October 24, 2016

"Every attempt to reflect upon the Atonement of Christ, to study it, to embrace it, to express appreciation for it, however small or feeble it may be, will kindle the fires of faith and work its miracles towards a more christlike life. It is an inescapable consequence of so doing. We become like those things we habitually love and admire. And thus, as we study Christ's life and live his teachings, we become more like him." Tad R. Callister 

There was a misconception that i had believed before I understood this principle. That is, one cannot understand the Atonement of Christ if he has not sinned so grievously as to use its redemptive power. This concept is not untrue. We all need to use the Atonement, and by so doing will gain a testimony of it. But what about reflecting upon it, or studying it, embracing it and expressing appreciation for it? Do these attempts also require our attention? That is an unequivocal yes! If we do not study it, embrace it, and express appreciation for it. We become self entitled to it. We begin to disassociate Christ from it. 

As we study the Atonement of Christ we not only understand how it feels to be redeemed, but we now comprehend why we are redeemed, and we eventually "have no more disposition to evil; but to do good continually". We can gain that motivation to forsake our favorite sins. To put off the "natural man and becometh a saint through the Atonement of christ". Because we know Him and his Atonement, and by so knowing those things, we become them. We become merciful, compassionate, charitable, faithful, long-suffering, and every other glorious thing that is associated with it. 

It is not just a study to desire for more confession. Rather it is a study to desire eternity. To be clean and worthy, and to gain a relationship with him who performed such a task. Nephi seeing our day prophesied that the believers "shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved" (1 Nephi 15:14) That is our task. To come to a knowledge of him. So that we know HOW to come unto him and be saved. 

Elder Jared M. Greenburg 

Missouri Independence Mission 

Warrensburg Missouri Area