What Does the Atonement Mean to Me?

To set the context of what I wish to say, I should first set out a summary of my understanding of the doctrine of the atonement.

Our Father's business is all about the exaltation and eternal life of His children. To have eternal life is the be as He is - a God, a parent of innumerable children, a creator of worlds for them to live on.

One of the steps in becoming like Him is to go through our mortal life. But this mortal situation is perilous. We are separated from our Father, and, what's more, we are not able, on our own, to become worthy to return to His presence. We are also subject to physical death - the separation of our spirits from our bodies. We are powerless against the situation.

So our Father provided us with a Savior, a Redeemer, a way out of this situation.

He sent his son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. A perfect, sinless person was required for this work, and Jesus is the only one who qualifies.

Jesus voluntarily paid the price of sin and of death. He took upon Himself all of the consequences of sin, including the withdrawal of the spirit of God, and the suffering which is demanded by the law of justice. Thus, we hear Him say in his torment, "My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Yet He overcame all. He also took upon Himself all of the consequences of mortality, including spiritual and physical illness and pain and injury.

At His resurrection, death was defeated, so that all of us will rise immortal and with perfect bodies. At that point, no one will be ill or deformed or in pain. Also, upon conditions of repentance and the making and keeping of ordinances and covenants, we can become pure as He is, and become kings and queens, priests and priestesses, Gods and Goddesses who reign in glory forever, working for the exaltation of countless numbers of our own children on myriad earths.

The atonement thus makes life possible. It makes Jesus the source of light and life for every living thing in the mortal world and in the eternities.

Now, with that understanding of the doctrine, so far as I understand it and was able to express it in writing, the question is, "What does all of this mean to me?"  I will list some thoughts on this, in no particular order.

I and my family have the opportunity to change and improve, to repent and become better people, and to be completely cleansed from those sins of which we repent.

We can be spiritually healed. We can have the Holy Ghost to be with, comfort, and guide us.

We can, at times, when faith and the Lord's will permit, be physically healed. The power of faith and priesthood are made operative through the atonement.

Immortality is certain for all of us, and eternal life is offered to all - it can be had though obedience and faithfulness, though making and keeping covenants.

The atonement is my single greatest source of comfort during hard times. It gives me peace and strength of character that I could not otherwise have.

In summary, the atonement is the only source of life, light, faith, comfort, and hope that we have or could ever need. It is our Father's way of offering us all that He has.

I am profoundly grateful for these precious gifts, without which there could be no light, life or hope in the world.

I bear testimony that this is true, the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.