Wednesday, Jan. 7th reading: D&C 18:11–12; 19:16–17, 20; 58:42; 76:62–70
SS question: What do these passages teach about the blessings we can receive through the Savior's Atonement?
SS Answer: We can be forgiven for our sins, we do not have to suffer as much as we could, we can dwell with God and Jesus Christ forever.
My thoughts: I love this verse: 76:69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood. I think sometimes when we talk about the atonement, we focus on the repentance process alone. We certainly need that, of course. But, I have been interested the last five years or so, in the parts of the atonement that do not involve the Bishop or asking for forgiveness (though I'm sure all facets of the atonement are intertwined).
I, trying to be a recovering perfectionist (how about that for definite resolution), love the doctrine that a "just" woman/man can be made perfect through Jesus. I should not require myself to be perfect, only to be just. That takes a load off, you know? Not that being just isn't a high bar, but being just seems to allow for personality, circumstance and history, it implies a work-with-me kind of feeling. The word perfection, to me, is a scary dictator. For this life anyway.
So, what doesn it mean to be just? One of the references is D&C 138: 12 : And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality. Being faithful in the testimony of Jesus. I can do that. That is attainable, though of course I will need the help of the Savior and the Spirit to do it and other stuff like enduring to the end and being nice and performing the actions of faith. If I really try to be just and faithful then I will be made perfect through the Savior. Here's the goal: This life: just. Next life: perfect. This is the hope the atonement gives me, or one part of the hope that it gives me. And that just makes me happy, even joyful!
Yay! Well said. Just does seem to be a more attainable goal. It is meant to be attainable.
ReplyDeleteI am struck by how much of the work the Lord does for us. We think we have it bad... but it could be sooo much worse. And I guess we do make it worse for ourselves when we don't accept the Atonement and try to do it all ourselves or try not to do it at all. But really... doing the Math ...we need two things to return to Heavenly Father- a perfect body and a perfect spirit- the perfect body is given to all for free and the perfect spirit is probably at least 75% given to us- we just have to repent. Seems so simple...and yet some days it feels impossible. I am thankful for scripture reminders of how small my part really is and of how great it will be.