Day thirty-two
It was an early morning, up before 5am to get everything ready for the seminary in-service meeting at 6:30am. My prayer started on a note of gratitude for the opportunity I would have to serve these teachers, for the spirit that is always in the meetings, and then a request to have the Spirit with me as I shared my thoughts with them this morning. Also, I asked that I might be able to express His love for those in the seminary program and all those that I would come in contact with today.
Scripture Study Article of Faith 3
"We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."
Atonement of Christ
I love learning about the Atonement, it is the best example of charity and sacrifice that I know of. Every time I read the passages about Gethsemane and the Crucifixion, I feel an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude for the Savior and the Father. And then I read about the resurrection and Christ's visits with the people and I am again overwhelmed, but this time with excitement that I too will be resurrected one day and have the opportunity to thank Him in person. The Atonement brings me hope.
All mankind may be saved
The word 'may' stands out to me in this verse. Resurrection is a sure thing, but being saved has conditions and the word 'may' is another affirmation that agency plays a part in this.
What does it mean to be saved?
D&C 14:7 "...eternal life is the greatest of all the gifts of God."
Pres. Faust stated, "There is a distinction between immortality, or eternal existence, and eternal life, which is to have a place in the presence of God."
It is amazing to me that with the power of the Atonement I can one day stand with my Savior and my Heavenly Father. It is a reunion I am really looking forward to!
What is required to be saved?
By obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel
Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (we have to believe) Article of Faith 4
Repentance (use the power of the Atonement) Article of Faith 4
Baptism (fulfill the ordinance) Article of Faith 4
Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (we must choose ( use our agency) to accept the Holy Ghost as our companion) Article of Faith 4
Keep the Commandments (which means we must do everything which God has commanded) D&C 14:7
Remain steadfast (enduring) to gain life eternal. D&C 14:7
I find it interesting that this Article of Faith starts with the greatest example of love, the Atonement, then states that it is there for all mankind, if they choose to use it, and ends with the conditions necessary to receive the ultimate blessings that come from the Atonement. Somehow, the fact that the Atonement comes first, puts the other parts of this Article of Faith in perspective; nothing the Lord asks of me can compare to the Atonement. I have the easy part in this scenario, I even can use the power of the Atonement, through repentance, to correct the mistakes I make along the way.
What a great message of hope and love we find in the words of Article of Faith 3!
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