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Showing posts with the label Jesus

Believing Christ: A Practical Approach to the Atonement (Robinson)

  Many of us are trying to save ourselves, holding the Atonement of Jesus Christ at arm’s distance and saying, “When I’ve done it, when I’ve perfected myself, when I’ve made myself worthy, then I’ll be worthy of the Atonement. The greatest dichotomy, the greatest problem in the entire universe, consists of two facts. The first we can read in Doctrine and Covenants 1:31: “For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.” That means he can’t stand it, he can’t tolerate it, he can’t blink, or look the other way, or sweep it under the rug. He can’t tolerate sin in the least degree. The other side of the dichotomy is very simply put: I sin, and so do you. If that were all there were to the equation, the conclusion would be inescapable that we, as sinful beings, cannot be tolerated in the presence of God. But that is not all there is to the equation. This morning I would like to talk to you about the Atonement of Christ, that glorious plan by which this dichotomy can b

The Lord became one of us to succor and help so that we can "come boldly unto the throne of grace" (Paul; Hebrews 2 and 4)

  16  For verily he took not on   him the nature of   a angels ; but he took on   him   the   b seed of Abraham . 17  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto  his  brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things  pertaining  to God, to make  a reconciliation  for the sins of the people. 18  For in that he himself hath suffered being  a tempted , he is able to  b succour  them that are tempted.  14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the  a heavens , Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast  our  profession. 15  For we have not an high priest  a which  cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points  b tempted  like as  we are, yet  without  c sin . 16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of  a grace , that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 2:16-18; 4: 14-16

Jesus Understands (Bednar)

If I were to emphasize one overarching point this morning, it would be this: I suspect that you and I are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming power of the Atonement than we are with the enabling power of the Atonement. It is one thing to know that Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us. That is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ. But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us—not only to direct us but also to empower us. I think most of us know that when we do things wrong, when we need help to overcome the effects of sin in our lives, the Savior has paid the price and made it possible for us to be made clean through His redeeming power. Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient and worthy and conscientious and who ar

The Price of a Perfect Life (Porter)

“We are accustomed to saying that the Atonement took place in Gethsemane and on Calvary. In a literal sense, this is true, since it was in the last hours of his life that Christ took upon himself the full burden and weight of the sins of the world. But the trial of Jesus in Gethsemane and on the cross would not have been possible and could not have occurred had it not been preceded by a lifetime of sinless virtue, accomplished in the face of the most vehement spiritual opposition. From his temptation in the wilderness to his rejection in Nazareth to the illegal trial before the Sanhedrin, Christ paid the price of a perfect life, walking in holy sinlessness despite adversity, physical suffering, deep sorrows, and the snares of ruthless and determined adversaries, both seen and unseen. “He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them” (D& C 20: 22). All this he did with the knowledge that one misstep would mean creation’s doom! For had he sinned even in the smallest poin

The Scriptures are like windows into the souls of great individuals (Maxwell)

“We are directed by Jesus to search the scriptures, especially because they testify of Him, our Savior, and of His great Atonement.  The scriptures also tell us of Jesus’ matchless character.  Brothers and sisters, without His matchless character, the Atonement and the Resurrection simply would not have been possible…In addition, may I suggest to you , however, the Scriptures not only testify of Jesus, but the Scriptures have certain verses in them which are like windows, windows which permit us to look into the souls of the great men and women whom Jesus tutored.  These individuals coped with their difficult moments, as we are expected to do with ours.”  Neal A. Maxwell, CES Fireside 1995

Remembering, Repenting and Changing (Beck)

"It is Satan who puts hopeless thoughts into the hearts of those who have made mistakes. The Lord Jesus Christ always gives us hope." —Julie B. Beck, " Remembering, Repenting, and Changing ",  Ensign , May 2007 Topics:  Hope

Come Unto Me (Eyring)

"As we are faithful to the promises we have made, we will feel our love for Him. It will increase because we will feel His power and His drawing near to us in His service." —Henry B. Eyring, " Come unto Me "

Clean Hands (Bednar)

Let me suggest that hands are made clean through the process of putting off the natural man and by overcoming sin and the evil influences in our lives through the Savior’s Atonement. Hearts are purified as we receive His strengthening power to do good and become better. All of our worthy desires and good works, as necessary as they are, can never produce clean hands and a pure heart. It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that provides both a  cleansing and redeeming power  that helps us to overcome sin and a  sanctifying and strengthening power  that helps us to become better than we ever could by relying only upon our own strength. The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and for the saint in each of us. Elder David A. Bednar, October 2007 General Conference

a clear map through life (Monson)

Our Father provided the sun, the moon, and the stars—heavenly galaxies to guide mariners who sail the lanes of the sea. To us, as we walk the pathway of life, He provides a clear map and points the way toward our desired destination. He cautions: beware the detours, the pitfalls, the traps. We cannot be deceived by those who would lead us astray, those clever pied pipers of sin beckoning here or there. Instead, we pause to pray; we listen to that still, small voice which speaks to the depths of our souls the Master’s gentle invitation, “Come, follow me.” President Thomas S. Monson, October 2014 General Conference

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40)

  28  Hast  thou  not  known?  hast  thou  not  heard,  that  the  everlasting  God,  the  Lord ,  the  Creator  of  the  ends  of  the  earth,  fainteth  not,  neither  is  weary?  there  is  no  searching  of  His  understanding.   29  He  giveth  power  to  the  faint;  and  to  them  that  have  no  might  He  increaseth  strength.   30  Even  the  youths  shall  faint  and  be  weary,  and  the  young  men shall  utterly  fall:   31  But  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew   their   strength ; they  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles ;  they  shall  run ,  and  not  be  weary;  and  they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint." Isaiah 40:28-31