The Atonement

My mind has been on the Atonement of Jesus Christ a lot recently. It seems everywhere I go I am hearing all about the Atonement. I have had Relief Society lessons, Religion Class lessons, English spiritual thoughts (3 of these have been focused solely on Alma 7:11-13), My cousin's blogpost about the Atonement working in her life, and even more. This really shouldn't surprise me because as Joseph Smith said... 

"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."

The Atonement truly is at the center of our religion, without it we wouldn't have a religion to begin with. We would be lost forever, becoming angels to a devil (2 Nephi 9:9) and with no incentive to make good choices. 

Recently the thought that has been weighing most on my mind is in regards to the "Infinite" aspect of the Atonement. Why that aspect do you ask? Well, let me tell you. Once upon a time while I was on my mission we had a lesson set up with a potential investigator. He was somebody that previous missionaries had talked to but hadn't taught, so we thought we would introduce ourselves and see if he was interested in learning more. When we got to his house he was very friendly and welcoming. He was very strong in his faith, but liked to talk about religion. We had a nice conversation for the most part, but something that he talked to us about really bothered me. It was something that I disagreed with very strongly but never had the opportunity to discuss in more detail. He said something along the lines of . . .

Christ only suffered for the people that he knew would repent and accept his sacrifice. 

I know those weren't his exact words, but that was the gist of his belief. In my heart I immediately disagreed but I didn't feel like I could articulate my thoughts and beliefs clearly enough and didn't wan't to end up bible bashing so my companion and I didn't say much on that score, but it has stuck with me ever since. 

God loves all of his children, there is no one that has ever lived, that will ever live, or that lives now that is not loved by God. He sent His Son to this world to suffer and die because he loves his children. In Doctrine and Covenants 19:16 it says "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;" Christ came to atone for the sins of ALL mankind. His Atonement is not just infinite in that it covers each of our individual sins and weaknesses and trials and burdens and sicknesses and temptations, it covers ALL of that for EVERY individual that ever has, does, or will exist. I just can't believe that a God who is all loving would provide a way for only those who would accept his son. It is such an important thing in understanding the character of Christ to know that he suffered even for those that would reject him, because otherwise they would be doomed. They would never have a chance and I know that God would never do that to even one of His children. To believe that Christ didn't suffer for all is to believe that God doesn't love all His children and that Christ's atonement is not infinite. 

I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have and that has been strengthened by this study that God does love each and every one of us and that Christ's atonement really can and does radiate its glorious light into ALL.

Alma 34:14 "And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal."