Teachings of the Living Prophets
Writing a Theology Essay on Teachings of the Living Prophets
With regard to all of the topics that have been discussed thus far, I would venture to say that this one—the Atonement—is by far the most poignant in my own life. Of course, I doubt that the situation is different for the majority of people; after all, the miracle of the Atonement is arguably the most universally applicable event in the entire Bible.
Many general authorities have given extensive talks on this miracle, and it always appears to be the most moving and personally applicable subject that they speak about when they do.
“This was the most transcendent act that has ever taken place, yet it is the most difficult to comprehend,” writes James E. Faust of the Atonement (Ensign, Nov 2001). On this point, I would agree with President Faust, despite the fact that it often appears that the more “transcendent” an event is, the more difficult it is for us mortals to grasp its significance.
The Atonement itself is a miracle in and of itself. Rather than delving into the philosophical underpinnings or definition of miracles (for a thorough discussion of these topics, see C. S Lewis’ Miracles), let us simply assume that a miracle is an event that occurs outside the normal course of events and is brought about by divine power. Something God did that was out of the ordinary The Atonement, without a doubt, falls into this category. It was only through divine intervention that it was possible to carry out. “What He did could only have been accomplished by Deity,” James E. Faust continues in the same speech. Jesus, as the Only Begotten Son of the Father manifested in the flesh, inherited divine characteristics. He was the first and only person ever born into mortality who was capable of performing this monumental and supernal act” (Ibid.).
Rather than delving into an in-depth doctrinal discussion of what the Atonement was, let us instead focus on what the Atonement does to benefit us as individuals. To put it another way, how do we ordinary mortals come to witness this miracle? First and foremost, it is necessary to explain the two central viewpoints that prevent us from fully comprehending the true power and miracle of the Atonement.
The first view is easily accessible to those who are not members of the club. It is of this world. It is based on materialistic principles. It is the belief that the Atonement is not required and, as a result, should be ignored because it does not actually exist, is inapplicable, or is too difficult to comprehend. Because of this viewpoint, immorality, greed, hatred, lust, and virtually every animal or diabolical sin are encouraged. Many of those who are preoccupied with the next immoral romp around town, or the next cunning lie, or even the next murder, do not consider the Atonement and the influence it may have on their happiness and well-being.
The second point of view is just as spiritually destructive as the first, and it is more prevalent among Latter-day Saints. The adherents of this philosophy believe that, because their lives are not perfect and because they do not live up to their covenants in perfect idealism, they do not merit the power of the Atonement. The disciples are told by Christ that he can make them perfect, and they reject this claim. They refuse to acknowledge the fundamental nature of this miracle. Although this point of view does not directly lead to sin, it does lead to unhappiness, which is the polar opposite of what we are supposed to be doing on this planet.
In other words, the miracle of the Atonement occurs in a person’s life when he or she transcends one or both of these viewpoints, understands the true purpose of this miracle, and applies it to their own situation. We do not justify the Atonement through our righteousness, but we cannot accept it if we continue to be loyal to the forces of evil. We must remain loyal to Christ in the sense that we must sincerely desire to improve in virtue, but that improvement in virtue does not qualify us for further consideration for His blessing.
It must also be understood that the miracle of the Atonement occurring in one’s life is a series of events rather than a single event. Every single day, a renewed commitment to Jesus Christ is required to take place. According to some accounts, a single life-changing epiphany can be traced back to a point in time when the individual was converted from one of the two incorrect viewpoints outlined above to the truth of what Christ would have us understand. Although many evangelicals would have us believe otherwise, one epiphany does not make a person committed to following God’s will for the rest of his or her life, contrary to popular belief. Indeed, the happiness and peace of mind that come from living a life “saved” by the Atonement of Christ are derived from an understanding of the Atonement’s foundation of incredible mercy, acceptance of its boundaries, and application of the miracle to one’s life on an ongoing basis.
Works Cited
Malcolm, X. “Anger and Forgiveness.” Imperfect Heroes: Teaching in Challenging Times to Motivate Student Achievement (2022): 53.
Kelly, Kate. Ordinary Equality: The Fearless Women and Queer People Who Shaped the US Constitution and the Equal Rights Amendment. Gibbs Smith, 2022.
