During State Conference, my thoughts were led to the Atonement. My testimony of the atonement has always been a more logical one rather than an emotional one. Knowing that the plan was set from the foundation of the world and that the atonement was necessary for us to return to our Heavenly Father, it is difficult for me to get upset about it. It is, however, humbling to know that no one else was strong enough or perfect enough to be able to take on that burden except Jesus Christ.
Teaching Sunday School and Family History helped me understand that all concepts in the gospel lead back to the Atonement. Without it, the blessings of the temple, exaltation and eternal life would not be possible. The priesthood and the purpose of the Earth would be in vain.
Today in Sunday School, another thought came to me. We were discussing the Epistles of Paul and I began to think about how Charity is the basis of all the laws and commandments, for Christ taught, “...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt 22:37-40) We are asked to be like Christ and love each other as Christ and our Heavenly Father love us. John 3:16 comes to mind: “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.”
After some scripture searches, I was reminded of Moroni 7: 33-48 when he talks about faith and how faith comes from the hope “through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal” but “he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing...”
It reminds me that charity is ultimately behind the atonement. Moroni defines charity as “the pure love of Christ.” This to me is a love that is so perfect that it could only be defined by an action such as the atonement and brings an even deeper meaning to being charitable and Christ-like. Moroni implores us to “cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail...” but charity "endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
Teaching Sunday School and Family History helped me understand that all concepts in the gospel lead back to the Atonement. Without it, the blessings of the temple, exaltation and eternal life would not be possible. The priesthood and the purpose of the Earth would be in vain.
Today in Sunday School, another thought came to me. We were discussing the Epistles of Paul and I began to think about how Charity is the basis of all the laws and commandments, for Christ taught, “...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt 22:37-40) We are asked to be like Christ and love each other as Christ and our Heavenly Father love us. John 3:16 comes to mind: “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.”
After some scripture searches, I was reminded of Moroni 7: 33-48 when he talks about faith and how faith comes from the hope “through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal” but “he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing...”
It reminds me that charity is ultimately behind the atonement. Moroni defines charity as “the pure love of Christ.” This to me is a love that is so perfect that it could only be defined by an action such as the atonement and brings an even deeper meaning to being charitable and Christ-like. Moroni implores us to “cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail...” but charity "endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
Loved reading this. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Loved it!
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