Speeches by Topic Topics | Atonement
As declared by Joseph Smith, the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ is the fundamental doctrine for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints upon which all other principles are founded. We believe in the testimonies of the Atonement foreshadowed in the Old Testament, offered in the New Testament, and echoed in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price, as well as by every latter-day prophet and apostle. These teachings, whether written or spoken, testify that Jesus Christ suffered for the sins and afflictions of the world, gave up His life on the cross, and then took it up again in the Resurrection.
The blessings of the Atonement are innumerable. Because of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins and prepare to return to our Father in Heaven. We know that death is not permanent and each of us will one day receive a perfected and glorified body, enabling us to live forever with those we love. However, the blessings of the Atonement are not limited to life after death. Here and now, the Atonement offers us the peace, hope, and confidence we need to endure trials, make our lives meaningful, and become more like the Savior.
These discourses given at BYU devotionals offer added doctrinal depth, gleaned through years of academic and spiritual study, to our understanding of this matchless gift. They also provide powerful testimonies of the reality of Jesus Christ and His Atonement to shore up our faith and give us strength. Finally, they give us practical examples and counsel for applying the Atonement in our lives. As you read, listen to, or watch these devotional addresses, your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will be strengthened and you will better understand the infinite worth you have.
Agency, Accountability, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Application to Sexual Assault
Whether you are aware of it or not, there is someone around you whose life has been altered by sexual violence. Being “an example of the believers,” living a life of kindness and compassion, keeping your covenant “to mourn with those that mourn,” and serving others can all have powerful effects on those around you. Please do not underestimate the influence of diligent obedience, daily worship, and active service. You can do much good in a general way without realizing how the Spirit is working through you to bless the lives of others.
Of Starfish and Destinies
In time, you will one day look down at the shoreline of your life and see it washed clean, purified, and sanctified, and in the water’s reflection you will see the image of Christ in your countenance.
“Walk in Newness of Life”
So you see, the rigorous change required by the gospel of Jesus Christ is not meant to be disheartening or exhausting; it is exciting and exhilarating! The plan of salvation is the ultimate adventure.
Faith to Forgive Grievous Harms: Accepting the Atonement as Restitution
This is a very strong statement: if we refuse to forgive, there remaineth in us the greater sin. How can this be? As I hope to explain, our salvation is conditioned on forgiving others because when we refuse to forgive, what we are really saying is that we reject, or don’t quite trust, the Atonement. And it is our acceptance of the Atonement that ultimately saves us.
The Miracle of Forgiveness
Book of Mormon prophets teach that Christ’s Atonement was infinite, eternal, and all-encompassing. Christ’s Atonement covered all sin, all transgression, all wrongdoing. And because He suffered for our sins, He can come before the Father in the Day of Judgment on behalf of those who have repented of their sins to offer intercession,
His Grace Is Sufficient
So grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted. Rather, it is our constant energy source. It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that moves us through the tunnel. Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road. It is received right here and right now. It is not a finishing touch; it is the Finisher’s touch.
God Did Not Put Us Here to Fail
Making dreams become reality requires great sacrifice and determination. Most people are content to just coast along. Many don’t like to apply their talents and abilities or to put in long hours of work. But to achieve any dream and to make something truly remarkable happen in our lives, we must face adversity head-on, and we must overcome all of the obstacles in our pathway.
Faith, Hope, and You
Hope is a most powerful influence in our lives. Yes indeed, we do live in a troubled and challenging world. But we live in one of the greatest periods of time in all the history of the entire world. It is a time that I believe every prophet since the creation of the earth prophesied of and looked forward to. We have every reason to be optimistic and full of hope—hope for this life, hope for our children, and hope for the eternities to come.
Lessons from Liberty Jail
Every one of us, in one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail—spiritually speaking. We will face things we do not want to face for reasons that may not have been our fault. Indeed, we may face difficult circumstances for reasons that were absolutely right and proper, reasons that came because we were trying to keep the commandments of the Lord.
The Power of Deliverance
Today I will talk about some of the trials we are given and the power of deliverance available to us as we pass through them. There are many different tests, but today I will speak of only three. You may be in one of these tests now. For each, the power of deliverance is available—not to escape the test but to endure it well.
"The Very Root of Christian Doctrine"
The agonizing Atonement of Christ is the core of Christian doctrine. It is only by coming to know Him as our Redeemer that we are motivated to change.
"Look Forward with an Eye of Faith"
The Book of Mormon teaches God's plan for us. Live according to that plan—take care of your body, seek intelligence, and prepare for an eternal family.
“And Always Remember Him”
Each time we take the sacrament, we covenant to keep God's commandments and always remember Him." How often, though, do we actually remember Christ?
"A Wonderful Flood of Light"
The restoration brought about a "wonderful flood of light" regarding the family, the Fall, and the Atonement of Christ—but do we live in that light?
Loose Him and Let Him Go
Aloha. It is a blessing and privilege to greet you today from your sister campus, BYU—Hawaii, which is guided by the same prophetic destiny as this campus. As you may know, we are a small, intimate campus made up of students of many nations. My greeting could easily come to you in scores of different languages, but aloha, meaning love and affection in the Hawaiian language, has become our universal expression of…
“In the Strength of the Lord”
As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who “act” rather than objects that are “acted upon."
Feeling the Atonement
My dear brothers and sisters, I am delighted to be here today to share a few thoughts with you. I appreciate the music that was so inspiring and the prayer to invoke the Lord’s Spirit here today. Three weeks ago today, President Bateman centered his devotional talk around a scripture counseling us to “search diligently in the light of Christ” and to “lay hold upon every good thing” (Moroni 7:19).…
The Weight of the World
Have you ever picked up a fully loaded pack at the start of a really long hike? It is almost staggering as you try and throw it on your shoulders and secure it to your frame. However, once you get it adjusted on your back and hit your hiking stride, it may still be heavy but you are able to manage. Well, school has started. You have had four weeks…
The Intimate Restoration
He who will bring about the restoration of all things also brings to pass the intimate restorations that heal us, cleanse us, and fulfill divine promises.
Vast and Intimate: The Atonement in the Heavens and in the Heart
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is both vast enough to apply to the entirety of the universe and intimate enough to support us in our individual trials.
The Great Plan of Redemption
Bruce L. Brown testifies that modern prophets have revealed and will continue to reveal important truths about the great plan of redemption.
One by One
The Savior performed the Atonement for each of us, one by one. We can develop n individual relationship with Him through prayer, study, and loving others.
The Three A’s: Atonement, Agency, and Accountability
The atonement, along with our own agency and accountability, work together to comprise the essence of the Plan of Salvation.
The Ultimate Paradox
When Nephi saw in vision the condescension of both the Father and the Son in offering the Son as the Lamb of God, he could only describe the love in superlative phrases as “beauty . . . exceeding of all beauty; . . . the whiteness of the driven snow. . . . Precious above all. . . . The most desirable above all things. . . . And the most joyous to the soul” (1 Nephi 11:8–9, 22–23). That…
“In Him All Things Hold Together”
Everything about the gospel is held together by the Savior Jesus Christ. His Atonement exemplifies all of the divine attributes we are seeking.
Believing Christ: A Practical Approach to the Atonement
We’re so terrified of whether we’re going to live or die, or whether we’ve made it to the kingdom or not, that we cannot make any progress. It’s at those times when the Savior grabs us and throws his arms around us and says, “I’ve got you. I love you. I’m not going to let you die. Now relax and trust me.”
Come Unto Christ
I pray that you and I will make the choices tonight and tomorrow and as long as we live that will bring the influence of the Holy Ghost into our lives in the service of the Master. I testify that as we do, we will feel the cleansing that comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and with it the confidence that we are coming unto him.
Why a Savior Is Necessary, and Why Only Jesus Christ Could Qualify
In living the gospel, we must understand why a Savior is necessary for our physical and spiritual salvation. He is the greatest gift ever given.
There Is Always Hope
To all those who ask the plaintive question “Is there any hope for me?” the answer is a resounding “Yes! Yes! Yes! There is always hope.” Reverberating through all eternity, all creation exults: “In Christ there is always hope.” I know whereof I speak.
The Healing Power of Christ
We all sin, but we don't have to live with those burdens forever. Through repentance, we can be made clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
The Atonement and Our Part in It
Tonight I have not come to entertain you; I have come to teach you—to teach you the most important thing I know. I cannot do this, however, without your help. The words and many of the principles I intend to teach you have already heard before. Tonight we approach the season of the celebration of the birth of the Son of God. We join with the rest of the Christian…
“Who Then Can Be Saved?”
Christ was asked the question “Who then can be saved?” The answer? Everyone. Every person can be saved, but eternal life only comes on God's terms.
The Olive Press
Drawing parallels between the olive press and the events in Gethsemane, Truman G. Madsen invites us all to reflect on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Three Pillars of Eternity
God grant that we may all believe and know and understand the great eternal verities by which salvation comes and that, believing and knowing and understanding, we may so live as to gain eternal life.
For Ye Are Bought with a Price
The scriptures say that we are "bought with a price." We forever owe our love and devotion to Jesus Christ for His ransoming sacrifice.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ
The atonement of Jesus Christ saves us from the effects of the Fall and from our own transgressions. Understanding it gives us hope to repent and improve.
The Atonement
Jesus Christ’s atonement for our sins was an eternally necessary sacrifice for us that we could not have completed for ourselves.
