards the children of men.” ( Elder Ballard-The Atonement and The Value of One Soul)

The Savior willingly gave His life, handed himself over to the wolves who desired to tear Him apart, because of His unyielding love for every soul, for He knew His sacrifice would save us all. He went through the lowest of lows that any person has ever gone through on this earth all with the perfect example and knowledge of unceasing faith that it was for the sake of all man-kind. His Atonement was by no means any small matter. 

#4. “The gift of resurrection and immortality is given freely through the loving grace of Jesus Christ to all people of all ages, regardless of their good or evil acts.” (Elder Ballard-The Atonement and The Value of One Soul)

The Atonement was performed for everyone with the hope that everyone will use it to receive forgiveness of their sins. When repentance is sought and forgiveness is given, we are blessed even more with the gift of resurrection and immortality. His blessings are endless and come in such great measure that we cannot even begin to comprehend, all that he asks of us is for us to humbly come to Him in need of His grace and with the promise to do our best to always follow His commandments. 

#5. The irony of the Atonement is that it is infinite and eternal, yet it is applied individually, one person at a time. (Elder Ballard-The Atonement and The Value of One Soul)

I had never thought of the irony of the Atonement before. The Atonement was performed for every individual and is infinite and eternal, but it is not a sweeping single layer of grace that effects everyone the same. Each person must come to know of its powers of healing individually and we must accept the help that it gives us and we must submit it all to the will of God. He wants us to exercise our agency and learn all that we can come to know of Him and His love.

#6. “the Savior’s Atonement lifts from us not only the burden of our sins but also the burden of our disappointments and sorrows, our heartaches and our despair.” (Elder Holland-Broken Things to Mend)

Sin is not only an action to be done, but also an emotion to be felt. Each of us is born with the light of Christ in us so that we may know good from evil; this is so we can have the capability to recognize and understand the ways of our Heavenly Father. With it though comes a guilt and broken heart when we choose to do wrong. The Savior's Atonement not only dismisses the action, but heals the emotion. It isn't always easy to allow His love back into our hearts, but when we do, I personally know that it brings back hope and faith where there was once fear and sadness. 

#7. “only through repentance do we gain access to the atoning grace of Jesus Christ and salvation.” (The Divine Gift of Repentance-Elder Christofferson)

Repentance is the key to unlocking the grace of God. It is never easy to come unto Him, knowing that you shouldn't deserve His mercy, but praying in faith that He will grant you forgiveness. The most wonderful thing is that He always does. It is up to us to act. We have the agency to choose to sin, but with it comes the granted agency to ask for forgiveness as well. With repentance being the path to forgiveness, truth and light, I see good in every reason for us to make that choice of asking to gain access to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

#8. “ Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence and peace.” (The Divine Gift of Repentance- Elder Christofferson)

I think many find the connotation of the word "repentance" to be sad and troublesome, when instead it should be testified with great happiness. We have the chance to start anew, to feel the true love of God and peace in our souls. Repentance sets us on the path of light and it does grant us freedom from our troubles. Repentance is something to be grateful for and something we should each gain a personal testimony in.

#9. "the Savior and His Atonement could produce a perfect brightness of hope." (Help Them Aim High-Henry B. Eyring )

The Atonement brings light and purpose back into our lives when we are stuck in sadness and despair. The Savior provides the perfect example of obedience and happiness. Together, the Savior, our redeemer from sin, and the Atonement, the process by which we can be saved, provides a complete and perfect brightness of hope.

#10. "Our salvation depends on believing in and accepting the Atonement. Such acceptance requires a continual effort to understand it more fully." (The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope-James E. Faust)

This is know to be true. This gospel is centered around the Atonement for it affects every single one of our lives in every single way. It it not simply an acknowledgement that it happened that will save us, but continuously studying its depth and applying what we learned to our daily lives. To believe and accept the Atonement means to always strive for better understanding in order to increase our testimony. There is endless personal revelation and understanding that comes from the Atonement since it is all encompassing and applies to each of us so individually.