One of the most important, if not the most important aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the Atonement. Adam fell. We know he did this. He needed to so mankind could come to the earth. To help us get back to our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for us so we can be forgiven of our sins.
He suffered the penalties of our sins allowing us to come back to God. The word atonement as used in the scriptures is “not clean.” The atonement is the way for us to repent of our sins and return to God clean and pure. We can work towards perfection in our life.
From my teen years as a new member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints (LDS Church) I learned how Jesus Christ is our Savior but I did not fully understand the total meaning of the Atonement until I was in my late 40’s. After feeling the pain of my husband passing away the scripture Isaiah 53:4 jumped out at me: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” When we experience great afflictions, many Christians don’t realize that the atonement helps us to let Christ carry these burdens and afflictions for us as well.
I had learned all about the atonement for sinners, but the atonement for the afflicted was a new concept for me. How could I have not known this all these years? Yes, I had afflictions while living my life as a married woman in Zion, but it didn’t become clear to me until I became a widow. The Atonement was for me in bearing my sorrows.
I think this is true for most Christians. We do not fully understand the atonement. We remember that we will be resurrected, and if obedient, we can achieve exaltation but do we understand when we experience the grief and sorrows of losing a loved one that the atonement is there for us too. This gives us hope and the motivation to try a little harder and be a little better.
As President Gordon B. Hinckley says, “None of us fully understands the Atonement. I think it is beyond the comprehension of any man. But we know something of it, and we know that as a result of it we will be resurrected from the grave, and that those who walk in obedience to His commandments will be given the opportunity of going on the eternal exaltation.”
From the Book of Mormon in Alma 7:11 says: “ ….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.”
As I read and studied those scriptures, I began to see how I could use the Atonement in my life to lighten the load. During this dark time, I really learned what the Atonement could do for me, and it was a wonderful gift.
Then a question came to my mind: “Should I use the atonement for my burdens or do I choose to keep my burdens to myself?” Now I could consciously choose to let the atonement ease the burdens in my life. I could meditate and ponder how the gift of the atonement could help me as other Christians did. Christ would want it that way, which is why He sacrificed so much for us.
In my mind, I had to choose for Him to take these burdens from me to lighten the load. I had to consciously let Him take those sorrows from me so I would not be so burdened. I had to say to myself, “Please take this heavy burden from me”, in order for the atonement to help me. The atonement is for everyone whatever the situation. The price is paid; mercy is available.
Our hurts never go away. If you lose a spouse through death or divorce, it is always there. The memory and pain of the loss never goes away, you just learn to deal with it. In divorce, the pain never goes away and many times, it is compounded by ex-spouses’ actions. If you have never been married, then the pain of no companion is always there until you find one, which may never happen on this earth.
Those who lose children in death or from the terrible choices they make also can use the atonement to help us with these pains. Give them to Christ. Hand them over in your mind and say to yourself, “You need to take this from me so I can have peace”.
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We need to think in our minds, and feel with our hearts, the sacrificing way our Savior gave up His life and know it was for us. We are all included in this event. It is a great power and if we use it wisely, we can nourish ourselves. It is important for us to heal our souls from the scars of life so we can be a functioning member of the society.
I don’t know all the answers but if I study the atonement out in my mind and ponder those things that would help heal my spirit I will begin to understand the atonement and use this principle in my life. It is such a great blessing.
Valerie Steimle has been writing as a family advocate for over 25 years. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she promotes Christian living in her writings and is the mother of nine children and grandmother to twelve. Mrs. Steimle authored six books and is a contributing writer to several online websites. To her, time is the most precious commodity we have and knows we should spend it wisely.
To read more of Valerie's work, visit her at her website, The Blessings of Family Life.
