OF JESUS CHRIST
High Council Talk Given to the Prairie 7th Ward
April 17, 2005
The atonement of Jesus Christ brings hope to all mankind. Without the atonement, there would be no hope for the family of man.
There are two great hopes associated with the Atonement of Jesus Christ:
1. Christ’s victory over death that brought about the resurrection.
2. Christ’s victory over sin wherein he took upon himself the sins of the world.
Hope of the Resurrection
Recently we just celebrated Easter. Easter is when we celebrate the great miracle of the resurrection. I remember when I first obtained a spiritual witness of the resurrection. I was on my mission at the time, and was in the process of memorizing the scriptures that accompanied the discussions. I had obtained paperback versions of the scriptures, and had cut out the ones I needed to memorize, and had pasted them on 5 x 7 index cards. As we were out tracting, I would carry this index cards with me, and memorize scriptures between door approaches. I still remember the neighborhood in Kelowna, British Columbia, where I was memorizing the scriptures about the resurrection of the Savior. I remember studying the verses about how the stone was rolled away, and the tomb was empty. The angel telling the women that “He is not here, but is risen, as he said.” The spirit bore witness to me, in a very powerful way the truth of those scriptures that I was memorizing. I had always believed in the resurrection of the Savior, and I had a hope that I, too would one day be resurrected. But now I knew with the surety that can only come from the Holy Ghost, that Christ indeed was resurrected, and that he lives still to this day. The knowledge of that witness still sustains me today, more that 25 years later. The witness of the Spirit gives me hope, that we all will live again after this life.
Implications of the Resurrection
There are certain things that become apparent to us once we have obtained that hope of the resurrection.
- We know, for instance, that this life will not be the end of our existence.
- We know that there will be a judgment to come after this life is over
- We know that we will be held accountable for our actions here in this life
Not the end
If we have the hope of the resurrection we know that this life will not be the end of our existence. Too many people in the world do not have this hope. Many believe, like Korihor, “that when a man is dead, that is the end thereof.” (Alma 30:18).
If we have no hope of life beyond mortality, we lose the eternal perspective of our existence. We lose sight of the plan of salvation, and the true purposes of life become hidden from us.
Those who do not have this understanding of our reasons for being here on earth often mock the laws of God, and those who follow him.
I am convinced that much of the wickedness we have in the world today is a result of those who do not have a hope in the resurrection.
(Alma 41.11)
“. . . all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness."
How lonely they must be, to be without God in the world. How miserable they are, for we know that wickedness never was happiness, and it never will be.
Knowing that there is a resurrection gives us hope that all our efforts in living the gospel, and keeping the commandments will be worth our time and effort in this life.
Those without this hope, do not share this belief. Eventually this philosophy of unbelief, which is encouraged by Satan, causes people to rebel against God and to consider keeping His commandments a burden. It creates an approach to life of fulfilling their appetites and every whim, and getting away with whatever you can. After all, if no one is looking, who is going to know?
Of course, we know that someone is always looking, and hidden acts of darkness and evil will one-day be revealed.
There will be a Judgement
The scriptures teach that all of us will resurrected from the dead, both the good and the evil.
(John 5:28-29)
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Regardless of how well we kept the commandments in this life, all of us will be resurrected. Even those who now have no hope in their hearts of a resurrection to come, will be resurrected.
And with that resurrection, will come a judgment.
We will be held accountable
With that judgment, comes accountability. We will have to answer for our actions in this life. Those who may have deluded themselves into believing that there is no accountability, and that there was no one watching their hidden acts, will be in for a rude awakening, or should we say, a rude re-awakening?
If people really understood that this life is not the end, that they will be resurrected, and that they will be held accountable for their actions, I believe that they would have different behaviors.
Hope During Times of Loss
Each of us has, or will have, at some point in our lives lose a loved one who is dear to us. The hope of the resurrection can bring us great comfort during times of mourning for those who have passed-on.
This hope can help us to cope with the separation that we feel with our departed loved one. We know that they still exist, that their spirits continue to live on, though their body remains here upon the earth.
The hope of the resurrection is that we will one day see them again, and be able to hold them in our arms, and rejoice together in Christ as those who are in the graves will be called forth. The spirits and the bodies of the dead will be re-united, and inseparably joined, into an immortal being that will never taste death again. This is one of the greatest and most beautiful precepts of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Easter Hymn “He is Risen” states, “Death is conquered, man is free! Christ has won the Victory!
Of particular comfort during times of loss, is the knowledge we have of the status of little children, who die before the age of accountability. Not only will they be resurrected, but through the atonement of Christ, they will be saved in the Celestial Kingdom of God, as well.
What a great comfort to parents of have lost a little one, to know that they are in the hands of the Lord, and that all will be well with them.!
Temples are a Symbol of the Resurrection
President Hinckley once said that our temples are a symbol of the resurrection of the Lord. Think about it, if there were no resurrection, there would be no need to perform work for the dead.
If there were no resurrection, there would be no need for ordinances to be administered to the living, for all eternity!
But there is a resurrection. And there will be an eternity. And the work of the temples is central to God’s plan of salvation for all his children.
As we enter the temples, and take upon ourselves covenants there, we are promised that we will come forth in the morning of the First Resurrection. What a privilege that will be – to participate with the hosts of heaven at the time of the Lord’s second coming, when the graves will be opened for all the righteous to come forth!
Our Victory Over Satan Would Not Be Complete
Without the resurrection, our victory over Satan would not be complete. In fact, victory over Satan would be impossible without the resurrection:
(2 Nephi 9:8-10.)
8 . . . For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to . . . the devil, to rise no more.
9 And our spirits must have become like unto him . . . to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; . . .
10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell . . .
The Hope of Christ’s Victory over Sin
Christ not only gained a victor over death, he also took upon himself the penalty, the price, for all our sins. Because of his sacrifice, and his suffering on our behalf, we have hope that we can overcome our sins as well.
Original Guilt
The atonement of Christ brought to deliverance to all of mankind, who, after the Fall of Adam, had slipped into a fallen state. Both sin and death had entered into the world because of the fall. Through Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection, both of these fallen conditions were overcome. Original Guilt, which occurred at the time of the fall was compensated for through Christ. The agency of man then came fully into effect. As our 2nd article of faith states, Man would truly be punished only for his own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
The way was opened to all mankind, that the effects of death and sin can be absolved, thus as our 3rd article of faith states, salvation becomes available to all mankind by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. Man could truly act for himself, and not be acted upon. Each would be resurrected as a result of keeping their first estate. And each also could return to the presence of God based on conditions repentance, through the merits of Jesus Christ. We are free to choose what our eternal destiny will be, based upon our willingness to accept Christ and his Gospel, and keep his commandments.
None of this would be possible, without the atonement of Christ, and his suffering for our sins.
A Hope Of Forgiveness
The atonement of Christ brings to each of us the hope of forgiveness. Each of us has made mistakes in our lives. Only Jesus himself, was able to pass through this life without ever being tainted by sin and error. We know, however, through his willingness to redeem us from sin, we can be spared the great suffering that he endured on our behalf. However, we must repent, and be baptized in order to receive this blessed forgiveness. The Savior Said:
(D&C 19:16-17)
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I . . .
As we repent, we are blessed with forgiveness for our sins and mis-deeds. We can lay aside these sins which so easily beset us, and place our feet firmly on the path toward eternal life.
Forgiveness brings us hope that not only will we live again, as resurrected beings, but that we can one-day return to the presence of God, and there live with our families for all eternity.
As we repent, we are promised that we shall have peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come. (See D&C 59:23)
The Hope of a Better Life
As we follow Jesus, and repent of our sins, and take upon ourselves the covenants of the gospel, and keep his commandments, we obtain a hope of a better life – here and now, in this world, as well as . Some of the blessings we receive are:
-Peace of Mind
-Peace with Others
-Peace between ourselves and God
Although there is no peace in the world around us, we can have that peace which passeth all understanding -- that calm assurance, that as we follow the Savior, and abide by his teachings, that all will be well with us, no matter what the world may do or say.
-The hope of the atonement brings purpose and meaning to our lives. We know that we are not just living for the moment, but for eternity as well. We know that our efforts during our short time on earth will have a direct impact upon our eternal happiness.
-The hope of the atonement gives us an eternal perspective on things. As we endure challenges and trials in this life, we can have the faith and hope necessary to endure what we are called upon to endure, because we will have the help of the Lord to endure now, and we know that it will be well worth our time and effort now, to receive the blessings of eternal life.
(Moroni 8:26)
And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
It is my hope and prayer, that each of us will seek after the Savior, and come unto him and repent, that we may be filled with that hope for a better world, and that we may all one-day return to the presence of the Lord, with our loved ones, for all eternity.
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