The Atonement
Elder Richard G. Scott, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave a talk called “The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness” in the October 2006 General Conference.
Have you noticed how much a theme peace is in General Conference talks? Having peace enables us to go on to other things that we need to do.
Elder Scott begins by saying:
Our Father in Heaven wants each of us to enjoy peace and happiness in mortal life. Our Master, Jesus Christ, and His prophets have taught how to have that peace and happiness, even in a world that is ever more challenging, with increasing conflict and an intense concentration of alluring temptations.
He then gives an illustration of the right and wrong ways to find peace and happiness using a rock climbing analogy. We can go “solo” or we can follow rules and take precautions. Which will more likely lead to safe passage?
Let the Savior be your “lead” in life. He has said, “I am … the Rock of Heaven … ; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall.” The Redeemer will safely lead you over the most difficult obstacles of life. His laws are absolutely secure anchors of protection that dispel fear and assure success in an otherwise dangerous world. Such a life will certainly provide you peace and happiness.
True, enduring happiness, with the accompanying strength, courage, and capacity to overcome the greatest difficulties, will come as you center your life in Jesus Christ. Obedience to His teachings provides a secure ascent in the journey of life. That takes effort. While there is no guarantee of overnight results, there is the assurance that, in the Lord’s time, solutions will come, peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours.
I appreciate that thought of “secure anchors”–how we need those in our lives! How much we need to dispel fear! Life is difficult in any age, but now seems more urgent. I think it is partly due to increased technology–we hear almost instantly of troubles and wars and conflicts and famines. We hear of tragedies and sicknesses quickly. So much to know and worry about!! Temptations also spread like wildfire because of the widespread technology. If we will trust the Savior and follow Him, though, life can be bearable.
We also face personal trials and afflictions in each of our individual lives. What does Elder Scott say about that? He says:
The challenges you face, the growth experiences you encounter, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of a life of continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life. I do not minimize how hard some of these events can be. When the lesson you are to learn is very important, trials can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything you do. Your life can and should be wondrously rewarding. It is your understanding and application of the laws of God that will give your life glorious purpose as you ascend and conquer the difficulties of life. That perspective keeps challenges confined to their proper place—stepping-stones to further growth and attainment.
The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. Your progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether you welcome the experience or not. Trust in the Lord. Ask to be led by the Spirit to know His will. Be willing to accept it. You will then qualify for the greatest happiness and the heights of attainment from this mortal experience.
I like very much what he says about our trials not being allowed to be the confining focus of everything we do. I also appreciate the reminder that “The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development.” It is so important that we remember that we each have the Lord’s individual attention and caring. If we trust Him, He will guide us through everything we encounter. Elder Scott also points out that it is our “understanding and application of the laws of God” that give our lives purpose.
Where does the Atonement come in? Elder Scott states this:
Peace and happiness are the precious fruits of a righteous life. They are only possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
…The demands of justice for broken law can be satisfied through mercy, earned by your continual repentance and obedience to the laws of God. Such repentance and obedience are absolutely essential for the Atonement to work its complete miracle in your life. The Redeemer can settle your individual account with justice and grant forgiveness through the merciful path of your repentance. Through the Atonement you can live in a world where justice assures that you will retain what you earn by obedience. Through His mercy you can resolve the consequences of broken laws.
Elder Scott talks about what the Atonement is and what it does for us over several paragraphs. Then he says:
I believe that no matter how diligently you try, you cannot with your human mind fully comprehend the eternal significance of the Atonement nor fully understand how it was accomplished. We can only appreciate in the smallest measure what it cost the Savior in pain, anguish, and suffering or how difficult it was for our Father in Heaven to see His Son experience the incomparable challenge of His Atonement. Even so, you should conscientiously study the Atonement to understand it as well as you can. You can learn what is needful to live His commandments, to enjoy peace and happiness in mortal life. You can qualify, with obedient family members, to live with Him and your Father in Heaven forever.
…Jesus Christ possessed merits that no other being could possibly have. He was a God, Jehovah, before His birth in Bethlehem. His beloved Father not only gave Him His spirit body, but Jesus was His Only Begotten Son in the flesh. Our Master lived a perfect, sinless life and therefore was free from the demands of justice. He is perfect in every attribute, including love, compassion, patience, obedience, forgiveness, and humility. His mercy pays our debt to justice when we repent and obey Him. Since with even our best efforts to obey His teachings we will still fall short, because of His grace we will be “saved, after all we can do.”
In his talk, Elder Scott talks about many things regarding the Atonement. I believe that if we will study this talk, along with scripture and other General Conference talks, we can enhance our understanding of the Atonement and how we can apply it to our lives. There is much to it–as with many things in the gospel, it will require a lifetime of study. Still, as we put in the effort, we will reap the results–and what glorious results they will be!
February 22nd, 2007 10:04
Well done.
Perhaps you can help me out here.
Peace and happiness is the goal, only to be met with our obedience and repentance. Part of repentance is a sorrow for sin. So if we are continuously repenting we are also continuously sorrowing in order to have peace and happiness.
Is this a case of the level of necessary repentance getting lower as we progress? Less sorrow, and less frequent sorrow as we get better? maybe.
Sorry sisters, just passing through. I can’t help but listen in as I go by.
February 22nd, 2007 12:18
:D You’re welcome to listen in, Eric!
The way I see it is partly what you said about less sorrow as we progress. It is also the peace of conscience that repenting brings–when we wipe the slate clean. Really, those are two sides of the same coin–we repent and clean up our mistakes, plus we learn and grow and improve so we have less to repent of. At least, theoretically! Of course, there are other things that bring peace of mind, like being prepared and planning ahead and so forth, but I believe that repenting and getting our life in order from the inside out is probably the one most important thing we can do.
February 23rd, 2007 06:49
I love Elder Scott’s talks. I had just re-read this one about a week ago, and I’m glad you brought it to my mind again, Mary.
I really appreciated his idea that even if we can’t fully comprehend the Atonement, studying about it can enable us to “learn what is needful to live His commandments, to enjoy peace and happiness in mortal life.”
We are not limited by our particular intellectual capacity. If we are trying our best to learn, to repent and to obey, that will be enough. The Lord’s mercy will take care of the rest.
February 23rd, 2007 08:07
I like what you said here Mary:
“I like very much what he says about our trials not being allowed to be the confining focus of everything we do. I also appreciate the reminder that “The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development.” It is so important that we remember that we each have the Lord’s individual attention and caring. If we trust Him, He will guide us through everything we encounter.”
I think that learning to “look to Him [the Savior] in every thought” and “Come unto Him” instead of focusing on our trials is the way to get a proper perspective and the grace and help we need from the Atonement.
I too love learning more about Jesus and His Atonement.
Thank you, Mary.
February 23rd, 2007 14:37
Irene and RoAnn, thanks for your comments! I am always glad if a few of the insights I share are useful to someone else. And, of course, I couldn’t go wrong with an Elder Richard G. Scott talk!! His insights are well worth sharing.
February 23rd, 2007 15:33
Even so, you should conscientiously study the Atonement to understand it as well as you can.
This has made me want to study the Atonement more!
Thanks for this writeup, Mary.
February 23rd, 2007 17:04
Thanks, Michelle! I liked that sentence, too–a reminder that we don’t have to understand all about everything before we apply what we do understand, and that we can keep learning as we go along. There is a lot to the Atonement, but what a wonderful topic it is!
February 24th, 2007 13:24
I just stumbled on this site by accident as I was doing a little LDS researching. Very nice.
Also, I’d like to comment on the essay about The Atonement, Mary. It gave me a new perspective on learning more about the Atonement and its application for our lives. I had always looked on this doctrine as something very theological and not easy to understand, but now I see it differently. I am going to look up the entire talk from the Ensign and study it thoroughly.
Elder Scott’s comment that hardships aren’t meant to be the substance of life and that they shouldn’t be our focus has really spoken to me. Like many people, I’m going through a rough patch right now and this has helped. Proverbs 15:23 tells us, ‘a word spoken in due season, how good is it!’
February 24th, 2007 22:28
Anna,
I love seeing new people comment! So glad you stopped by! I just wanted to say that I’m sorry you are going through a rough patch…and I really appreciate you (and Mary!) bringing out that statement by Elder Scott…which was what I needed to hear today!
(Hope you come back again.
)
February 25th, 2007 08:58
Hi, Anna! I’m glad you found us and I hope you’ll come back. Feel free to comment or ask questions! I’m glad you enjoyed the write-up I did and that you’re going to read Elder Scott’s entire talk. It’s a wonderful piece that can help us all. I hope, too, that the rough patch you’re going through is over soon. I appreciated his statement about how our trials and afflictions aren’t to be the substance of our lives. That was an insight that is helping me. Your reference to Proverbs 15:23 is perfect–thanks for mentioning it!
Michelle, I’m glad you found something you needed to hear! It always means a lot to me when I find something that is just right for what I am experiencing at the moment.