What have I learned about the atonement from the Book
of Mormon? I’ve learned a lot, but today, I learned that it is real and there
are no things that cannot be covered by it. I know that sounds simple, but I
was reading in the Book of Helaman chapter 7 and Nephi the grandson of the
original Helaman, son of Alma the younger was praying and a bunch of people
came and were “marveling” at his prayers and so he kind of went off on them. He said how wicked they had been and how they
needed to stop being so wicked or bad, bad, bad destruction and even complete
obliteration of their people would happen, and then he used a key phrase 4
times; “Except ye repent” I couldn’t help but feel so deeply, “Wait a minute…so
he’s saying that they did all of these awful, wicked things and he was still
telling them they had a chance. That
yes, destruction and awful things would come because they had done them, except they repent.” And that was the key. He kept saying it, “You’ve done a lot of bad
things. And the future doesn’t look
bright for you. I mean really bad stuff
and extinction of your people is going to happen…except ye repent. You’ve still got a chance to stop it right
now and just repent and be whole through Christ.” It was amazing to me. It hit me like a light;
like the thing I’ve always known, but hadn’t really understood popped into full
view. Except ye repent. So that would mean that repentance was an
option! Crazy!!!! No, not at all. God is
our Father. He wants us home. He provided a way that even when we made huge
crazy big mistakes, that we could make it home.
I have to know what to do to get back home…it’s easy repent. Be humble
and give your will to God. That gave me
more hope than I’ve had in a long time!
And then I was reading President Monson’s talk in Priesthood April 2012
that talked about Nephi and priesthood leaders.
He just simply quoted a very well known verse 1 Nephi 3:7. “I will go
and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord
giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for
them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”
I thought to myself, after having read Helaman 7 and
pondering on the atonement. That the
part that says, “save He shall prepare a way that they may accomplish the thing
with he commandeth them.” So that means
that he prepares an out for us from temptation in the moment. He prepares an out for us if we fail to take
the first out and give ourselves the atonement that covers us. That means that we can be free from the sins
that befall us and all we have to do is repent. “Except ye repent” there could be a huge list of items we’ve
done. He doesn’t say, “Oh if you did
that or this, you’re disqualified.” He
says, “Except ye repent.” That’s all you
have to do. So I’ve learned a lot from
that little bit. He provides a way. The way is the opportunity to repent of any
sin and then to keep on going. I’m learning
lot and am so grateful. It’s been a hopeful learning day.
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