At it's most basic form, atonement means "the reconciliation of man to God" (Bible Dictionary "Atonement"). We all sin which causes us to be separated from God, so "the purpose of atonement is to correct or overcome the consequences of sin" (Bible Dictionary "Atonement")
Obviously, this is not something we can accomplish by ourselves. "Jesus Christ, as the Only Begotten Son of God and the only sinless person to live on this earth, was the only one capable of making an atonement for mankind." (Bible Dictionary "Atonement")
We know from that, that Jesus Christ was the only one who could atone for our sins. But how did He do it? Well, I'd like to view it in 3 different parts.
1. The Garden of Gethsemane
During the last week of our Savior's life here on earth, He prayed unto the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36). He pleaded with the Father that there might be some other way (Mark 14:36).
"And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22-43-44).
What caused Him such great agony that He did "to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit" (D&C 19:18), was that He took upon himself "the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam" (2 Nephi 9:21).
Christ took upon himself all of our pains and sicknesses in the Garden of Gethsemane. He suffered "more than man can suffer" (Mosiah 3:7)
2. The Crucifixion
Crucifixion is probably one of the most cruel and slow ways to die and very insulting as well. It is a "Roman form of punishment, usually inflicted only on slaves and the lowest criminals...The punishment was preceded by scourging. The criminal was made to carry
his own cross to the place of execution, which was always outside the
city. His clothing was the perquisite of the soldiers who carried out
the sentence. The cross was driven into the ground so that the feet of
the prisoner were a foot or two above the surface. The cross was watched
by four soldiers at a time until death took place, which was sometimes
not until the third day." (Bible Dictionary "Crucifixion").
This is exactly what happened to our Lord and Savior. He took upon Him our sins and was nailed to a crass to die having so much love for each of us that even in His last hours He asked the Father to forgive those who tortured Him so (see Luke 23:34).
3. The Resurrection
After His body laid in a tomb for three days, Christ rose again and His body was reunited with His Spirit, never to be separated again. He made this possible for everyone: "for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22)
So in summary here's a great scripture: "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. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." (Alma 7:11-13)
So now that I've overloaded you with information, you might be wondering, "what does this mean for me the reader?" Well my dear readers, I testify to you that it means everything. In the most darkest and lonely moments of my life, and all of my mistakes and sins, I have felt the beauty of becoming clean and and in tune once more and receiving the comfort and love that comes only from experiencing the gift of the atonement. I'd like to close with one of my favorite poems:
What caused Him such great agony that He did "to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit" (D&C 19:18), was that He took upon himself "the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam" (2 Nephi 9:21).
Christ took upon himself all of our pains and sicknesses in the Garden of Gethsemane. He suffered "more than man can suffer" (Mosiah 3:7)
2. The Crucifixion
This is exactly what happened to our Lord and Savior. He took upon Him our sins and was nailed to a crass to die having so much love for each of us that even in His last hours He asked the Father to forgive those who tortured Him so (see Luke 23:34).
3. The Resurrection
So in summary here's a great scripture: "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. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." (Alma 7:11-13)
So now that I've overloaded you with information, you might be wondering, "what does this mean for me the reader?" Well my dear readers, I testify to you that it means everything. In the most darkest and lonely moments of my life, and all of my mistakes and sins, I have felt the beauty of becoming clean and and in tune once more and receiving the comfort and love that comes only from experiencing the gift of the atonement. I'd like to close with one of my favorite poems:
"The Touch of the Master's Hand"- by Myra Brooks Welch
Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile:
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three—” But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone!” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand
What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of a master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game—and he travels on.
He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
He knows you. He loves you. He needs you. Never give up and heed His invitation, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28) and "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not" (D&C 6:36).
