Atonement

The atonement is the means by which all of God's children are enabled to return back to the presence of our Heavenly Father. The atonement is more inclusive that we realize. It makes up for the unfairness in life, it allows us to become clean, it enables us to be strong in moments of weakness, and helps us to know and understand our Savior better. I feel I could study the atonement my whole life and never fully come to understand it. The atonement is the greatest evidence of our fathers mercy and infinite wisdom. It shows how pure His love is for us.
              - Sara

“Unless there is a mediator, unless we have a friend, the full weight of justice untempered, unsympathetic, must, positively must fall on us. The full recompense for every transgression, however minor or however deep, will be exacted from us to the uttermost farthing. But know this: Truth, glorious truth, proclaims there is such a Mediator.”

               -Elder Boyd K. Packer, April 1977, General Conference: Sunday Morning Session

“Partaking of a bitter cup without becoming bitter is part of the emulation of Jesus.”

                -Elder Neal Maxwell “Apply the Atoning Blood of Christ”, Ensign, October 1997

“To all of you who think you are lost or without hope, or who think you have done too much that was too wrong for too long, to every one of you who worry that you are stranded somewhere on the wintry plains of life and have wrecked your handcart in the process, this conference calls out Jehovah’s unrelenting refrain, “[My] hand is stretched out still.” “I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them,” He said, “[and even if they] deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, … if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.” His mercy endureth forever, and His hand is stretched out still. His is the pure love of Christ, the charity that never faileth, that compassion which endures even when all other strength disappears.”

                -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Prophets in the Land Again”, Ensign, October 2006

“Now, the atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths. Many of us have a superficial knowledge and rely upon the Lord and his goodness to see us through the trials and perils of life. May I invite you to join with me in gaining a sound and sure knowledge of the Atonement. We must cast aside the philosophies of men and the wisdom of the wise and hearken to that Spirit which is given to us to guide us into all truth. We must search the scriptures, accepting them as the mind and will and voice of the Lord and the very power of God unto salvation. As we read, ponder, and pray, there will come into our minds a view of the three gardens of God—the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden of the Empty Tomb where Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.”

                -Bruce R. McConkie, “Purifying Power of Gethsemane”, Ensign, April 1985

“[Jesus Christ] made salvation available to every repentant soul. His Atonement conquered death, and He permits the worthy deceased to receive all ordinances of salvation vicariously.”

                -Elder Richard G. Scott "The Joy of Redeeming the Dead", Ensign, November 2012

“I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable [of the laborers in the vineyard], but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”

                -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "The Laborers in the Vineyard", Ensign, May 2012

“The enabling power of the Atonement strengthens us to do and be good and to serve beyond our own individual desire and natural capacity.”

                -Elder David A. Bednar "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality", Ensign, April 2012

“No matter what our transgressions have been, no matter how much our actions may have hurt others, that guilt can all be wiped out. To me, perhaps the most beautiful phrase in all scripture is when the Lord said, ‘Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.’”

                -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "The Atonement", Ensign, November 2012

“We should, as a people, be awake to the fact that our Father in Heaven has done all he could for the salvation of the human family. He has made known the laws necessary for the exaltation and glory of man and has done all that can be done by law. . . . Jesus has died to redeem all men; but in order that they may be benefitted by His death, and that His blood may cleanse them from all actual sin committed in the flesh, they must abide the law of the gospel. The sins done through Adam we have been redeemed from by the blood of Christ; and in order to obtain salvation we must be obedient and faithful to the precepts of the gospel.”

                -Wilford Woodruff Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff [2004], 70-71

“It is through our Savior’s sacrifice that we can gain exaltation and eternal life. As we accept His ways and overcome our pride by softening our hearts, we can bring reconciliation and forgiveness into our families and our personal lives. God will help us to be more forgiving, to be more willing to walk the second mile, to be first to apologize even if something wasn’t our fault, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more.”

                -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf "One Key to a Happy Family", Ensign, October 2012