Gramps,

I know in my heart that Jesus suffered and died for me. That in the Garden He was pressed in agony for our pains, sins, diseases, sorrows, etc. When did Jesus pay for our sins? In the Garden and again on the cross? How was His suffering different in the two places? When did He partake of the bitter cup, and what was it?

Kelly

Answer

Kelly,

On the eve of his crucifixion, as Roman soldiers arrived to arrest him, Jesus halted Peter’s defensive violence with a simple, soul-stirring question: “Shall I not drink the cup which my Father hath given me?” The “cup” was not a mere metaphor for mortal suffering, but an explicit reference to His divine mission as Redeemer—a sacred covenant to suffer, die, and rise for the salvation of all.

For centuries, Christians of every tradition have pondered the exact nature of Christ’s Atonement—what happened in Gethsemane, on the cross, and at the resurrection. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bring further clarity from both ancient and modern scripture. Yet, misunderstandings persist: Was the Atonement accomplished mainly in the garden? Did any element occur solely on the cross? Or is there a seamless unity in all these events?

To answer, we must reverence the cup: to understand its scriptural roots, its fulfillment in suffering, death, and resurrection, and its redeeming power for all humankind.

The imagery of “the cup” appears throughout scripture as a symbol of destiny—or, more often, of divine appointment to suffering or wrath. The Psalmist, in a messianic prophecy, wrote: “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:13). Isaiah, too, spoke of Jerusalem drinking “the cup of his fury” (Isaiah 51:17), a foreshadowing of redemptive suffering to come.

In the context of Passover—the Jewish feast Christ celebrated at the Last Supper—multiple cups of wine symbolized God’s historic promises. Jesus chose one of these covenant cups to symbolize His imminent sacrifice. “This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins… I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:28–29). The symbol of the cup, then, points to both suffering and redemption: the ordeal Christ would undergo, and the joyous fulfillment of atonement.

The spiritual climax begins in the olive grove called Gethsemane. Here, the “cup” becomes a lived reality. Jesus prays: “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). An angel strengthens Him, yet He is “in an agony… and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Modern scripture, such as Alma 7:11-13 and Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19, testifies that Christ in Gethsemane suffered not only for sin, but for all human pain, affliction, and anguish. Hematohidrosis—a rare medical phenomenon of sweating blood brought on by extreme distress—witnesses the physical and spiritual torment endured by the Savior.

Following Gethsemane, Jesus endures arrest, scourging, mockery, and finally crucifixion. On the cross, He cries out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”—fulfilling the prophesied moment of utter loneliness and spiritual separation from the Father. Thus, Christ experienced not only the physical agony of crucifixion but, as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, the “paralyzing despair of divine withdrawal,” echoing how mankind feels in estrangement from God due to sin.

If suffering and death were all there were, redemption would be incomplete. The Resurrection is the crowning event: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept… For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). In the Book of Mormon, Abinadi testifies, “if Christ had not risen from the dead… there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ” (Mosiah 16:7-9). Thus, the cup includes not only suffering and death, but the triumph of life over death.

In Church doctrine, Christ’s suffering in the Garden is both unique and essential. Here, He took upon Himself not only the penalty for sin but every sorrow, pain, and infirmity ever experienced by mankind. As Alma declared, “he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind… that his bowels may be filled with mercy… that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11-12). Latter-day revelation expands our understanding: “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore… would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18).

Contrary to some assumptions, the Atonement is not limited to Gethsemane alone; the cross is central. President Thomas S. Monson recounted, “He was scourged… carried His own cross until He could go no farther… nailed to a cross… Yet He cried out, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’”

Elder Holland further clarifies that the final agony occurred as the Father briefly withdrew His Spirit, marking the necessity of Christ descending below all things. “For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone.

Though some Latter-day Saint authorities, such as Bruce R. McConkie, have speculated that the “infinite agonies… of Gethsemane recurred” on the cross, Church teachings emphasize that both Gethsemane and Calvary are essential and indivisible elements of the Atonement’s “cup.”

Finally, the Atonement is incomplete without the Resurrection. As Paul taught, “if Christ have not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renew their covenants each week by partaking of the sacrament: symbolic bread and water (or wine in ancient days), remembering Christ’s body and blood. This ordinance was instituted during the Passover meal, with the blessed cup set apart to represent Christ’s atoning blood. “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me,” Paul records (1 Corinthians 11:25-26).

The ritual is not just remembrance; it’s a spiritual recommitment to “always remember Him, and keep His commandments… that they may have His Spirit to be with them.” In reflecting on why Christ himself did not partake of the cup at the Last Supper or during his visit to the Nephites, Latter-day scriptures recall His promise—that He would not drink of the sacramental cup again “until [He] drinks it new with [us] in the Father’s kingdom.”

Each Latter-day Saint teaching on the Atonement testifies to the depth of Christ’s descent: He “descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6). The God Who Weeps, a modern theological work, explains that perhaps Christ’s “identification with human suffering is so complete, that in one fell vision He comprehended the depth and range and terror of all our individual pain.” The Atonement, then, is the ultimate act of love—a voluntary acceptance not only of sin’s penalty but also of every consequence and sorrow, taken upon Himself that we are invited to repentance, healing, and eternal life.

Every scripture, teaching, and ordinance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bears witness that Christ’s “cup” was emptied for us. Let us remember Him, “showing forth the Lord’s death till he come,” and strive to make His Atonement the center of our lives.

Gramps

Gramps,

Can you please explain how the Atonement of Jesus Christ works, especially as one man cannot atone for the sins of another?

Richard

Answer

Richard,

Thank you for this question.  I’m afraid that this is a topic that we may not fully understand in mortality.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie called it:

…the most transcendent event that ever has or ever will occur from Creation’s dawn through all the ages of a never-ending eternity. The Purifying Power of Gethsemane; April 1985 General Conference

So, when we cannot really understand it in a literal sense, we’re given symbolism to help us picture it.  The symbolism that we are often given to begin to have an understanding of such power is that of ransom.

When we sin, we are imprisoned by the consequences of sin.  The stain of sin makes us unclean and unable to dwell with our Father in Heaven.  We now belong to the powers of hell.  And we cannot pay for such sins on our own, no matter how small our sins or how great our desire to repent.

A ransom means that we’ve been taken captive.  We cannot pay a ransom while in captivity.  So, someone else who is not kept captive must intervene on our behalf, to save us from that imprisonment.

It was Jesus who gave us the ability to wash our garments in His blood.

And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.  (3 Nephi 27:19)

This was what Jesus did in Gethsemane and on the cross.  In the garden, he was visited by an angel.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  (Luke 22:43)

We suppose that it was the Archangel, Michael (Adam) who appeared to Him in the Garden of Gethsemane to further strengthen Him.

If I were a fly on a tree or rock in that garden, I might see them embracing each other and looking into each other’s eyes with profound meaning and purpose.  They’d come full circle.  Two beings are inextricably intertwined throughout the Plan of Salvation.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25)

I imagine Michael offering his final words, “Hey, you got this!” as he sheds a tear, being compelled to leave the Savior to be completely and utterly alone.

Because Christ was completely without sin, He was able to pay a price to purchase us from hell.  He alone was completely free from the powers of hell.  That payment was His suffering and death.  After the Atonement, we rightfully belong to the Christ.  At this point, all of us have a choice to accept Christ’s Atonement or remain in hell (Sons of Perdition).  If we accept His grace, we are enabled to withstand the glory of the Telestial Kingdom.

Because Christ paid the ransom, and we are under His rule and government.  He sets the rules according to Eternal principles.  Once we are freed from hell, and as Jesus has the right to our judgment, He provides us the potential to progress further in this life and the life to come.  We have the potential to obtain either the Terrestrial or Celestial Kingdoms according to the light and knowledge we are willing to accept and obey.

If we are willing and able to abide by those eternal principles, we will progress as far as our choices can take us through this mortal probation.  And in the end, we are subject to the judgment of He who ransomed us — Jesus the Christ.

I bear testimony of His divinity and His matchless power.  And I am grateful to know that we are in His power forever.

 Gramps

Gramps,

Can one state accurately that there is anything or any judgment that is “final” when we are taught the doctrine of an “infinite” atonement in the temple and scripture and by modern revelation? Infinite literally must encompass all past, present, and future eventualities, and thus allow for repentance Infinitely, by any who desires to utilize it infinitely, and thereby can we ever state that progression from one kingdom to another is not possible without denying the infinite atonement?

Casey

Answer

Casey,

The answer to your question is yes, although I can understand why you might suggest this. We can state there is a final judgment (as taught in scripture), while also teaching the Atonement of Jesus Christ is an infinite atonement. This also is consistent with the teaching that there is no progress from one Kingdom into another Kingdom (otherwise, let us all enjoy “deathbed” repentance or even no repentance — forsake God — eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die and God will just beat us with a few stripes (repentance later), “I’m sorry now, but I had a lot of fun sinning ignoring your commandments in this life!”).

There are a few scriptures that show a “final” or some type of final judgment the Lord himself can make, which the Father would make as they are one. Let’s review these verses of scripture Doctrine and Covenants 131:4:

He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

If we are unable to have “increase” are we then able to “progress” from one state/body to another?

Let’s look at the next scripture verse Doctrine and Covenants 64:10:

I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

The scripture teaches the Lord will forgive whom he will forgive, even with an infinite atonement.

Let’s look at this verse of scripture also Doctrine and Covenant 45:3-5:

3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—

 

4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

 

5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

This scripture clearly shows the Lord pleading to the Father on behalf of his atonement (his blood, his suffering, and being without sin) to those who repented during their second estate. He says unto these, those who kept their second estate, that they may come unto him and have everlasting life. Those who did not accept and receive him will not be able to enjoy coming unto him and have eternal life.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is an infinite atonement for those who loved the Lord in this life. It will cover all their past, present, and future sins. We are taught that perfection through Christ will continue into the eternities. For those who choose not to accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ then the ends of the law will take its accounting.

President Oaks these past two General Conferences highlight this:

The Teachings of Jesus Christ

Kingdoms of Glory

If what you are specifying is true, then these verses of scripture and the whole concept of this is the time to repent and prepare to meet God becomes obsolete. 2 Nephi 28:7-8 and Alma 34:32:

7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

 

8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

Next verse:

32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

Gramps

Gramps,

I teach Gospel Principles. I was teaching on the atonement, and this convert had a really big problem with the concept of everyone receiving a body in the resurrection. She thought it was not fair that mean nasty people, murderers etc. got a body too. She doesn’t understand why we don’t believe that there is only a Heaven and Hell like other religions. She thinks that bad people should be punished really bad. When she has a struggle, it is hard for her and she tries to be nice, and she doesn’t think bad people should get a body like good people do. Could you please explain what I could tell her?

Christie

Answer

Dear Christie,

Before the resurrection of the Savior, nothing like that had ever been done before. There were two aspects to the results of the Savior’s great sacrifice. First, He suffered an infinite suffering.

In the words of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, former member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles —

“Several scriptures describe the essence of that glorious and rescuing Atonement, including a breathtaking, autobiographical verse confiding Mercifully, He did not shrink but finished [His] preparations unto the children of men” (D&C 19:19). (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Plow in Hope, Ensign (CR), May 2001, p.59)

Second, so great was the power of His resurrection that it resulted in the resurrection of, not men only, but every thing!— and not just the things on this earth, but throughout all the universe! The inhabitants of other planets know about us, because their Savior was born here, and here He worked out the great universal atonement. We read from D&C 38:11-12—

For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven–Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained.

In the words of Bruce R. McConkie —

“Many among us have no difficulty envisioning that the Atonement is infinite and eternal and applies to all forms of life. They know that the revelations say in so many words that all forms of life both lived as spirit entities and will be resurrected-animals, fowls, fishes, all things are eternal in nature.
But some among us have not yet had it dawn upon them that all things fell and became mortal so they could be resurrected. The early Brethren of our dispensation wrote these words: “The word atonement signifies deliverance, through the offering of a ransom, from the penalty of a broken law …. As effected by Jesus Christ, it signifies the deliverance, through his death and resurrection, of the earth, and everything pertaining to it, from the power which death has obtained over them through the transgression of Adam …. Redemption from death, through the sufferings of Christ, is for all men, both the righteous and the wicked; for this earth, and for all things created upon it.” (Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie , p.195-196)

That is why wicked men are resurrected. But the resurrection of the wicked will not be a blessing to them. As we read the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 3:25—

And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls.

So your friend need not worry that the wicked are getting away with anything because they are resurrected, or that by their resurrection they are escaping a just punishment. Their punishment with a physical body will be much, much greater than if they did not have one.

Now the reason that we do not believe that there is only a heaven and a hell like the other religions believe, is simply that it is not true. The other religions are in error on this point, as their belief is in direct contradiction to the scriptures, both ancient and modern. In John 14:1-3—

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

 

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I wonder how the sectarian world view this scripture? Perhaps they think that in that one heaven there are many mansions, and that the more luxurious ones are given to the more righteous people. If that is their belief, how do the rationalize the scripture found in 1 Cor 15:39-44?

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

 

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

 

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.

This scripture is rendered more accurately, and with less confusion, in the Joseph Smith translation of the Bible, as—

40 Also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, and bodies telestial; but the glory of the celestial, one; and the terrestrial, another; and the telestial, another, where verse 40 cites all three of the kingdoms of glory, the celestial, the terrestrial and the telestial, accurately comparing them to the glories, or brightness, of the sun, moon and stars. In modern day scripture, Doctrine and Covenants, section 76, the Lord presents a detailed description of those who will inhabit each of these three degrees of glory in the eternities.

If your friend can be influenced by the Holy Spirit, when she reads them she will understand them and know that they are true. If that is not the case, your trying to convince her will do little good, for—

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, except he has the Spirit of God (JST 1 Cor 2:11).

Gramps

Gramps,

If Jesus Christ was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane and was immediately taken into custody, how do you think we have a record of his exact words?

Chantelle

 Answer

Dear Chantelle,

Jesus brought three witnesses with him to the Garden of Gethsemane: Peter, James, and John. John is the source of his own gospel, where the garden account is sacredly shrouded. All he has to say on it is “he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples” (John 18:1). Peter’s account is captured by his mission companion, Mark, and was probably the source Matthew relied on for his gospel. In this account, the chosen apostles hear three prayers given by their Master. This record, however, is imperfect, as it confesses that the witnesses slept through much of what there transpired (Mark 14:33-42).

Luke approached his gospel as something of a historian. He gathered as many eyewitness accounts as he could and differs slightly from the other synoptists. He doesn’t single out the chosen apostles, but does note that Jesus is about “a stone’s cast” from the observers. Luke also adds the visit of the angel strengthening the Mediator, and His sweat of blood (Luke 22:39-46). In interviewing the apostles,  Luke may have interviewed Peter, James, and John and gotten these additional details from them. Or, given how central the Atonement was to Christ’s mission and how essential it is for all His creation, the events of the garden may have been revealed during the 40 day ministry (the period after the Resurrection when gave His disciples special instruction). John (an eyewitness for both the atonement and the 40 day ministry), Matthew (as an apostle present during the ministry and associate of the 3 eyewitnesses), and Mark (companion to Peter – eyewitness of both events, and probably an attendant of the ministry) should have each had access to this same information if this was indeed Luke’s source. It’s possible that for whatever reason the witnesses felt that such knowledge should not be written (though it could be shared orally with true believers) while Luke disagreed. Or it could also be that Luke’s account came late in the synoptic game and he was directed to include this information so it wouldn’t be lost.

Orson F. Whitney provides another possible source for learning the events in that sacred garden. Bryant Hinckley, in “The Faith of Our Pioneer Fathers” cites a dream that Elder Whitney had of this singular experience.

“I seemed to be in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony. I saw Him as plainly as ever I have seen anyone,” he relates. He describes the prayers the same as the synoptists. “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.” Following each prayer, the Savior returned and awoke the sleeping apostles. “Three times this occurred, until I was perfectly familiar with His appearance– face, form and movements. He was of noble stature and majestic mien” (pages 211-213).

Elder Whitney’s account adds the detail of our Lord’s tears and a fence (meaning it was a private garden), but there’s so much more in this retelling. The key here, especially as it relates to your question, is that a generous Father in Heaven is willing to share the knowledge of these events to those who will seek.

Gramps

Dear Gramps,

We are told that the Savior suffered beyond all human endurance and pain when he performed the Atonement for all mankind. How is it that he wasn’t mentally and emotionally traumatized by the experience?

Rob

Answer

Rob,

As we ponder our Lord’s atonement, i.e., the mental, the emotional, and the physical trauma he experienced for all of us, I am deeply humbled by his love for us and His Father.

In light of your question my heart ponders two necessary elements which help us understand why he was able to overcome without being traumatized by the events leading up to his crucifixion.

The first, he was the only begotten of the Father – He was God. The second, he completely understood the principle “to act for themselves and not to be acted upon.”

Not only do our modern day apostles draw attention to Christ being God, but the Lord Himself declared, “Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all…to suffer both body and spirit” (emphasis added).

To further illustrate this doctrine Elder Talmage in his sermon “Jesus the Christ” he wrote,

“Christ’s agony in the garden is unfathomable by the finite mind, both as to intensity and cause. … It was not physical pain, nor mental anguish alone, that caused Him to suffer such torture as to produce an extrusion of blood from every pore; but a spiritual agony of soul such as only God was capable of experiencing. No other man, however great his powers of physical or mental endurance, could have suffered so; for his human organism would have succumbed, and syncope would have produced unconsciousness and welcome oblivion” (Jesus the Christ ch 33).

In scripture, due to the fall of Adam and Eve we are taught (bringing us to the other point) that, “[we] have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon.” (2 Nephi 2:26)

Elder David A. Bednar, shares a quote from Viktor Frankle, a World War II concentration camp survivor, to deepen our understanding that man are free to act for themselves and not to be acted upon. He shares, “The experience of camp life show that man does have a choice of action…Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress.”

Viktor Frankl further shares,

“Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him — mentally and spiritually…. The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, give him ample opportunity — even in the most difficult circumstances — to add a deeper meaning to life.” (Man’s Search for Meaning, pg. 65-67).

As I conclude my response, I would assume the reason why our Savior was not emotionally or spiritually traumatized is because he is God, and he inevitably chose to act for himself and not to be acted upon. I am reminded of the words of William Earnest Henley from his poem “Invictus” who wrote, “Under the bludgeonings of chance. My head is bloody, but unbowed.” I have always loved the words, “but unbowed”! Our Lord’s head was bloody…but surely it was unbowed!

Gramps

Gramps,

I have multiple friends that have made serious mistakes, changed their lives around, gone through the repentance process, and through doing so have grown extremely close to the Savior. They have an incredibly deep, strong, and personal testimony of His Atonement and sacrifice. I haven’t committed any major transgressions. I want to know what they know, feel what they feel, and have that relationship with my Savior. How can I do this without having to go through some drastic repentance process?

Blake

Answer

Dear Blake,

This is a great question.  I have thought that the main difference between the Nephites and the converted Lamanites was this very thing – an understanding of the Atonement.  As you know, the Nephites went through cycles of righteousness and wickedness, mostly due to pride.  What is the antidote to pride?  True conversion.  The Lamanites, on the other hand, once they were converted they remained solid in their testimony of Christ; the Anti-Nephi-Lehies even sealed their testimonies with their lives.  They knew the importance of the atonement.

You can gain this kind of conversion without committing major sin, so I’m glad you asked.  First, realize that even though you have not committed any sins that require the help of your Bishop to resolve, you have committed sin, and as such you are unclean and need the Atonement in your life.  Second, take your desire to the Lord.  Pour out your heart to God, and let Him know of your desire to have this conversion (testimony of the Atonement).  Then ask Him, “What lack I yet?”  There may be something you need to work on first.  The Holy Ghost will tell you.  If you don’t receive an answer right way, keep asking. Fast if you need to.  Then follow the counsel of the Holy Ghost.  When you have completed that, or have a good start on a path that takes a life time (like overcoming pride), then ask the Lord again “What lack I yet?”  And follow the answer that you are given.  This is part of your preparation for conversion.

The other step is to study the Atonement.  Read everything you can find about it.  Start with the scriptures, then read everything you can find on LDS.org.  When you are ready, ask the Lord what He would like you to understand about the Atonement.

This is how the process worked for me, and I believe these steps will work for you as well.  I have a couple suggestions to get you started:

“What Lack I Yet?” by Elder Larry R. Lawrence  He says, in part,

“The atoning sacrifice of the Savior is what makes perfection or sanctification possible. We could never do it on our own, but God’s grace is sufficient to help us. As Elder David A. Bednar once observed: “Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better. I would like to suggest that each of you participate in a spiritual exercise sometime soon, perhaps even tonight while saying your prayers. Humbly ask the Lord the following question: “What is keeping me from progressing?” In other words: “What lack I yet?” Then wait quietly for a response. If you are sincere, the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you.”

“Ye Must Be Born Again” by Elder David A. Bednar is a wonderful answer to your question.  Study it!

“The Lord’s authorized servants repeatedly teach that one of the principal purposes of our mortal existence is to be spiritually changed and transformed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

While there are many, many great talks on the Atonement, conversion and being born again, I will only suggest one more (I’ll leave the discovery of the others to you.)  This is my favorite:

“The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality“ by Elder David A. Bednar:

“Thus the journey of a lifetime is to progress from bad to good to better and to experience the mighty change of heart—and to have our fallen natures changed.

 

May I suggest that the Book of Mormon is our handbook of instructions as we travel the pathway from bad to good to better and to have our hearts changed. If you have your scriptures with you this morning, please turn with me to Mosiah 3:19. In this verse King Benjamin teaches about the journey of mortality and about the role of the Atonement in successfully navigating that journey: “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” (emphasis added).”

This is a wonderful goal that you have set, Blake.  I’m sure the Lord is pleased with your desire.  Don’t give up, and you will accomplish your goal.

Gramps

Hi Gramps

I know the Atonement is infinite and allows our Saviour to succour because he descended below all things and suffered all, but how can he truly understand what it feels like to carry a child and have a miscarriage/stillborn??

Kayilz

Answer

Kayilz,

I hear some pain in your question.  So I offer my sympathies.  I also suggest this is something that you can only gain a testimony of through much fasting, prayer, and pondering.

You say you know the Atonement is infinite. You say you know that Christ descended below all things and suffered all.  This is true.  He did. But when you read these words in scriptures, do you feel the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pains he felt?  Can we mortals comprehend infinity, much less the suffering of the Atonement?

“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 –”  D&C 19:18

As I read this verse, I think I feel the Spirit impress upon me that such suffering was still remembered by the Lord as he spoke these words to the Prophet Joseph.  What inestimable suffering indeed to cause him, the greatest of all, to be pained at the memory!  How easily we mortals dismiss this suffering.  But we do.  Perhaps it is partly because we simply cannot comprehend it.

Perhaps another facet of his suffering may be easier to comprehend.  The Book of Mormon also tells us that he suffered all that we mortals suffer.

“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…”  Mosiah 3:7

“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… that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities ”  Alma 7:11-12

This does not refer to one or two days alone (Gethsemane and Golgotha).  He suffered throughout his entire life.  Yet he bore it all without complaint.  For his eye was single to the Glory of the Father.  His heart was filled with Charity for each one of us, including you.

In addition to his own suffering, he had another power that is often overlooked.  That is complete and Godly empathy.

“…there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart…”  D&C 6:16

 

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest (Jesus the Son of God).

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  Hebrews 4:14-15

The double negative makes it easy to misread that.  But the epistle tells us that Jesus is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

Reading John 11:35 “Jesus Wept” have you ever wondered why he cried?  Mary was mourning over the death of Lazarus.  He was more than dead.  His body was clearly rotting by this time.  And Mary even believed that had Jesus only arrived earlier, he could have been healed.  How easily we mortals tend to place limits on God’s power.

Jesus knew that he, himself, was about to raise Lazarus from the dead.  So, why was Jesus so saddened that he, the greatest of all, wept?  It was because he had Godly empathy for the grief that Lazarus’ loved ones had, particularly Mary.  In addition to all the other scriptural evidence which describes how much Jesus suffered all manner of afflictions, this one, simple, and least of all verses demonstrates his overwhelming power of empathy for all which we mere mortals suffer and feel both body and spirit.  How easily we mortals place limits on his love and empathy.

I testify to you, Kayilz, that he has the power to know exactly what you are feeling and to know exactly the experience you’ve had.  I testify that he alone has the ability to succor you in your infirmities — even those which are uniquely feminine such as miscarriage and stillbirth.

Gramps

Gramps,

I was reading your answer to this question:  Does the Atonement of Jesus Christ apply to all people on all worlds or to just those on this earth?

And that got me to thinking, why did Christ come to THIS earth (emphasis on the ‘this’) to perform the atonement as opposed to another world?  People in other worlds have to have faith that Christ came thousands of years ago, on a different planet, in a different galaxy, to atone for their sins. So why did he choose THIS world?

Thanks,
Brock

Answer

Brock,

I am certain that a great many people have wondered this, myself among them. Unfortunately for our curiosity, the Lord has not revealed the answer. On the contrary, we learn from Moses 1 that the Lord intends to reveal to his servants only the most basic information about other worlds, and details about this world only (emphasis mine):

31 And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face. And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things. Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.

…

33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten.

…

35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.

…

40 And now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest; and thou shalt write the things which I shall speak.

From these verses, two things are quite apparent:

First, God’s creations are innumerable to man. From this we can conclude that if God attempted to reveal even a little about each of them to us, we’d need a larger planet to record all that knowledge and much longer lives to learn it all. And I think it’s safe to assume that we don’t actually need this knowledge in order to attain salvation – for God would not withhold from us anything necessary to our salvation.

Second, God’s intent is to reveal things about this earth on which we live. This knowledge is the most important knowledge for us, so that we can understand the Plan of Salvation and how to return to God. Knowledge of other things remains with God and is not for us, at least not at this time.

In the article you reference, I mentioned that the Savior descended below all things (D&C 88:6, D&C 122:8), and that in Moses 7:36, the Lord tells Enoch, “…and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren.” This hints that it may have been necessary for Christ to come to this world in order to accomplish his mission, part of which was to descend below all things. That’s just speculation, and you shouldn’t treat it as revealed fact or even probable – it’s just as a possibility.

While it’s sometimes interesting to study and ponder these things, I recommend you not expend too much effort on things the Lord has chosen not to reveal. One day, if we are worthy, we will learn all. In the meantime, focus on what the Lord has revealed, and do your best to act on your faith in him, so that one day, you’ll be worthy of the exaltation he offers us.

Gramps

Gramps,

Did Christ’s atonement cover the sin of murder?

Ann

Answer

Hi Gramps

I have a million questions in my head right now regarding the atonement and the fall.  I’m trying to understand why any was necessary? So Adam ate the fruit, and we make mistakes, but why did the Savior have to atone for all that? Why can’t we do it ourselves? And why can’t Heavenly Father just wipe us clean at the end and let us back home again? If one of my children were hurt, dirty and sad, I’d give them a bath, a plaster and a hug. I wouldn’t get someone else to do it.

Jeni

Answer

Dear Jeni,

Thanks for your thoughtful question. My answer will be two-fold. First an explanation that I hope will be helpful, and second a personal experience and admonition.

Metaphorically, I think of it the atonement as “currency.” If you need to repay a debt, you need to repay it in the legal tender that is accepted by your creditor. If the debt is owed in dollars, it won’t be acceptable to the creditor to pay it back in Euros unless some alternate arrangement is made.

In the case of paying for our sins, we have no currency that is valid in heaven. We could give everything we have and it is not sufficient to pay the debt we owe for our sins. The penalty for defaulting on our debt is physical death and eternal separation from God.

Because Jesus had no sins of his own, he could offer his own life as payment for each of us. Only his life–the life of a perfect, sinless soul–was acceptable currency. Only Jesus could pay the debt. Only he could resurrect his own body and break the bands of physical death. Only he could rise and enter back into God’s presence without need of a Redeemer. He is the only one of us who had never incurred any debt in terms of obedience to the commandments. He was perfectly obedient in all things.

The less intuitive part comes in how the scales of justice require the payment for transgression of divine law. We don’t understand how that works, but that is somehow a factor. God is just. If he were not, he would cease to be God. To be totally just, a punishment must always be affixed to sin. The atonement balances the books. It makes things right in eternity somehow. We talk of “karma” sometimes, but I think it’s based on a true principle. What goes around, comes around. Unless something is done with the negative consequences of sin, they remain until they are expunged by an an infinite and eternal sacrifice. That’s exactly what Jesus did for us.

Second, my experience and admonition. Once years ago, in answer to a prayer, the Spirit directed me to learn about the Atonement. I thought this was odd since I had been learning about the Atonement since Primary, and had taught the principle both on my mission and in other callings. But I tried. I looked up all the scriptures I could find on it. The Book of Mormon does as good a job of explaining it as anything can. I read talks from the Ensign, and some materials by others. At the end of my study I was perplexed. I didn’t feel like I had really learned anything new.

So I went back to my knees and I explained all this to Heavenly Father, then I said, “What would Thou have me understand about the Atonement?” Then the Spirit taught me and it was life-changing. My admonition to you is to do the same thing. Search out everything you can about the Atonement. Asking me is a good start, but don’t stop there. Read everything you can find, ask people you respect and then after you have done everything you can, pray about it and ask Heavenly Father to teach you what HE wants you to know. You won’t regret it.

Gramps

We hear wonderful things about the atonement.  But do we know what it’s like should we have to pay for our own sins?

Sugar

Dear Sugar,

The greatest gift we have been given is the Atoning sacrifice which our Lord and Savior freely gave to everyone who comes to this earth.  In order to take advantage of His Atoning sacrifice we must repent of our sins and turn our lives to the Lord.  Though this gift is free and for everyone, not all have or will partake of this opportunity.  Men have created many stumbling blocks that prevent them from repenting of their sins and living their lives in harmony with the teachings of the Savior.  The greatest of these is pride.  Many will not humble themselves, repent of their evil ways and seek true forgiveness.  They do not acknowledge their dependence on the Lord, but feel they are fully capable of taking care of themselves.

One of the steps of repentance is for us to show remorse for the sins that we have committed.  There is great mental anguish knowing we have not kept our lives in accordance with the teachings of the Savior.  In some cases there  are also physical sufferings associated with our sins.   Violations of God’s health laws may cause us to suffer both body and soul.  Violations of the law of chastity brings both mental and physical suffering as well.

How much greater would these sufferings be if the Savior did not Atone for our sins?  The Lord revealed this to Joseph Smith in D&C 19, where He states:  “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—.”  It is impossible for us to imagine the suffering and anguish He went through, nor what we would have to go through if we do not truly repent.

King Benjamin speaks of the suffering of those who do not repent and follow the teachings of the Savior.   This is recorded in Mosiah 3:  “24 And thus saith the Lord:  They(His words) shall stand as a bright testimony against this people, at the judgment day; whereof they shall be judged, every man according to his works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil.  25 And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return; therefore they have drunk damnation to their own souls. 26 Therefore, they have drunk out of the cup of the wrath of God, which justice could no more deny unto them than it could deny that Adam should fall because of his partaking of the forbidden fruit; therefore, mercy could have claim on them no more forever. 27 And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever.”

It is important that each of us repent of those things we have done that are in violation of God’s laws.  In this way we will not have to suffer as the Savior did nor suffer as those who do not repent and turn their lives to the Savior.

Gramps II