An Infinite and Eternal Sacrifice

 The Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, was unlike any other sacrifice. His sacrifice was the end of all animal sacrifices which were a type and a shadow unto His eternal sacrifice. His sacrifice was eternal due to his foreordination, his birth, and his righteousness. Though His sacrifice is eternal, it is applied personally to each son or daughter of God.

Christ's was the great, the last, the infinite, and the eternal sacrifice. Each of these words is significant in understanding the significance of His sacrifice. Adam was told to offer up the firstlings of the flock. He was later told by an angel that this sacrifice was a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father. In the Law of Moses, unblemished animals were brought to the tabernacle where a priest would perform a sacrifice for sin, shedding the blood of the animal. These sacrifices were needed many times in a person's life. Christ's sacrifice was the great sacrifice because it was a higher type of sacrifice, and was the last sacrifice because His is infinite and eternal.

Christ's sacrifice was infinite, which means without limits, or without end. His sacrifice reaches unto all of God's children who have ever come, or ever will come to the earth to receive a body. It spreads to all time and to all creatures of His creating. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve explained that “some gifts coming from the Atonement are universal, infinite, and unconditional. These include His ransom for Adam’s original transgression [and] the Resurrection from the dead of every man, woman, and child who lives, has ever lived, or ever will live on earth (Liahona, March, 2008).” This helps to see that it applies to everyone. All who once lived will be resurrected, and all will be returned to God to be judged. The fall of Adam has been overcome.

Christ was foreordained to be the Savior of the world, the one to save the world from sin. He was humble and offered to give all of the glory of such an Atonement to the Father, whose perfect plan required a Savior. Being foreordained did not guarantee that Christ would be able to perform such a sacrifice. Two other important aspects prepared Christ to perform this Atonement: His birth and the life He led.

Christ was the offspring of Mary and God the Father, born into the humblest of circumstances. Having these parents He inherited special abilities to help Him perform the Atonement. Being the son of a mortal Mary, Christ was able to be tempted, was a mortal Himself, and could therefore die. Being the Son of the Living God meant that He had power that man does not have, and a special connection to the Father that would help Him shape His life. Christ learned at a very young age that He was the Son of God, and followed the Spirit to learn of his foreordination. He lived a perfect life and overcame temptation. Thus He was unblemished and able to be sacrificed for sin.

Christ's sacrifice, as previously mentioned, was not on the same level as those required by the Law of Moses. As Alma 34:10 states, it must not be “a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.” Eternal in this scripture can mean “godly.” Since Christ was the literal Son of God in the flesh, He was able to perform a godly, or eternal sacrifice. Any other man who attempted to do so would die in the agony of such a sacrifice. And even if one did so without dying, his sacrifice would not be eternal because he were merely a man. This is why Christ's sacrifice is at a higher level than those made previously.

Jesus Christ's Atonement was performed for all of His creations. Some might see this as being impersonal, but studying the scriptures reveals that it is not so. In Alma 7:11-13 it teaches that the Son of God would suffer “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.” He suffered all things that He would be able to understand the pains and difficulties of any single person, since everyone passes different circumstances in life. The word for succor in Spanish is socorrer. This is translated as “to help” or “to come to the aid of.” Christ succors us as He comes to our aid and helps us in our trials. But we must go to Him for His help. We must take His yoke upon us, and His Atonement provides the process needed to take His yoke and burden upon us, which yoke is easy and which burden is light (see Matthew 11:28-30).

I know that Christ's burden is light. Sin carries a heavy burden that is awkward, uncomfortable, and shameful. Though Christ's yoke is not without weight, it is so easy and light when compared to sin. To me this means that if I am willing to put off sin, and make a commitment, or covenant with Christ, then I can have a small burden of commandments, as opposed to the damnation which is sin's burden.

Only through the correct process of repentance will Christ's Atonement heal us and free us of our sins. I know that through my personal prayers I can be forgiven of the large majority of my sins. I know that through my priesthood authority I can receive forgiveness of all other sins, besides denying the Holy Ghost. The Celestial Kingdom is the destination that we all have in this life. As President Uchtdorf explained in the April, 2008 General Conference that a few degrees can make a huge difference in our final destination, as opposed to our desired destination. Christ wants us to receive Exaltation and His Atonement provides the corrections that we need to be on course for that goal. We must daily analyze our lives and make adjustments to reset our destination of Exaltation.

The Atonement also means that I can put off the natural man and become a saint (see Mosiah 3:19). If I am to enter the Kingdom of God, I must be even as a little child. A child is humble, and as Alma taught his son Helaman in Alma 37:33, humility and lowliness of heart are fruits of faith. Proverbs 3:34 teaches that the LORD gives grace unto the lowly. And Moroni 10:32 teaches that if we deny ourselves of all ungodliness, then Christ's grace is sufficient for us to make us perfect, through his Eternal sacrifice. If we desire perfection, like we have been commanded to obtain, we must be humbled by Christ's Atonement.

I love the parable by President Packer on Justice and Mercy. I know that I am eternally in debt because of my sins. I know that when I make mistakes, I can always find Christ in a quiet place, waiting to help me pay the price of my foolishness. I can never repay all that Christ has done, and the only way that I can be sure that He will help free me from such a great debt, is to be His friend. He has already said that His servants are His friends. So I must be Christ's servant by living His Gospel, sharing it with others, serving my fellow beings, and keeping my covenants. I know that as I do so I will grow closer to my Savior, which will help me to make better decisions and avoid sin that I might otherwise encounter. Christ's Atonement is the only way that any of God's children can expect to return to His presence, and gain all that the Father has. I know that this is the Father's plan and His desire for each of us. I know that Jesus Christ's Atonement is the ultimate expression of love.