The Atonement

Did you know that just one sin would keep you from entering Heaven? Just one little white lie, one little lustful thought or one unkind word will drive you from the kingdom of God and cut you off from His presence.

Does that sound severe? It is. But it's just. Justice is both our best friend and our worst enemy. Justice to us is our greatest protector and a fierce enforcer that comes to claim repayment.

Justice isn't worried about the shades of gray. It's worried about black and white. It's the Law of the Harvest (you reap what you sow) wrapped up into one word.

God is the same way. He is perfectly just. If a law is broken (sin), then the consequence that is fixed, must be carried out. Some are able to evade the consequences for a short time, others for what seems to be longer, and others are able to evade even until they die. But the punishment will come. Make no mistake.

When Adam and Eve took the fruit, It caused two major things to happen:

1. It caused us to become mortal, so they and their children would all die (Temporal Death)
2. It caused them to die spiritually, meaning they were cut off from God's presence.

Full and complete Justice. These were the consequences of breaking the commandments that God had given them.


But your probably asking.. "If one single lie can keep me from Heaven, who then can make it in?"

The sad truth is that we all have and do frequently sin. (Romans 3:23)

After Adam and Eve had become mortal they were given what is called a "Probationary State" (Alma 42:4)

This was a period of time before they died in which they would be able to repent of the sins they had committed.

If Adam and Eve showed faith in Jesus Christ (that he would come and atone for their sins), repent of their sins, (confess and forsake the sin), be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure faithfully to the end they were promised that they would be received back into the presence of God.

Also, they were taught that after Jesus had died for their sins, He would bring about the resurrection of Himself and all the dead. Thus providing a way to conquer Temporal death (the death of our bodies) and Spiritual Death (being cut off from the presence of God)

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints believe that we will be punished for our own sins and not the sins of Adam and Eve.

One of our Articles of Faith says just that:

Article of Faith #2
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

It's true that we all suffer the effects of the Fall by inheriting mortal bodies but God will not hold us eternally responsible for this.

He has provided a way out of this problem for us. (otherwise He would not be just)
He sent His Perfect Son Jesus Christ to bring about the marvelous resurrection of the dead.

Everyone, no matter what they do in this life will be given the gift of the resurrection.

However, not everyone is automatically saved from the effects of the spiritual death. (Being cut off from the presence of God)

We have been given the ability to choose good or evil in this life. Therefore, we are accountable for our own sins.

And just as the justice of God required the cutting off of Adam and Eve from the presence of the Lord until they went through the process of faith, repentance, baptism, etc.

So too, justice requires the cutting off of us from God, until we go through this same process.

In addition to God being perfectly just, he is perfectly merciful. These two ideas (Justice and Mercy) seem to contradict each other.

How can God not tolerate even one little sin and still be merciful?

He does it by providing a Savior for us. He provided His son, Jesus Christ to take upon himself the punishment we should be getting for our sins. This was accomplished in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary.

This allows God to be completely just and completely merciful. The punishment that justice requires was fulfilled in the passion of our Lord and Savior.

And because Jesus was God in the flesh and lived a sinless life the effect of His work is infinite. Meaning it covers everyone who will accept it in the proper way.

Two major questions that have been a bone of contention among Christian sects is how does one access this mercy Grace? And how do you keep access to it?

Lets turn to the scriptures:

First Faith is required:
Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Second you must repent:
2 Corinthians 7:10
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Third and fourth you must be baptized by those who have authority and receive the Holy Ghost: (in this case Peter and the apostles were the ones with authority)
Acts 2:37-38
37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Also Jesus himself said:
John 3: 5
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.


I've chosen each verse above from the New Testament on purpose. Just to show that Mormonism as many call our faith, is biblical.

The process I've described above is simply the process we go through to gain access to the grace of Jesus Christ. If we have access to His grace, He will bring us to Heaven. When we are baptized we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we become His Children.

Paul says it best:
Rom. 8: 17
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

So now that we've been partakers of this covenant, how do we stay within the grace of Jesus? Are we done? Is salvation made sure? Not quite.

Jesus said:
Matt. 24: 13
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

(again a New Testament scripture)

We have to endure to the end in this covenant. In other words, after we have entered in, we have to strive with our might to become more like Jesus. We have to do our best to keep His commandments. We have to try to live the life that Jesus would have us live. We have to repent when we sin. And we must testify of him.

King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon told us what we must do to "Retain a Remission of our Sins"

Mosiah 4:11-12
11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

You too can come unto Jesus Christ and experience being filled with the love of God.
You can experience His divine Justice and Mercy on your behalf.

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