3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
As the third of the Articles of Faith explains, we believe that all mankind may be saved. A scripture from the Book of Mormon states, in reference to Jesus Christ, "he cannot save them in their sins...no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins." In another scripture, this one found in the book of Moses, it says "that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence."
As explained in these scriptures, as well as in the second Article of Faith, disobeying the commands of Heavenly Father means that we cannot be in His presence. We are also taught from the Bible that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." So if everyone is a sinner, once they are held accountable for their mistakes, then who can be in the presence of God? No one! Unless they make amends for their disobedience. As the third Article of Faith explains, "we believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved." So what is the Atonement mentioned here?
According to dictionary.com, atone means: to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or for an offender; to make up, as for errors or deficiencies; to become reconciled (reconciled means to be brought into agreement or harmony; made compatible or consistent); agree. So basically, to atone means to make up for a mistake and to be brought back into harmony with the rule, law, or commandment that was deviated from during the commitment of that mistake.
We believe that Jesus Christ was the literal Son in the flesh of our Heavenly Father.We believe that Christ alone was able to pay the price for sin. While He was on the earth, He spent time in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross of Calvary suffering for the sins of each person that ever did live and ever will live on the earth. He paid the price for each and every mistake that I have made (and will surely make in the future). He paid the price for YOUR sins. There is no greater act of love that any person has ever performed in the history of this world.
But why did Christ pay for our sins. Why don't we pay for our own sins? Because in the great plan of our Heavenly Father, we don't have to suffer the price of our sins if we will repent: "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent." Only Christ, who was the son of a woman and the Son of God, was able to perform such a sacrifice. He completed His atoning sacrifice as He died on the cross and was resurrected the third day. Christ has provided a way to overcome the Fall of Adam and Eve. Death and sin were consequences of the Fall, but both were overcome by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
The price has been paid, but we haven't all returned to the presence of our Heavenly Father, yet. As the third article of faith states, "all mankind MAY be saved." It does not state that all mankind WILL be saved. Those who will be saved are those who are "[obedient] to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." So what are the laws and ordinances of the Gospel that are necessary for our salvation? I will discuss this in greater depth in my next post, but in short, we must follow the laws and commandments that Jesus Christ laid out during His earthly ministry.
So to finish with an analogy, let's say that for many years we have all been wanting to return to our home, in a distant country, to live with our parents, other family, and close friends. Our parents sent us to where we currently live to get the best education possible. Even with our great education and careers, we cannot afford to buy a ticket because it costs 10 quadrillion dollars. We do as much as we can to save our money, but in the end, our efforts are insignificant to purchase that 10 quadrillion dollar passage.
Someone comes to tell us that they have purchased a ticket for each one of us to return to see our parents. In disbelief, we ask what we can do to repay them. They ask us to be loyal to them and to do whatever they ask, so that we will be ready to return to our parents, because the country in which our parents live has very strict rules that must be learned and mastered before entering the country.
All of us begin by doing all of the things that are asked of us, but some of us begin to forget that we need to be prepared for this trip and we stop doing some of the important things to prepare. Some people even get to a point where they say they don't want to go on the trip anymore. Others of us keep doing what is asked; we get our visas, we make sure our clothing and our behaviors will be appropriate for this majestic country we are soon to reach.
As the day of the journey comes, some people are not yet ready for the trip. Some people don't have the proper documents to be able to enter the country. Others haven't learned the traditions and rules of the culture and will not be allowed to enter the country upon arrival. Their tickets have already been paid for, but they will not be allowed to use them since they didn't properly prepare. They longingly look around them at those who are boarding the plane.
YOU were valiant. You followed all of the instructions and requests of the One who purchased your ticket. As you board the plane you see the person who purchased your ticket in the cockpit of the plane. You go over and give them a big hug and thank them for their kindness in purchasing the ticket and preparing you to enter that great country where your parents live. You fly with the others that are also fully prepared, you arrive at that distant country, and you are permitted to enter to see your parents.
Now this is not a perfect analogy, but I hope that it has helped you to understand a bit better that we each need Christ to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father. I know that Christ is our Savior and that if we do what He has asked of us, we can all return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father.
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