THE ATONEMENT

So now we are here on earth, I’m not going to get into the story of Adam and Eve right now, if you want to learn more about them, click here. Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, we are now subject to two things: mortal death, and spiritual death. Spiritual death is when we separate ourselves from the presence of God by sinning: just like Adam and Eve were literally kicked out of the Garden of Eden, we also distance ourselves from God when we make unwise decisions. We read in Corinthians “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinth 15:22) In short, because of the fall, we all die and we all are subject to sin. I have a friend who once explained it like this:


Imagine how a mother speaks to her children before they go out to play. She warns them “don’t get dirty outside!” well, of course when we are children, we go to play outside and somehow we couldn’t help but get dirty! Well, we come inside and of course, mom is mad at us.


The Lord has told us that ‘nothing unclean can enter into the Kingdom of God’ (Helaman 8:25). We, being unclean because of sin, are unfit to enter the kingdom of God. But this is when we can see the love of a true father in heaven. God has given us what you may call a spiritual soap. Just like we use soap to wash up after coming in from playing, Heavenly Father has provided a way for us to come back to him he provided a savior: “Saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Heavenly Father sent his only begotten son: Jesus Christ to the earth to atone for our sins. But what is the atonement? It is so great, we as mortals can’t understand how great a blessing the atonement is, but I do know that it is the greatest thing to ever occur in the entire history of our earth. There is much to be said about the atonement, but I want to emphasize some points that really stand out to me.


1. The atonement included Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, dying on the cross, and resurrection.


“And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world; and I saw and bear record.
And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world”(2 Nephi 11: 32-33)


2. Because of Christ’s suffering, we can be cleansed from sin, and can overcome both mortal and spiritual death.


-“as in Adam, or by nature, they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins.” (Mosiah 3:16)
- “and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God;”(Alma 42: 23)


3. During the Atonement, the Savior felt all the pains and sicknesses we would ever feel, so he could know how to help better help us in our trials.


“-And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
-And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
-Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance;" (Alma 7:11-13)



Because of these three points, we can return to presence of God after this life, if we use it. We will all be resurrected (which will be explained later), and we have the potential and help to become clean, and free of sin.