Abstract
This portfolio meets the standards of a “guided project” on the S&I website. The purpose
for this project was to increase understanding and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. By
doing this, I hope to teach about the Savior’s Atonement more effectively and with more passion
and understanding than I’ve been able to before. To help accomplish this I studied the scriptures,
books, recent conference addresses on the Atonement and I wrote my thoughts and feelings in a
study journal along the way.
I studied many addresses from General Authorities on the Atonement. I also read “The
Infinite Atonement” by Tad R. Callister and recorded in my journal insights I gained as I read. I
spent hours studying the Atonement in the Standard Works and produced a list of what I feel are
the 12 most important verses or passages on this doctrine. Finally, I compiled a list of books,
talks and quotes that focus on the Atonement that will be a work in progress.
My conclusion can be stated simply: the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important
event to happen in the history of not only this earth, but the universe. It provides a way for
mankind to overcome physical and spiritual death and return to the presence of God one day.
And I feel it is the responsibility of every Latter-day Saint (and every person on the planet) to
learn as much as possible through prayer, studying, pondering and through the Holy Ghost about
the Savior’s infinite sacrifice and how we can better be able to apply it in our lives.
1
Table of Contents
Literature Review………………………...………………………………………………………..3
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..………4
12 Important Atonement scriptures……………………………………………………………….5
Samples of Notes, Thoughts, and Feelings (Journal)……………..……………………………..11
List of Books, Articles, Quotes on the Atonement………………………………………………26
Distillation on the Atonement……………………………………………………………………32
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….34
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………..36
2
Literature Review
This is a guided project approved by the Central Office. There is no formal Literature
Review required.
3
Introduction
The Objective of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion states, “Our purpose is to help
youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ,
qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and other for
eternal life with their Father in Heaven” (emphasis added). I believe that the most important
doctrine a teacher can study is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. By completing this portfolio, I'll
be able to share what I've learned with not only my students each day in class, but also with my
colleagues in faculty in-service and in other settings. The more knowledge and testimony I can
gain in this area, the more effective instrument I can be in the hands of the Lord. In the
Foreword in Tad R. Callister’s book “The Infinite Atonement,” Robert L. Millett commented,
“Some things simply matter more than others. Even some doctrines, though interesting and even
fun to discuss, must take a back seat to more fundamental and foundational doctrines. It is just
so with the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement is the central act of human history, the
pivotal point in all time, the doctrine of doctrines. Everything we do and everything we teach
should somehow be anchored to the Atonement.”
I believe this project will be a benefit to my students as well, now and in the future. As I
study the Atonement of Jesus Christ and increase my understanding, I'll be able to more
effectively teach it to the youth. As I learn more about the Savior's sacrifice and internalize what
He really did for me personally, it will become more a part of me and I'll be able to teach and
testify more powerfully by the power of the Holy Ghost.
4
12 Most Important Atonement References
1. Alma 7:11-13= These are the scripture mastery verses we have been studying in class and
I LOVE them. A little while ago in class a student said, “I hear the word Atonement all the time
at church and I don’t even know what that means.” I don’t know if there are many verses that
describe EXACTLY what the Savior did for us better than these verses in Alma. I really believe
it opens the eyes of the students to see that the Atonement is not only for our sins, but for
everything we will ever experience in mortality. This way He can truly succor us. It is powerful
to know that Christ has suffered everything so that we can turn to Him in our times of need. We
really can’t ever say “nobody knows how I feel” because there is always One who does.
2. Mosiah 3:7= to me these verses are a perfect summary of not only the Atonement but also
of the roles of the Savior. He is the Son of God, our father spiritually, the Creator, and the
Redeemer of the world. Just like Alma 7:11-13, we learn more detail about exactly what the
Savior suffered through in our behalf. This is also one of the few places where we learn He bled
from every pore. After considering all these things, it is amazing to think about what verse 9
says: “…and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil…”
Of all the things that could be mentioned at the end of these two great verses I think it’s
interesting that His mother is mentioned: “and his mother shall be called Mary.” I think of how
I feel about my little children and it’s hard to comprehend the feelings Mary must have had as
her Son suffered and then sacrificed His life for mankind.
3. Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19= These verses are incredible to me because I believe
it’s the only place we have recorded where Jesus Christ describes His Atonement and suffering
in his own words. We learn powerful insights about the effect the pain had on Him, causing him
to literally tremble and suffer not only physically but spiritually. These verses give great hope to
5
those who are penitent, along with severe consequences for those who won’t repent. It’s
humbling to hear the Savior say Himself that He wanted to quit and not drink the bitter cup.
Verse 19 gives us the perfect example of turning our lives over to the will of Heavenly Father
and doing exactly what He wants us to do, rather than following the desires of our own hearts.
4. Luke 22:42= “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” In my opinion, this is the
the greatest motto a person on this earth could have. As with everything else, the Lord was the
perfect example of total submission to the will of the Father. I have so many opinions, feelings
and desires that guide my life, and it’s often hard to set these aside and put the will of God first.
The true test is to put God first, and like President Benson once said, everything else will either
fall into place or fall out of our lives. The Savior asked the Father if the cup could be taken
away, but He knew what He needed to do, and He did it for us.
5. Luke 22:44= It is humbling to ponder that some of the drops of blood that He spilled
were for me. The phrase “and he sweat as it were great drops of blood” really stands out to me
in this verse. I’m thinking of the sweat that comes after playing a morning of basketball or
running a race. It’s impossible to understand how He did what He did for us. I was curious what
the definition of “agony” was, and one of the definitions according to dictionary.com was,
“extreme and generally prolonged pain; intense physical or mental suffering.” That is exactly
what is described in so many of these verses of scripture.
6. Isaiah 53:3-5= I think these verses from Isaiah are the most beautiful description of the
Atonement. Isaiah summarizes everything Christ took upon Himself: our sorrows, grief,
transgressions and iniquities. I also really like these verses because every person in the world
can relate to one aspect or anther of what Christ took upon Himself. We’ve all experienced
trials, sadness, heartache and tribulation in one form or another. And Isaiah reminds us that we
6
can turn to the Lord for help, aid and relief, no matter our circumstances. Because of His
suffering, we can have peace.
7. Matthew 28:1-6= This is a passage of scripture that became one of my favorites in
the mission field. As we tracted door to door, I loved to tell people that Christ not only DIED for
us, but that He LIVES for us today. I feel like most of the world focuses on the dying Christ. I
remember reading a talk by President Hinckley where he said that these are the most reassuring
words in human history: “He is not here; for he is risen” followed by the invitation to “Come, see
the place where the Lord lay.” A perfect cross reference for these verses is 2 Nephi 2:8-9 where
it states the importance of making this message known to all the inhabitants of the earth. The
empty tomb is the perfect symbol of a living Christ.
8. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 54-57= The Bible Dictionary says that the resurrection “is the
center point of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ.” That’s exactly what these verses do for me:
inspire hope. Death can be the worst experience we face as mortals, and yet the hope of the
resurrection does exactly what Paul says it does: it takes away the sting. I love the phrase “death
is swallowed up in victory” at the end of verse 54. I wish we could all remember that Jesus has
won the victory and we are on His team. I think we would look to the future with more hope and
optimism if we woke up every day with that fresh on our minds. Satan will lose and
righteousness will prevail.
9. Hebrews 4:15-16= In order for the Savior to truly succor us (as taught in Alma 7:12), He
needed to have the same experiences we would have in mortality. A sentiment I have picked up
on over the years of teaching the youth goes somewhat like this: “I know I’m supposed to follow
the Savior, but He is so perfect, and I’m not even close, so it’s discouraging to even try.” I think
verse 15 can help all of us relate to the Lord. I especially like footnote “a” which says, “unable
7
to sympathize with our frailties, imperfections.” Paul is teaching that our Master knows
EXACTLY what we’re going through because He has been through the exact same things, being
“all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (italics added). He knows how hard it is to battle
the adversary day after day after day, because He fought the exact same battles, but He also gave
us hope through the example of His perfect life.
The Bible Dictionary defines grace as “divine means of help or strength, given through
the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ” (see page 697). Paul teaches in verse 16 that we
can “come boldly unto the throne of grace” to get this strength and power we need to endure the
trials that we face in this life. It is humbling to know that we can receive this help from the Lord,
especially considering the truth that we are all sinners and have “come short of the glory of God”
(Romans 3:23). It’s just another example of how much the Savior loves us and wants us to be
successful and happy in life.
10. Mosiah 15:5-7= There are SO many lessons in these three verses. It gives me faith to
know that even the Master of all had to deal with temptation. The difference between Jesus and
us is that He didn’t yield to the temptation. I also find it amazing that throughout everything He
went through, “he opened not His mouth.” I think of all the complaining we do as mortals about
trivial things in life, and the One who had every right to murmur and complain never said a
word. I think of this verse (verse 6) when I’m having a bad day and start getting into the “wo is
me, life is hard” rut. I also have always loved the last line of verse 7 as well: “The will of the
Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.” I think the word “swallowed” is perfect to
describe how the Savior lived His life. He truly came to this earth to carry out the work of His
Father. Period.
11. 2 Nephi 2:8-9= These verses have been some of my favorite since the mission field. I
8
remember reading them one day during personal study, and the feeling suddenly hit me of how
lucky I was at that time to be making “these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth” full
time as a missionary. I still have that feeling as a teacher in S&I. The most important message
in the world is that no one can dwell with God, “save it be through the merits, and mercy, and
grace of the Holy Messiah.” We have the opportunity to teach that very message to thousands of
youth throughout our careers. I can see why Alma desired to be an angel and “speak with the
trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people” (see Alma
29:1-2).
12. John 16:33= This verse is not only one of my favorite verses on the Atonement, but
right now it is my all-time favorite scripture, the kind of thing I want written on my headstone!
That’s why I saved it for last. The Savior says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world.” So many times when we study the Atonement the mood is serious and
somber, and it probably should be (maybe reverent is a better word). I love all the places where
Jesus tells us to be of good cheer. We have every reason in the world to be happy and have a
smile on our faces. The gospel really is the “good news.” The Savior has made all the
preparations needed for us to repent, keep our covenants and return to live eternally with our
Father in Heaven in family units. What could give us more reason to be filled with joy? He has
made it possible to have what I feel is the greatest feeling in this earth life: peace. We can go
wake up in the morning with a deep sense of calmness, knowing that “all flesh is in [His] hands;
be still and know that [He] is God” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:16). Studying these verses on
the Atonement has given me such a deep feeling or gratitude and awe for Jesus Christ and what
9
He has done for me personally and for my family. It’s hard to put into words how I feel about
Him.
10
STUDY JOURNAL- “The Infinite Atonement
I just finished reading “A Reservoir of Living Water” by Elder David A. Bednar. A
certification project could be done just on this talk alone! I have tons of thoughts after studying
this talk, but I’ll just write a few down. He began by quoting the experience of the Savior and
the woman of Samaria found in John 4. The Savior and His gospel is the living water referred to
in this chapter. Elder Bednar then states that we all must come unto Christ by reading, studying,
searching and feasting upon the words of Christ. I am excited to do this and I can’t think of
another topic that I would rather study deeply than the Atonement. Elder Bednar mentioned that
we are so blessed to have the scriptures so readily available to us, and also that we have a
“responsibility to use them consistently and effectively and to drink deeply from the reservoir of
living water.” I know this will be a great experience that will bless my life and hopefully the
lives of my students, now and in the future.
Elder Bednar taught three main ways we can study the scriptures and gain a stronger
testimony of the Savior: by reading, by studying and by searching. After reading this part of his
talk I’ve been thinking about how much of my scripture study lately has been on the first level:
reading. I’m in a pretty good habit of reading every day, but it’s time to pick it up and take
things to the next level. I also learned a lot from his examples of looking for connections,
patterns and themes. Moroni 10:32 contains the main theme of the Book of Mormon: “come
unto Christ and be perfected in Him.” I really feel like this project will help me understand
better the core of the gospel of Jesus Christ: the Atonement.
One more thought: there was one statement that stood out to me in this talk more than
any other. It was near the end when Elder Bednar shared his testimony about how the
Atonement has changed his life. He said, “In my personal reading, studying, and searching over
11
a period of years, I have focused many times upon the doctrine of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
No event, knowledge, or influence has had a greater impact upon me during my 54 years of
mortality than repeatedly reading about, studying in depth, and searching for connections,
patterns, and themes related to the doctrine of the Atonement. This central, saving doctrine, over
time, gradually has distilled upon my soul as the dews from heaven; has influenced my thoughts,
words and deeds (see Mosiah 4:30); and literally has become for me a well of living water.”
Over the years as I’ve studied and pondered the scriptures, I have developed strong feelings for
the Savior and what He has done for me personally, and the opportunities He has given to me
and my family. I love how Elder Bednar said the doctrine has gradually distilled upon his soul.
That has been my experience as well. I haven’t had any major revelations or visions. The Holy
Ghost has quietly spoken to my heart on different occasions and helped my faith grow line upon
line. I look forward to working on this project and learning as much as I can. I also feel blessed
to do what I do for a living and be able to share my testimony of the gospel with the youth every
day.
“The Infinite Atonement” (Tad R. Callister)
After reading the first chapter of The Infinite Atonement by Tad R. Callister, I can already
tell I need to have a game plan or this section of the portfolio is going to be 300 pages long! I
will try to choose a few main ideas that really stand out to me and share my thoughts and
feelings on them. Considering that the book has 27 chapters, this plan might even be a bit much.
I feel like I could fill pages just on chapter 1: “What is the Significance of the Atonement?”
CHAPTER ONE: After quoting Lehi’s words from 2 Nephi 2:30, Bro. Callister said that
“the Atonement of Jesus Christ outweighs, surpasses, and transcends every other mortal event,
every new discovery, and every acquisition of knowledge, for without the Atonement all else in
12
life is meaningless.” As I teach the Plan of Salvation at the beginning of each trimester, this fact
is driven home to me again and again. Without the sacrifice of the Savior, we have absolutely
nothing. There would be no forgiveness of sins, no resurrection, and the list goes on and on.
Without the Atonement, the Plan doesn’t even exist.
CHAPTER TWO: This chapter reminded me of how blessed we are to have the Book of
Mormon to clarify so many important aspects of the Atonement. I have grown up in the Church
and always had the Book of Mormon in my life, and I feel like I (along with many other
members of the Church) take this gift for granted. Elder Holland said, “Much of this doctrine [of
the Atonement] has been lost or expunged from the biblical records. It is therefore of great
consequence that the Book of Mormon prophets taught that doctrine in detail and with clarity.”
As I thought more about this, there really are so many doctrines that help us understand the
Savior’s sacrifice that we don’t find anywhere in the New Testament… I like Bro. Callister’s
comment about what a good job Satan has done to distract the world from the doctrine of the
Atonement. Over the ages people have argued and debated so many aspects of Christianity but
for the most part have left the Atonement of Christ alone.
CHAPTER FOUR: My favorite idea in this chapter comes from Elder Maxwell. I had a
teacher in the MTC that called 2 Nephi 9 “The great Atonement chapter” and I really feel that it
is. I have always looked at verse 41 in the wrong light, however. We learn that the Savior will
be the keeper of the gate and “he employeth no servant there.” I always interpreted this as
meaning He was there in a position to keep people out that weren’t worthy of God’s presence.
Elder Maxwell completely changed my thinking on this: he testified that Christ is there to
welcome us with open arms (see Mormon 6:17). He is waiting there for us because He loves us
so much and wants to greet us and we enter God’s kingdom. I love this idea.
13
CHAPTER SIX: One thing that stood out to me in this chapter is the fact that everyone
(except sons of perdition) will be resurrected with a glorified body and receive a degree of glory.
To me it really puts into perspective how kind, compassionate and loving the Savior is when we
realize that even those who “received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus”
will still inherit a kingdom of glory (see D&C 76:82). Even telestial beings will be saved from
Satan’s grasp.
CHAPTER SEVEN: I love this line at the bottom of page 55: “Life would signify
nothing without Christ’s redemptive act.” There would be no purpose to ANYTHING without
the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We would all be hardened, fallen and lost (see Alma 34:8-9).
We would have no chance for repentance and no hope for a resurrection one day for ourselves
and our families. And of course, there would be no opportunity for Godhood one day. Elder
Marion G. Romney said, “The whole purpose for the creation of earth and our living upon it
would fail.” It is hard to even imagine what life would be like without the knowledge of what
the Savior has done for us.
CHAPTER EIGHT: In this chapter, Brother Callister describes eight reasons as to why
the Atonement is infinite, according to Book of Mormon prophets. Reason #4 states: “it is
infinite in coverage. It applies to all God’s creations and all forms of life thereon. Elder
Maxwell called it ‘infinte … in the comprehensiveness of its coverage.’” In my years of
teaching I’ve found that this is an often misunderstood doctrine. Students seem to, for the most
part, understand that the Atonement applies to all of God’s children living on this planet. But
often they haven’t contemplated that it is effective for the children of God living on all the
planets He has and will create. And considering the number of children of God and the number
14
of planets He has created (see Moses 1:28, 33 and 7:30), it is mind-numbing to even try to think
about and understand.
CHAPTER TWELVE: Another concept that students don’t often seem to understand is
the absolute coverage of the Atonement, in that it applies to not only humans, but animals, plants
and this earth itself. Each of these creations of the Lord will die and be resurrected, redeemed by
the blood of Christ. His Atonement is universal. Of all the chapters of this book so far, this one
is my favorite. One day I was reading Alma 34:10 and I looked up the word infinite and found
that a simple definition was “endless” and “boundless.” I have been interested in studying this
topic for years now. I know we’ll never understand how this is even possible, but it really
enlarges my mind as to how powerful the Atonement really is.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: This chapter describes how infinite the Lord’s suffering was
for us. As stated before, our mortal minds can’t even comprehend the pain and agony that Jesus
endured. John Taylor said, “In a manner to us incomprehensible and inexplicable, he bore the
weight of the sins of the whole world.” Another quote I love came from James E. Faust: “One
cannot help wondering how many of those drops of precious blood each of us may be
responsible for.” This is one of the most humbling quotes I have ever read. To think that I
personally caused the Savior to suffer and bleed because of the things I’ve done wrong is
heartbreaking. And it’s true for each of us. It causes me to want to repent even more and stay on
the path.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: There was a quote in this chapter I liked so much that I glued it
into my scriptures. As I’ve studied the Atonement over the years, I have felt it’s power in my
life and I understand that it is real. But when I try to ponder about how He did what He did for
us, my brain can’t even comprehend it. I know many students face the same challenge.
15
Sometimes when we’re studying the Atonement in class, they start to ask the how questions,
such as “How did He take every single person’s sins upon Him?” or “How exactly did He bleed
from every pore?” The simple answer is that we just don’t know. And that is exactly what
President Benson teaches us. I think this will be a great quote to use when students ask these
types of questions. President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “We may never understand nor
comprehend in mortality how He accomplished what he did, but we must not fail to understand
why He did what He did. All that He did was prompted by His unselfish, infinite love for us.”
What a powerful thing that could be in our classrooms if we honestly answered that we don’t
know how he performed His sacrifice, but then testified that the important things is that we can
all know why He did it: for each one of us.
CHAPTER 16: One of my favorite doctrines to teach has always been the Resurrection.
As we teach the Plan of Happiness at the beginning of each trimester, the students always seem
to gravitate towards this part of the Plan, often asking various questions about exactly how it will
take place and what it means. The thought that “a resurrected body is not subject to pain or
disease or exhaustion” provides so much hope (see page 169). Limbs will be restored, cancer
and disease will have no effect, and we will be immortal. On a side note, students always want
to know if we’ll be able to eat when we’re resurrected. It’s fun to read Acts 10:41 when we see
that the Lord ate and drank after His resurrection.
CHAPTER 18: One of my favorite scriptures for years now has been John 16:33 where
the Savior tells his disciples to “be of good cheer.” It is especially amazing to think that these
were His instructions before His betrayal, arrest and the following events of the Atonement. If
the Savior can give tell us this before the awful events that were to take place, we should feel
confident in being of good cheer and realizing that He has overcome the world in all the trials
16
that we go through in this life. This command is repeated in various places throughout scripture.
I remember hearing an interview with Elder Holland one time when he said that this is the most
neglected commandment of Latter-day Saints. We have more reason than any group of people
on earth to be happy and of good cheer, and yet often we’re not for one reason or another.
CHAPTER 19: I remember reading a talk by Elder Holland years ago when he said the
literal definition of the word succor is “to run to.” I love that idea and have tried to teach it as
often as I can when we study the Atonement in class. Just this trimester we studied it when
reviewing the scripture mastery verses in Alma 7:11-13. Brother Callister said, “No mortal can
cry out, ‘He does not understand my plight, for my trials are unique.’ There is nothing outside
the scope of the Savior’s experience.” There is no trial, pain, loss, or any other emotion that He
has not already felt, allowing Him to truly “succor” us. He is the only Being that knows exactly
how we feel and exactly how to help us and provide aid and relief. If each of us could remember
this fact daily, we would have so much more strength and peace in our hearts as we face the
difficult times we all have in mortality.
CHAPTER 21: Another doctrine that it seems many students don’t have a firm grasp on
is the fact that one day we can become Gods. Just as Brother Callister said, the world for the
most part rejects and even mocks that idea. He then goes on for the few pages proving it with
scripture, poetic insight, logic and history. There is scripture after scripture after scripture that
teach this doctrine clearly. I’ll just mention one of my favorites here. Romans 8:16-17 teaches
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children,
then heirs: heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” In other words, we may one day receive all
the Son receives from the Father. Once again, it is so humbling to think that imperfect sinners
like us can be given the opportunity to be joint-heirs with Christ. That thought right there should
17
motivate us to constantly repent and do all in our power to bring other souls to Christ. I enjoy
how clearly Brigham Young teaches things. On this topic he taught, “We are created, we are
born for the express purpose of growing up from the low estate of manhood, to become Gods
like unto our Father in heaven.”
CHAPTER 23: One main idea I learned from this chapter is how a mortal actually
receives grace from God. I have learned and taught the doctrine of grace for years now, but I
have to admit I’ve never really how we receive grace from the Lord. Brother Callister answered
this: “The medium for the infusion of godlike powers and enabling traits from a divine being to
an ordinary man is the Holy Ghost.” He then goes on to teach about the various gifts of the spirit
we can receive as we earnestly seek them. Of all the things Moroni could have written in his
“last lecture” at the end of the Book of Mormon, he writes in Moroni 10 about spiritual gifts and
how to receive them. This chapter reminded me again of how invaluable a role the Holy Ghost
plays in our lives and how lost we would be without Him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: I know one thing I have taken for granted the majority of
my life is the ordinance of the sacrament. I have grown up in the Church and partaking of the
sacrament is just something we do. Of course, as I’ve grown older (and hopefully matured a bit
spiritually) I realize more and more how important this act is in my life. I like the quote from
Melvin J. Ballard that cautioned, “We must come … to the sacrament table hungry.” Anytime a
prophet uses superlatives like “greatest” or “most important” my ears perk up. Brigham Young
was quoted in this chapter using one of these phrases in regard to the sacrament: “It is one of the
greatest blessings we could enjoy, to come before the Lord, and before the angels, and before
each other, to witness that we remember that the Lord Jesus Christ has died for us” (italics
18
added). Partaking of the sacrament is the most important things we do at Church on Sunday and
is a wonderful blessing to each of us if we approach it in the right spirit.
CHAPTER 26: One of the last chapters in this book explored the question, “Was the
Atonement necessary or was there some other way?” The scriptures make it perfectly clear that
the Atonement of Jesus Christ was necessary for our salvation and there was absolutely no other
way. One quote from King Benjamin says it all: “There is no other name given whereby
salvation cometh” (Mosiah 5:8). This book has really strengthened my testimony that an
Atonement had to be made and Jesus Christ had to be the one to offer it. If not, “all men must
perish” (2 Nephi 11:6).
CHAPTER 27: Although it was only two and a half pages long, I loved reading Brother
Callister’s final thoughts on the Atonement. He expressed his appreciation through scripture,
hymn and testimony. I felt like saying a big “Amen” to everything he stated on these pages
because in so many ways he said exactly how I feel as well. My favorite quote was, “One does
not speak lightly of the Atonement or casually express his appreciation. It is the most sacred and
sublime event in eternity. It deserves our most intense thoughts, our most profound feelings, and
our noblest deeds. One speaks of it in reverential tones; one contemplates it in awe; one leans of
it in solemnity. This event stands alone, now and throughout eternity.”
My mission president often said something to this effect: “The Atonement of Jesus Christ
is like a body-sized bandage and most often what we have is a little paper cut.” I always felt that
what he was trying to teach us was that we grossly underestimate the real power of what Christ
has done and can do for us through His Atonement. Our faith in the Savior’s sacrifice and His
ability to succor us is often weak and we don’t really understand the help, aid, and relief that is
available to us. This book has expanded my testimony in so many ways and really reinforced
19
what my mission president taught. I believe I can go into the classroom now with not only more
knowledge of the different ways we can apply the Atonement in our lives, but also with more
conviction as I teach. I’ve had multiple times over the last few weeks where the Holy Ghost has
whispered that different principles, scriptures and examples in this book are true. As with
everything else in the gospel, it hasn’t come in a great flash of light or all at once, but rather line
upon line, here a little and there a little. It is hard to find words to express appreciation and love
for Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.
Recent General Authority Addresses
1) “The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” Elder Bednar, Ensign, April 2012, 42-43.
This is one of the greatest talks I’ve ever read on the Atonement. For the majority of this
talk, Elder Bednar focuses not as much on the redeeming and cleansing power of the Atonement,
but more on an aspect of the Atonement that we don’t talk and teach about as much: the
strengthening and enabling power. Right at the beginning he summarizes the main objective of
the gospel of Jesus Christ by quoting President David O. McKay: “The purpose of the gospel
is… to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature.” This change
happens not only when sinners repent of their wrongdoings, but when we learn to rely on the
Savior to direct us and give us strength to do things that without His help we wouldn’t be able to
do. I realized that no matter how hard I try to be good and how obediently I try to serve in
callings and in service to my fellowman, I absolutely need the enabling power of the Atonement
in my life, for my ENTIRE life.
Elder Bednar counseled us to replace the word “grace” with the phrase “enabling and
strengthening power” each time we come across it in the scriptures. It is through the grace of
Christ that we will receive a resurrection one day. It is through the grace of Christ that we can
20
repent of our sins and do good works. And it is the grace of Christ that we have the opportunity
one day to receive exaltation and live in family units forever. It is hard for me to even
comprehend the incredible opportunities the Savior has presented to us if we will keep His
commandments and do our best to serve others. His Atonement has become even more sacred in
my life since I was married and had children. I am so grateful for what He has done for me
individually, but I am even more grateful that He has provided these opportunities for my wife
and children, the people whom I love more than anything else in this world.
Elder Bednar provided many examples of people in the scriptures who understood the
enabling aspect of the Atonement such as Nephi and Alma and Amulek, along with a modern
day example back in pioneer times. I feel this is such an important concept for each of us to
understand: we shouldn’t pray for the Lord to change our circumstances, we should pray for the
Lord to give us strength to deal with our circumstances. One of my favorite passages of
scriptures on this topic (that Elder Bednar referenced) is Mosiah 24:14-15, where the people of
Alma were being persecuted by Amulon. These people didn’t pray that their afflictions would be
taken away, they prayed for strength to change their circumstances. The Lord promised to ease
the burdens so much that they wouldn’t be able to feel them upon their backs. He also promised
them strength. And I love that the people not only submitted with patience to the will of the
Lord, they did it cheerfully! It is one thing to endure our trials, but another thing to do it with a
smile on our faces, completely trusting in the wisdom of the Lord.
My favorite part of this talk was right at the end after Elder Bednar quoted a section of
Alma 7:11-12. Elder Bednar testified, “There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no
suffering of spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal
journey that the Savior did not experience first. You and I in a moment of weakness may cry
21
out, ‘No one understands. No one knows.’ No human being, perhaps, knows. But the Son of
God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did. And
because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy…” I remember
my mission president bearing his testimony so many times of this doctrine, which had a powerful
effect on me as a young missionary. And I’ve in turn had the chance to share my testimony of
the Savior’s Atonement to many members of the Church in my current calling. I love the idea
that the Savior will succor us in our times of need, or as Elder Bednar taught in this talk, he will
“run to” us and strengthen us. The Savior’s Atonement is real and is our only hope for peace and
happiness in our mortal journey.
2) “The Atonement and Faith,” Elder Oaks, Ensign, April 2010.
To me, Elder Oaks always teaches things in a way that is easy to understand. He just lays it
out there and says it how it is. In the very first paragraph of this talk, he counseled us to “put the
Lord first in our lives.” I know that if I could do this on a consistent day-to-day, minute-tominute basis, I would see even more of the blessings of the Lord in my life. I have seen so many
other people in the world that would be greatly blessed by following this idea. Many of the
challenges and tough times they go through are because they are ignoring the gospel and the
commandments of the Lord.
Elder Oaks taught another principle that I think is hard for most mortals to come to grips
with. He said that “faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a conviction and trust that God knows us and
loves us and will hear our prayers and answer them with what is best for us.” To truly have faith
in the Lord, we HAVE to trust in His will and His timing. So many of us think we know what is
best and try to walk the path leaning on our own understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). We also
feel that if we pray earnestly and don’t get what we desire, the Lord hasn’t answered our prayers.
22
In fact, He has, by NOT giving us what we want or think we need! Elder Oaks said that to truly
exercise faith in Christ, we have to trust in His goodness, His will, His wisdom and His timing.
This is a hard thing to do, but it is the only path that leads to peace and real happiness in this life.
Another doctrine that Elder Oaks really helped clarify in my mind is this: just because the
Savior has already paid the price for our sins, this DOESN’T mean we don’t have to suffer when
we do wrong. I think that misconception is there a bit here and there with our students. We can
mess up and then say a few prayers and “repent” because Jesus already took upon Himself the
pain and suffering in our behalf. Elder Oaks taught, “What is meant by Alma 34:16 is that the
person who repents does not need to suffer even as the Savior suffered for that sin” (italics
added). He then quoted President Spencer W. Kimball, “One has not begun to repent until he
has suffered intensely for his sins…If a person hasn’t suffered, he hasn’t repented.” Being sorry
that we got caught isn’t enough- Godly sorrow is a vital part of the repentance process.
As I was studying this talk, it was reaffirmed again in my mind how powerful the
Atonement of Jesus Christ really is. It can literally change every aspect of our lives, especially
our hearts. It can take a sinner and make them worthy of the presence of God. Elder Oaks put it
this way: “We must also be changed from a morally weak person who has sinned into a strong
person with the spiritual stature to dwell in the presence of God.” In Mosiah 5:2 this might
change is described like this: “[they] had no more disposition to do evil, but to good
continually.” The scriptures are full of promises associated with applying the atoning blood of
Christ in our lives: guilt can be taken away from our hearts (see Alma 24:10), our sins can be as
white as snow (see Isaiah 1:18), and the Lord will completely forget our wrongdoings and
“remember them no more” as we truly repent (see D&C 58:42). Once again, it was humbling for
me to read this talk and ponder on the opportunities that the Savior has provided for all of us, and
23
it inspired me to try and teach with even more energy and enthusiasm so my students can better
understand the power that is available in their lives.
3) “None Were With Him,” Elder Holland, Ensign, May 2009.
This is my all-time favorite talk on the Atonement. I read this every few months simply for a
spiritual battery re-charge. The first thing I love about Elder Holland’s remarks are that they are
addressed to EVERYONE. Just as he says in the beginning paragraph, each of us can be
included at different stages of our lives. Elder Holland does such an amazing job contrasting
how entirely alone the Savior was at different points in His ministry and Atonement, and then he
teaches of the promises the Lord has given us that we NEVER have to be alone because of what
Christ did for us.
He gives different examples of people who turned their back on the Savior and betrayed Him.
The obvious and most blatant was Judas Iscariot. Elder Holland said, “…it is wrenching to think
that one of His special witnesses who sat at His feet, heard Him pray, watched Him heal, and felt
His touch could betray Him and all that He was for 30 pieces of silver.” All of us at different
times have felt lonely or unwanted or unimportant. It is such a comfort to know that Jesus
knows exactly what that feels like. And it’s comforting to know that because He knows exactly
how to provide help, aid and relief to us in our hard times. We learn in Matthew 26:56 that “all
the disciples [left] him, and fled.” And of course, the most extreme loneliness was felt by the
Savior as He performed the Atonement in our behalf. Elder Holland taught, “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.” The Father had to withdraw from Jesus His Spirit for a time so that the
Atonement could be complete. One statement that really stood out to me was when Elder
24
Holland referred to the bitter cup that Jesus was to drink as “this brutal, crushing” cup. Those
words perfectly describe the task that was laid before the Savior.
Elder Holland bears powerful testimony throughout this whole talk that we never have to
have these same experiences if we will stay faithful and trust in God. We can’t escape mortality
without trials and tribulations, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. But, as he
stated, “divine compassion is never absent.” We can live with the knowledge day to day that
there is One who knows exactly how we feel and who knows exactly how to help us. One of my
favorite titles for the Holy Ghost is “comforter.” That is what the Atonement can provide for us:
comfort. Elder Holland concluded his talk with this statement: “Trumpeted from the summit of
Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel
that we are.” And the Savior Himself promised, “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father
and] I will come to you [and abide with you]” (see John 14:18, 23). As with the other talks, it’s
hard for me to even understand the suffering that Jesus endured in my behalf. It’s also hard to
understand the perfect love He had for each of us. But I know it’s real, and I’m eternally grateful
for His sacrifice.
25
List of Books, Talks, and Quotes on the Atonement
BOOKS

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

“The Infinite Atonement” by Tad Callister

“Believing Christ,” “Following Christ” by Stephen E. Robinson

“The Peacegiver” by James L. Farrell

“The Broken Heart,” “The Belonging Heart,” “The Believing Heart,” by Bruce C. Hafen

“Not My Will, but Thine” by Neal A. Maxwell

“Even As I Am” by Neal A. Maxwell

“All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience” by Neal A. Maxwell

“Jesus the Christ” by James E. Talmage

“The Continuous Conversion,” “The Continuous Atonement” by Brad Wilcox
TALKS

“None Were With Him,” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

“The Purifying Power of Gethsemane,” Elder Bruce R. McConkie

“Broken Things to Mend,” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

“In Him All Things Hold Together,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell

“Jesus, the Perfect Mentor,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell

“Point of Safe Return,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Atonement, Agency, and Accountability,” Elder Boyd K. Packer

“The Atonement and the Value of One Soul,” Elder M. Russell Ballard

“Come Unto Christ” President Ezra Taft Benson

“The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality” Elder David A. Bednar
26

“The Atonement and Faith” Elder Dallin H. Oaks

“The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

“The Symbol of Our Faith,” President Gordon B. Hinckley

“The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope,” President James E. Faust

“Enduring Well,” Elder Neal A. Maxwell

“His Grace Is Sufficient,” Brad Wilcox
QUOTES

PRESIDENT DIETER F. UCHTDORF: “Without the Atonement of Jesus Christ, life
would be a dead-end road without hope or future. With the Atonement, life is an
ennobling, inspiring journey of growth and development that leads to eternal life in the
presence of our Heavenly Father.” -”Four Titles,” Ensign, May 2013, 59

PRESIDENT HEBER J. GRANT: “His peace will ease our suffering, bind up our broken
hearts, blot out our hates, engender in our breasts a love of fellow men that will suffuse
our souls with calm and happiness.” -Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J.
Grant (2002), 226; quoted in Ensign, May 2013, 33

ELDER D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON: “Among the most significant of Jesus Christ’s
descriptive titles is Redeemer. … The word redeem means to pay off an obligation or a
debt. Redeem can also mean to rescue or set free as by paying a ransom. If someone
commits a mistake and then corrects it or makes amends, we say he has redeemed
himself. Each of these meanings suggests different facets of the great Redemption
accomplished by Jesus Christ through His Atonement, which includes, in the words of
the dictionary, ‘to deliver from sin and its penalties, as by a sacrifice made for the sinner.’
[Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 3rd ed. (1988), ‘redeem.’]” –“Redemption,”
Ensign, May 2013, 109

ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR: “The Savior is often referred to as the Great Physician. …
Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body—a warning of danger and a protection from
additional damage. From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can
heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. However, this salve can only be applied
through the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and consistent
obedience. The results of sincere repentance are peace of conscience, comfort, and
spiritual healing and renewal. Your bishop or branch president is the spiritual physician’s
assistant who is authorized to help you repent and heal.” -“We Believe in Being Chaste,”
Ensign May 2013, 44

ELDER QUENTIN L. COOK: “Having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping His
commandments are and always will be the defining test of mortality. …Our doctrine is
27
clear; we are to be positive and of good cheer. We emphasize our faith, not our fears. We
rejoice in the Lord’s assurance that He will stand by us and give us guidance and
direction. The Holy Ghost testifies to our hearts that we have a loving Father in Heaven,
whose merciful plan for our redemption will be fulfilled in every aspect because of the
atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” -“In Tune with the Music of Faith,” Ensign, May 2012,
44

PRES. JAMES E. FAUST (1920-2007): “Our Redeemer took upon Himself all the sins,
pains, infirmities, and sicknesses of all who have ever lived and will ever live. (see Alma
7:11-12) No one has ever suffered in any degree what He did. He knows our mortal trials
by firsthand experience. It is a bit like us trying to climb Mount Everest and only getting
up the first few feet. But He has climbed all 29,000 feet to the top of the mountain. He
suffered more than any other mortal could. The Atonement not only benefits the sinner
but also benefits those sinned against—that is, the victims. By forgiving “those who
trespass against us” (JST, Matt. 6:13) the Atonement brings a measure of peace and
comfort to those who have been innocently victimized by the sins of others. The basic
source for the healing of the soul is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” -”The Atonement:
Our Greatest Hope,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 19-20; quoted in Ensign, Sept. 2011, 17

ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND: “I do not know who in this vast audience today may
need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you
think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many
mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far
from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not
traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the
infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.” -”The Laborers in the Vineyard,” Ensign,
May 2012

ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND: “The Savior [spoke] to His disciples as He faced His
Crucifixion and as they faced fear, disarray, and persecution. In His last collective
counsel to them in mortality, He said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me
ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have
overcome the world” (John 16:33). So, in a world of tribulation, let’s remember our
faith. Let’s recall the other promises and prophecies that have been given, all the
reassuring ones, and let’s live life more fully, with more boldness and courage than at any
other time. Christ has overcome the world and made a path for us.” -”This, the Greatest
of All Dispensations,” Ensign, July 2007, 54; quoted in Ensign, Sept. 2011, 10

ELDER TAD R. CALLISTER (of the Seventy): “All of the problems of the world seem
to fall into four principal categories, each of which the Savior descended beneath and
overcame, hence His mandate to “be of good cheer.”


First, death. The scriptures declare, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Second, sin. The angel told Joseph that Jesus would “save his people from their sins”
(Matthew 1:21).
28


Third, weakness. The Savior taught Moroni that His “grace [the enabling power of
the Atonement] is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they
humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things
become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).
Fourth, common ailments of life that may be unrelated to sin (such as sickness,
rejection, depression, loss of employment, and so forth). Isaiah prophesied that the
Savior would “bind up the brokenhearted,” “comfort all that mourn,” and “give unto
them beauty for ashes” (Isaiah 61:1–3; see also Alma 7:9–13).
For every affliction the world throws at us, the Savior has a remedy of superior healing
power. No wonder Mary exclaimed, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath
rejoiced in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46–47). He is the Savior because He really can save
us from death and sin and weakness and the ordinary ailments of life.” -”Fear Not,”
Ensign, Dec. 2010, 44

PRES. BOYD K. PACKER: “How the Atonement was wrought we do not know. No
mortal watched as evil turned away and hid in shame before the Light of that pure being.
All wickedness could not quench that Light. When what was done was done, the ransom
had been paid. Both death and hell forsook their claim on all who would repent. Men at
last were free. Then every soul who ever lived could choose to touch that Light and be
redeemed.” -”Who is Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Mar. 2008, 15

ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR: “The enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement
helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or
accomplish with our limited mortal capacity.” –“In the Strength of the Lord,” Ensign,
Nov. 2004, 77; quoted in Ensign, Oct. 2008, 23

ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR: “The Savior has suffered not just for our iniquities but
also for the inequality, the unfairness, the pain, the anguish, and the emotional distresses
that so frequently beset us. There is no physical pain, no anguish of soul, no suffering of
spirit, no infirmity or weakness that you or I ever experience during our mortal journey
that the Savior did not experience first. You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out,
“No one understands. No one knows.” No human being, perhaps, knows. But the Son of
God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever
did. And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect
empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy in so many phases of our life. He can
reach out, touch, succor—literally run to us—and strengthen us to be more than we could
ever be and help us to do that which we could never do through relying upon only our
own power.” -“The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 47

PRES. JAMES E. FAUST: “The greatest of all acts in all history was the atoning
sacrifice of our Savior and Redeemer. We remember that sacrifice at this time of year
when we celebrate His birth. it is only through the atoning sacrifice of the Prince of
Peace that we may know the true power of peace in our own lives.” –“The Power of
Peace,” Ensign, Dec. 2004, 5
29

PRES. BOYD K. PACKER: “The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can
be earned through repentance. Save for those few who defect to perdition after having
known a fulness, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense
exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness… Restoring what you cannot
restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot
fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ.” –“The Brilliant Morning of
Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 19-20; quoted in Ensign, Oct. 2009, 65

ELDER JOHN H. GROBERG: “I love the Savior. I feel that as he hung upon the cross
and looked out over the dark scene, he saw more than mocking soldiers and cruel
taunters. He saw more than crying women and fearful friends. He remembered and saw
even more than women at wells or crowds on hills or throngs by seashores. He saw more,
much more. He, who knows all and has all power, saw through the stream of time. His
huge, magnanimous, loving soul encompassed all eternity and took in all people and all
times and all sins and all forgiveness and all everything. Yes, he saw down to you and to
me and provided us an all-encompassing opportunity to escape the terrible consequences
of death and sin.” –“The Beauty and Importance of the Sacrament,” Ensign, May 1989,
40

ELDER MERRILL J. BATEMAN: “The Savior, as a member of the Godhead, knows
each of us personally. Isaiah and the prophet Abinadi said that when Christ would “make
his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed” (Isa. 53:10; compare Mosiah 15:10).
Abinadi explains that “his seed” are the righteous, those who follow the prophets (see
Mosiah 15:11). In the garden and on the cross, Jesus saw each of us and not only bore our
sins, but also experienced our deepest feelings so that he would know how to comfort and
strengthen us. The Savior’s atonement in the garden and on the cross is intimate as well
as infinite. Infinite in that it spans the eternities. Intimate in that the Savior felt each
person’s pains, sufferings, and sicknesses. Consequently, he knows how to carry our
sorrows and relieve our burdens that we might be healed from within, made whole
persons, and receive everlasting joy in his kingdom. May our faith in the Father and the
Son help each of us to become whole.” –“The Power to Heal from Within,” Ensign, May
1995, 14

PRES. GORDON B. HINCKLEY: “No other act in all of human history compares with
it. Nothing that has ever happened can match it. Totally unselfish and with unbounded
love for all mankind, it became an unparalleled act of mercy for the whole human race.”
-“At the Summit of the Ages,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 73

PRES. GORDON B. HINCKLEY: “No member of this Church must ever forget the
terrible price paid by our Redeemer, who gave His life that all men might live. …This
was the cross, the instrument of His torture, the terrible device designed to destroy the
Man of Peace, the evil recompense for His miraculous work of healing the sick, of
causing the blind to see, of raising the dead. This was the cross on which He hung and
died on Golgotha’s lonely summit. We cannot forget that. We must never forget it, for
here our Savior, our Redeemer, the Son of God, gave Himself, a vicarious sacrifice for
30
each of us.” -“The Symbol of Our Faith,” Ensign, April 2005, 4; quoted in Ensign, Apr.
2009, 59

ELDER NEAL A. MAXWELL: “The cumulative weight of all mortal sins–past, present,
and future–pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and
sicknesses were somehow, too, a part of the awful arithmetic of the Atonement…His
suffering–as it were, enormity multiplied by infinity–evoked His later soul-cry on the
cross, and it was a cry of forsakenness” (see Matt. 27:46). –“Willing to Submit,” Ensign,
May 1985, 73

ELDER NEAL A. MAXWELL: “The greatest act of service in all of history—the
atonement—was clearly unappreciated. It was fully understood only by the Savior and
the Eternal Father while it was in process. But it was completed to the glory and eternal
benefit of all humanity… Service keeps us from forgetting the Lord our God, because
being among and serving our brothers and sisters reminds us that Father is ever there and
is pleased when we serve, for while the recipients of our service are our neighbors, they
are His children.” -All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience (1979), 63, 65; quoted in
Ensign, Mar. 2004, 49

PRES. BOYD K. PACKER: “Save for the exception of the very few who defect to
perdition, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no
crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the
atonement of Christ. How all can be repaired, we do not know. It may not all be
accomplished in this life. …This knowledge should be as comforting to the innocent as it
is to the guilty. I am thinking of parents who suffer unbearably for the mistakes of their
wayward children and are losing hope.” -“The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign,
Nov. 1995, 20; quoted in Ensign, Mar. 2013, 68

ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND: (Speaking of John 14:27): “[This] may be one of the
Savior’s commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints,
almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation
could be any more grievous to the Lord’s merciful heart… I am convinced that none of us
can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he
finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands.” -“Come
unto Me,” Ensign, Apr. 1998, 19; quoted in Ensign, Mar. 2013, 20

PRES. DIETER F. UCHTDORF: “The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and
remove the burden of our sins. His Atonement allows us to leave the past behind and
move forward with clean hands, a pure heart, and a determination to do better and
especially to become better.” -“Of Regrets and Resolutions,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 24

PRES. BOYD K. PACKER: “No matter what our transgressions have been, no matter
how much our actions may have hurt others, that guilt can all be wiped out. To me,
perhaps the most beautiful phrase in all scripture is when the Lord said, “Behold, he who
has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more
(D&C 58:42).” -”The Atonement,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 77
31

PRES. BOYD K. PACKER: “While the Atonement of Christ applies to humanity in
general, the influence of it is individual, very personal, and very useful.” -”Washed
Clean”, Ensign, May 1997

ELDER RUSSELL M. NELSON: “His Atonement is infinite—without an end [see
2 Nephi 9:7; 25:16; Alma 34:10, 12, 14]. It was also infinite in that all humankind would
be saved from never-ending death. It was infinite in terms of His immense suffering. It
was infinite in time, putting an end to the preceding prototype of animal sacrifice. It was
infinite in scope—it was to be done once for all [see Hebrews 10:10]. And the mercy of
the Atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite
number of worlds created by Him [see D&C 76:24; Moses 1:33]. It was infinite beyond
any human scale of measurement or mortal comprehension. Jesus was the only one who
could offer such an infinite atonement, since He was born of a mortal mother and an
immortal Father. Because of that unique birthright, Jesus was an infinite Being.”
-Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 46; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 35

ELDER BRUCE R. MCCONKIE: “When the prophets speak of an infinite atonement,
they mean just that. Its effects cover all men, the earth itself and all forms of life thereon,
and reach out into the endless expanses of eternity” -Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed.
[1966], 64; quoted in Institute Book of Mormon Student Manual (2009), 229

ELDER BOYD K. PACKER: “[The Atonement] is the very root of Christian doctrine.
You may know much about the gospel as it branches out from there, but if you only know
the branches and those branches do not touch that root, if they have been cut free from
that truth, there will be no life nor substance nor redemption in them.” –“The Mediator,”
Ensign, May 1977, 56

PRES. EZRA T. BENSON: “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from
the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out
of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men
by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their
environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human
nature.” –“Born of God, Ensign, July 1989

PRES. EZRA T. BENSON: “No mortal being had the power or the capability to redeem
all other mortals from their lost and fallen condition, nor could any other voluntarily
forfeit his life and thereby bring to pass a universal resurrection for other mortals. Only
Jesus Christ was able and willing to accomplish such a redeeming act of love. We may
never understand nor comprehend in mortality how He accomplished what He did, but
we must not fail to understand why He did what He did. Everything He did was
prompted by his unselfishness, infinite love for us.” -Ensign, Nov. 1983, 7

ELDER JOHN H. GROBERG (of the 70): “I testify that no one has or ever will
experience any set of circumstances, be they disappointments, betrayal, pain, persecution,
suffering, or whatever, that cannot and is not swallowed up in the Savior! You can feel
32
no hurt, emotional or physical, that He has not already felt. There is no combination of
human emotions or physical illness or suffering that cannot find refuge in the Savior’s
sacrifice for us. He knows how to help us. He wants to help us. Please let him.” -“Trust
the Lord,” [CES fireside for young adults, 1 May 1994], 6; quoted in Seminary Book of
Mormon Student Study Guide (2000), 102

PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the
testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was
buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which
pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.” -History of the Church, 3:30; TPJS, 121
33
Distillation on the Atonement
Thomas once asked the Savior, “Lord, we know not wither thou goest; and how can we
know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me” (see John 14:5-6, italics added). I have never been more convinced of
this truth in my life. This has been an incredible experience to “feast upon the words of Christ”
(2 Nephi 32:3) as taught by prophets both ancient and modern. I have learned so much about the
Atonement of Jesus Christ, and the more I learn, the more I want to learn.
One of the main things I’ve learned in this experience is the importance of studying and
pondering the Atonement of Christ with the influence of the Holy Ghost. The mortal mind can’t
comprehend so many aspects of how the Savior did what He did. However, the Spirit can testify
to us again and again that what we’re studying and learning is true, and that pure love is the
reason He did it for us. John 14:26 teaches the important role of the Holy Ghost in gaining a
testimony of any gospel principle: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” Moroni 10:5 states, “And by the power of the
Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”
Before we can truly gain an appreciation for the sacrifice that was made for us, we need
to understand how completely lost we would be without it. Amulek teaches this clearly to his
brethren: “For according to the great plan of the eternal God there must be an atonement made,
or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are
lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made
(Alma 34:9, italics added). But because of the Savior’s infinite and eternal sacrifice, physical
death has been conquered and we have the opportunity to repent and return to live with our
34
Father in Heaven and Savior in eternal family units. Paul put it most simply when he taught the
Corinthians, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians
15:22). He has given life to all the creations of God: human, animal, plant, and to the earth itself.
35
Conclusion
The conclusion I’ve come to is this: the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important
event in the history of the universe. It is our privilege and responsibility to study and ponder it
and be taught by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is also our duty to do everything we can to
“apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins” (Mosiah 4:2).
As we do this, our hearts will be purified and we’ll be cleansed of our sins. The Atonement can
bring peace and joy into our lives that can come in no other way. The scriptures are replete with
this doctrine. I feel that the most powerful promise in the scriptures is found in Doctrine and
Covenants 58:42: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord,
remember them no more.” This promise wouldn’t be possible without the sacrifice of the Son of
God.
Joseph Smith once taught, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony
of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again
the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are
only appendages to it.”1 Studying the core doctrine of the gospel, the Atonement of Jesus Christ,
has been a wonderful experience for me. Since the mission field I have loved the words of Lehi
to his son Jacob in 2 Nephi 2:8-9: “Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things
known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell
in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah
… Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the
children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.” I feel the truth of these words now
more than I ever have. This project has driven this point home to me again and again: the infinte
1
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976), 121.
36
and eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the only way we can return back to the presence of our
Heavenly Father. Being able to study deeply about His sacrifice has given me a deeper sense of
gratitude and humility than I’ve ever had.
37
Bibliography
Bednar, David A., “A Reservoir of Living Water,” CES Fireside for Young Adults, February 4,
2007 (Brigham Young University).
Bednar, David A., “The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality,” Liahona, April 2012.
Callister, Tad R., The Infinte Atonement (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2000).
Holland, Jeffrey R., “None Were With Him,” Ensign, May 2009.
Maxwell, Neal A., All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book
Company, 1979).
Oaks, Dallin H., “The Atonement and Faith,” Ensign, April 2010.
38