The Atonement of Jesus Christ

     The Atonement of Jesus Christ

     So for this weeks post I'm sharing a journal entry I wrote last week for a Book of Mormon class I'm taking at BYU. After each class period we write one of these to reflect on what the professor taught us in class. I am changing the name of my professor to "Jones" to protect his identity. This particular journal entry is about the atonement of Christ. For those of you who don't know, the word "atonement" according to Christian theology is "the reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ" -google

     The event of the atonement encompasses Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, his crucifixion on the cross, and his resurrection from death. The Book Of Mormon and the Holy Bible teach that this event is the key to God's plan to save his children. 

     Here is my journal entry about it:

            I love learning about the atonement of Jesus Christ, especially around this sacred holiday we call Easter (which we celebrated on Sunday). It is the center of our faith. Everything else we learn about is an appendage to it. It is the key to the plan of salvation. God’s plan would fail without it. In effect it is God’s plan to save his children: The Plan of Salvation.

            Today’s focus text was centered on the famous verses Alma 7:11-12. Jones said that there is a website called scriptures.byu.edu in which BYU religion scholars index all of the scriptures that The Brethren have ever quoted in general conference and their commentary on those passages. Jones found it interesting that this passage about the atonement was hardly ever talked about until the 1980s. At this time Elder Neil L Maxwell started a commentary on it that has over time made it one of the most well known verses in The Book Of Mormon. Jones said that it basically changed the way the church talks about the atonement.

            What the passage teaches is that Jesus can help us because he knows everything we go through. He knows how we feel. He can always comfort us because he can relate. He can have true empathy because he has experienced it all. In Alma’s words to the members in Gideon, “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11-12).

It sounds like he didn’t just pay the penalty justice demands for our sins by suffering pain. It sounds like he also felt what it must feel like to be blind. It sounds like he felt what it feels like to be guilty of sin. It sounds like he felt the crippling temptation that a drug addict feels to give in to their bodily urges. It sounds like he felt the pain a mother feels when she gives birth, as strange as that sounds. It sounds like he went through what it feels like to have cancer and go through chemotherapy, etcetera, and etcetera.

Jones said it’s the same phenomena as when you meet someone from your home state and you automatically have a connection because you have that one thing in common. Jones told us that he had a younger brother that died in a drunk driving accident. He said that when he meets other people who have siblings that died in the same way it genuinely comforts him because he feels like he’s not alone. Isn’t that interesting an “At –One-Ment” is there to help us feel like we’re not alone. It’s there to help us feel like we are “at one” with someone who cares about us. That’s powerful. Whenever I read these verses it reminds me of the song “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers.

“Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load
You have to bear that you can't carry
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load
If you just call me”

Like the Father ran to the prodigal son and embraced him, I know that we can again be “at one” with our Eternal Father through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Garden of Gethsemane

 Hill of Calvary

The Garden Tomb

The Testaments

     The Testaments

     The scriptures testify of Christ. We hear the voice of Christ through the Jehovah of the Old Testament. We get to see the life of Christ in the new Testament. The Book Of Mormon is "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" in which we get to see an exclusive visit that Christ makes to the ancient people of the American continent roughly 600 years after Lehi's family travels from Jerusalem to America.

     This movie (The Testaments: of one fold and one shepherd) aligns the Book of Mormon story with what was going on in the holy land during the time of Christ. It gives you a feeling of what it would've been like to be a Christian in ancient america. It is a beautiful depiction of Christ's love and teachings. It is one of the best movies I've ever seen. 

     Check it out.

How Rare a Possession

How Rare a Possession 

I came across this old video on youtube a few weeks ago. It shares two stories about how The Book Of Mormon changed an individuals life. It's another long one. It shares some good insights into what The Book Of Mormon teaches.

The Book Of Mormon

How Rare a Possession

What Does The Book Of Mormon Teach?

What Does The Book Of Mormon Teach?      

When you have a baby it's hard to find one hour a week to write a blog. I didn't have time to write a full post this week but I'm going to post two videos that I want you to watch. 

     The videos are documentaries put together by BYU scholars of all different fields. The videos present evidence of Book of Mormon people in the old world and in the new world based on the text. 

     The first one is called "Journey Of Faith" and is focused on the Exodus of Lehi's family from Jerusalem and their voyage across the sea to the promised land. The second one is called "The New World" and focuses on evidences of Book of Mormon people in Central America. I have heard lots of evidence that The Book Of Mormon took place in Central America and lots of evidence that The Book Of Mormon took place in North America. I don't personally have an opinion on which one is true.

     Although these videos are primarily a scholarly study of facts, they also discuss quite a bit about what The Book Of Mormon teaches.

     These are two of the most interesting videos I have ever watched.

     They are kind of long so they might be good to watch for family home evening tonight or something.

Journey Of Faith

The New World

False and Vain and Foolish Doctrines

    False and Vain and Foolish Doctrines

 I was going to write about something else but tonight I felt prompted strongly to write about this.  

     As discussed in earlier posts Nephi is the first record keeper and really the first main character in The Book of Mormon. After Nephi's family separates into the "Nephites" and the "Lamanites" Nephi becomes the primary ruler and teacher of his people. In one of the last recorded sermons that Nephi gives to his people he prophecies about "the last days". The "Mormon" church is really called "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" meaning that it is the church that Christ's saints, or followers, will belong to in the last days before his second coming. It also means that it is the church that Christ himself will establish to usher in the last dispensation (the last time that his truths will be dispensed to the world) before his second coming. In relation to this time (the time that we are now living in). Nephi said this:

     "For it shall come to pass in that day...they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost...and they deny the power of God,the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today...Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God - He will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the Kingdom of God. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

     "For behold, at that day shall he [Satan] rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

     "And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion...and thus the devil cheateth their souls.

     "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have." (2 Nep 28:3-30)

     It's crazy how Nephi knew this nearly 2600 years ago. I guess that's what made him a prophet. 

     We live in a time of ideas. Because of modern technology and communication the spread and transfer of ideas is greater now that in any other period of earths history. Because of the abundance of the wealthy, people have more time to think about ideas than in any previous era. Universities and secular academia are drenched in the influence of the philosophies of men. Today's modern society scoffs at the idea of God and the ideas of right and wrong are next to go. As Nephi said we live in a time when people are angry about "that which is good".  We live in a time where good is considered evil and evil considered good.

     I am grateful for scripture like The Holy Bible and The Book of Mormon that teach undiluted true doctrine. I am grateful for a God who communicates with his children through prayer and personal revelation; who can direct our paths. I am grateful for a God who speaks to his children through prophets who protect and preserve precious truths that can help my family be safe from the evil influences of the world.

     Thanks Nephi.

O Be Wise

O Be Wise

I'm busy so I'll have to do a short one this week but one of my favorite verses in The Book Of Mormon is Jacob chapter six verse twelve:

"O be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12)

Jacob, one of the most effective gospel teachers in The Book Of Mormon, is characterized by his love of his people, and his faithfulness in fulfilling his calling to teach them. Jacob inherited that "anxiety" of his father Lehi. The anxiety for the eternal welfare of the souls of his family. He repeatedly expresses that he feels responsible to warn and teach his people so that their sins might not come upon his head at the last day.

I feel that as a parent I am responsible in that same way. If I do not teach my children the gospel of Jesus Christ I am the one who will be held responsible on judgment day.

I am grateful for God's reminder through the scriptures to "be wise". It's so obvious that it seems like it may not even be worth saying; but I think we can all agree that it is worth saying (or hearing) once in a while.

These were Jacob's last words before he bid us farewell. As a man who saw God and heard his voice, I think he is someone worth listening to.

I love the simplicity of this verse. It reminds me of one of the psalms and the proverbs. An expounded version of Jacob's counsel might be found in Proverbs chapter two:

 1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

 6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

 10 ¶When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereh with her words;

 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.