Tag Archives: Atonement

Making the Most of the Sacrament

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Sometimes you have an epiphany about something you should have grasped long ago. This past Sunday was one of those days for me. After a long week, I was drained and ready for some spiritual recharging. As I sat in Sacrament meeting and thought about the week, I found a deeper understanding of the sacrament than I have in a long while. The sacrament is all about starting over. I have a whole new week to begin on. I have a clean slate. And all those things that weighed me down over the week were lightened as I began to … Continue reading →

Articles of Faith Series: The Third Article

The Third Article of Faith states: “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.” We do truly worship Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and our Savior. He entered the Garden of Gethsemane and took upon Himself our pain, our weaknesses, our sins, our sorrows—everything with which we have been burdened or do burden ourselves. He bore the weight of all those sins so that we have the opportunity to repent and to become clean from our pasts. His was a mighty, miraculous gift, one that … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: “O How Great the Goodness of Our God”

I apologize for the delay in bringing you the Gospel Doctrine lessons for the last several weeks. We’ve been unable to attend church, due to illness, and I’m just getting caught up now. Our recommended reading for this lesson is: 2 Nephi 6-10 Also: 2 Nephi 9:10, 9:14, 9:18, 9:28, 9:39, 9:51. Jacob, one of Nephi’s younger brothers, became a great prophet as he followed in the footsteps of his father and brother. Throughout 2 Nephi and in the Book of Jacob, we see him give several heartfelt discourses on the plan of salvation. In 2 Nephi chapters 6-10, our … Continue reading →

Do Certain Movies Make Your Husband Cry?

I have been asking Wayne (begging really) to take me to see Atonement for weeks now, and this weekend he finally did. He did not want to see this movie. For one, he doesn’t like “period” movies. Meaning most things set in the past. He especially hates anything set in the 1800s. (“I’m not watching any of that 1800 crap” is a favorite saying of his.) Atonement was not of 1800 vintage. It was set during the twentieth century, specifically around World War II. (World War II era films are acceptable in Wayne’s book.) But the other reason he dragged … Continue reading →

By Man Least Understood – Derek G. Rowley

“By Man Least Understood” by author Derek G. Rowley is an LDS doctrinal book that takes the principles of repentance, agency, restoration, atonement, and the everlasting covenant and breaks them down into smaller steps, with supplementing quotes and scriptures to illustrate each one. A former bishop and high councilor, Brother Rowley uses his insights into the principles of the Gospel to help the reader more fully grasp the incredible gift that is ours as given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We begin with a look into the fruit of repentance. Before we can embark on a … Continue reading →

Forgiving Yourself

When it comes to forgiveness, we often talk about forgiving others. This is an important and essential thing to do. It is not always easy to forgive others if they have wronged us. Forgiving others brings a release and a sense of peace. It can be even more difficult to forgive yourself for mistakes that you have made in the past. It can be difficult to find peace after you have felt true remorse for the mistakes that you have made. The Atonement allows you to find true peace as you forsake your sins. It can help you to change … Continue reading →

Repentance

Over the past week I have spent a great deal of time cleaning out a closet in my home. In this particular closet I had stored several years of clothes for my children. I spent the time sorting through the boxes, organizing them and giving away the excess I had accumulated. As I finished up the job today, I felt a great deal of satisfaction, and peace because I knew that I had completed a job I have been putting off for over a year. I also though about how much this cleaning was like repentance. As I addressed the … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: Deathbed Repentance

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Perhaps one of the most misunderstood quotes in scripture comes in Luke 23:43. As Jesus hangs on the cross, a thief also hangs to his side, acknowledging that his punishment is just while the Savior has done no wrong. Jesus then answers, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” So many have taken to heart the possibility that a deathbed repentance will lead to eternal glory, but this is not so. According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the aforementioned phrase meant that the Savior and the thief would be in the world of spirits that very day. At … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: “Thou That Destroyest the Temple…”

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As the Savior was tried in court, and later as He hung on the cross, His persecutors mocked Him with His earlier words. “Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,” they taunted, “Save thyself, and come down from the cross.” (Mark 15:29-30) Their choice of words was quite ironic. Earlier in His ministry, the Savior was asked to show a sign of His divinity. He responded, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19) Note that He did not say that He would be the one to destroy the … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: Sorrow Turned to Joy

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As Christ prepares Himself to leave His disciples, He warns them of His impending death. He knows that they will view His crucifixion with pain and sorrow. And yet, he promises that “your sorrow shall be turned to joy” (John 16:20). Two thousand years later, we look at the atonement of Christ almost always from a joyful standpoint. After all, it was because He took our sins upon Him that we are able to return home. Similarly, we would not be able to be resurrected had He not first suffered death and then resurrection, and so we would not be … Continue reading →