[moptopfan50]

I have pondered for awhile on posting my thoughts on the Atonement.

One day last month I was having a very hard day, and as I was driving to my various destinations, this subject came to my mind. Then on the next Sunday, the talks were on...you guessed it, the Atonement.

Webster's dictionary defines atonement as: the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. We as Latter Day-Saints know the Atonement took place in the Garden. How many of you have given thought to the prayer He offered to His Father.... "Father, if thou wilt, remove this cup...nevertheless, if thou wilt, I shall drink it up, for not MY will but THINE be done." Let us remember that Christ, as the Only Begotten of the Father, had command of the angels and, at any time, could have commanded them to come save Him, and they would have. But then all the creations would have been for naught. Our pre-mortal council to which we "shouted with joy" when the Lord's plan was adopted would have been null and void. This could not be, for God's word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. "For this purpose came I into the world" Christ said when referencing his crucifixion.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 tells us: 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Man was dead in his sins because of the fall of Adam. We needed a way to have those sins removed so we could return to our Father in Haeaven. This is where the Atonement comes into play. He died for us and his blood removes our sins from us -- provided we repent, not just "repent", but truly and sincerely repent. The kind of repentance that brings about a change of heart, where one no longer desires to do evil, but do good (Mosiah 5:2). And we renew our covenants each Sunday when we take the Sacrament.

I would sugguest 2 things for us to do: 1) Listen carefully and learn the words of the Sacrament prayers. Moroni Chapter 4 is the bread, and Moroni Chapter 5 is the water. 2) All of us every day should include in our prayers our sincere thankfulness for the sacrifice Christ made for us, and make the Atonement part of our daily lives. If you have not done lately, read this and then go on your knees and ask for forgiveness and get your lives in order. Otherwise, for you, the Atonement means nothing and you are lost forever.

The time is short brothers and sisters. These are the last days. Alma 34:33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. This is truly our day and time and learn about and receive our God. May all of us do this and walk forward with that change of heart.

moptopfan50