Day 79-Atonement Insights

Jared W. Ludlow is an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University and compares electrical power to the power of the Atonement. He states, "the original source of the atoning power, comparable to the mighty water, is God. The powerhouse that transforms and transmits the electrical power is Jesus Christ, who was given the mission and ability from God to bring redemptive power to mankind. While it might not be as easy as flipping a switch, we can have access to this power in our homes or lives by paying the price of repentance and wisely using our agency to come unto Christ and be His disciples. Just as electrical power can do many things within our homes such as running appliances and machines, lighting up rooms, washing clothes, and giving heat, the power of the Atonement can perform many necessary functions within our lives". I like this analogy of electricity and flipping a switch. It is amazing of the power that as we flip the switch and we are filled with light. The scripture below comes to mind as we treat lightly things we have received such as the atonement and the scriptures, our minds and hearts will become darkened. I know moments in life when I have wrested the scriptures and prayer, my mind slowly darkens and it is only through the power of the atonement that I can feel the eminent light flow through my soul.

D&C 84:54-59

54And your ^aminds in times past have been ^bdarkened because of^cunbelief, and because you have treated ^dlightly the things you have received—

55Which ^avanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56And this condemnation resteth upon the children of ^aZion, even all.

57And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new ^acovenant, even the ^bBook of Mormon and the ^cformer commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to ^ddo according to that which I have written—

Day 78-Atonement Insights

In the Book of Mormon, Alma taught Zeezrom that “if thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed” (Alma 15:8). We likewise can be healed of tragedy, wounded hearts, misunderstanding, hatred, sins, frailties, prejudices—whatever afflicts us—if we believe and look to our Savior and His Atonement.

It is “the pleasing word of God . . . which healeth the wounded soul” (Jacob 2:8), and it is “with his stripes [that] we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5; Mosiah 14:5). This miraculous heavenly healing, Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi of the Seventy explains, is magnificent, profound, and beautiful.

Read “The Healer’s Art,” by Elder Kikuchi, in the March 2011 Ensign or Liahona.

As I read this article, I thought of the importance of faith in relation to the atonement. We can be healed through the atonement if we have faith. The healing only occurs through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone or to hope for things which are not seen. Faith is a principle of action. It is interesting that both faith and the atonement require work. "Faith is dead without works"(James 2:20) and you can also state the atonement without works is dead. The doctrines of faith and atonement work hand in hand and one is not without the other.

Day 77-Atonement Insights

The bible dictionary states "Sin is lawlessness; It is a refusal on men's part to submit to the law of God. By transgression men loses control over his own will and becomes the slave of sin, and so incurs the penalty of spiritual death, which is alienation from God. The atonement of Jesus Christ redeems all mankind from the fall of Adam and causes all to be answerable for their own manner of life. This means of atonement is provided by the Father, and is offered in the life and person of his Son, Jesus Christ. " When I read this statement about the atonement, I thought about the darkest moment of my life and how I felt a lack of control. Those moments may have been connected to transgression of sins of commission or omission. I noticed when I put the Lord first in the keep His commandments, I don't have time to be sad or have self-pity. It is the simple commandments of sincere prayer and feasting upon the scriptures that keep us on the straight and narrow or the iron rod leading to the Love of God. As we keep those simple commandments, we can cast out darkness and create a life after the manner of happiness.

Day 76-Atonement Insights

Why Must We Love the Lord?

"Why must we love the Lord? Because as we do so, we become refined, pure, and holy. When we love the Lord, the benefits of the Atonement can wash away our earthly stain. Though our sins be as scarlet, they can become white as snow (see Isaiah 1:18), and we can become new creatures, filled with new life, new thoughts, and a renewed desire to do good continually."

Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Two Guiding Lights," Ensign, Aug. 2007, 66

Topics: Atonement

Day 75-Atonement Insights

Elder Christofferson stated, "Jesus demonstrated that a consecrated life is a life of service. Hours before the agony of His Atonement began, the Lord humbly washed His disciples’ feet, saying to them:

“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

“For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him” (John 13:14–16).

Those who quietly and thoughtfully go about doing good offer a model of consecration."

Reflections on a Consecrated Life by D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON

Day 74-Atonement Insights

Elder Ballard stated “For those of you who have fallen prey to any kind of addiction, there is hope because God loves all of His children and because the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ makes all things possible,” Elder M. Russell Ballard testifies. “It begins with prayer—sincere, fervent, and constant communication with the Creator of our spirits and bodies, our Heavenly Father. . . . Ask to be filled with the power of Christ’s pure love.” I also like the video and the fishing analogy on how Satan know's our weaknesses and uses subtle lures which may lead to addictions. I also testify that through Christ's pure love we can be cleansed and freed from Satan's subtle lures.

Day 73-Atonement Insights

Alma 34: 16-18

16And thus ^amercy can satisfy the demands of ^bjustice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of ^cjustice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal ^dplan of ^eredemption.

17Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your ^afaith unto repentance, that ye begin to^bcall upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

18Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is ^amighty to save.

The eternal plan of redemption is based on faith and repentance. Faith and repentance are not possible without Jesus Christ and his infinite and eternal sacrifice. Faith and repentance require action on our part on a daily basis.