Christmas was awesome! I love this season, for I love how all of Christendom is turned towards Jesus Christ more than they typically would be. Reflecting on this matchless gift, our Savior, I found myself focusing on specific things He has given us. The greatest of them all, is the Atonement. The Atonement consists of His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, the death on the cross on Golgotha, and His triumph over the grave as He was resurrected from the tomb of Arimathea. We cannot begin to fathom the depths or the importance of this selfless gift.
The Atonement was requisite to the plan of salvation our Eternal Father in Heaven set forth for His children. The scripture goes, "For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made." (Alma 34:9) Without the Atonement, we would all unavoidably perish. There would be no eternal life, there would be no remission of sins, there would be no joy, and we would never again step foot into the presence of that God who gave us life. Simple as that.
Have you ever felt the indescribable joy of divine forgiveness? There is nothing sweeter. As Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet, told his son, "And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy." (Alma 36:20-21) I add my testimony to that of Alma's. There is nothing so sweet as the joy of knowing He remembers them no more. This could not be without the Atonement. For it brings to pass the condition of repentance. (Helaman 14:18) A gift we will be eternally indebted to have received.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I hope you ate well, laughed a ton, and spent it with those you love. I invite you to remember this Divine gift: The Atonement of our Lord. It is the gift that keeps on giving. And it is above the riches of the earth. Never allow yourself to take it for granted or treat it lightly. I will be eternally grateful for it. And I know it to be just and true. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Love Elder Hill
The Atonement was requisite to the plan of salvation our Eternal Father in Heaven set forth for His children. The scripture goes, "For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made." (Alma 34:9) Without the Atonement, we would all unavoidably perish. There would be no eternal life, there would be no remission of sins, there would be no joy, and we would never again step foot into the presence of that God who gave us life. Simple as that.
Have you ever felt the indescribable joy of divine forgiveness? There is nothing sweeter. As Alma, a Book of Mormon prophet, told his son, "And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy." (Alma 36:20-21) I add my testimony to that of Alma's. There is nothing so sweet as the joy of knowing He remembers them no more. This could not be without the Atonement. For it brings to pass the condition of repentance. (Helaman 14:18) A gift we will be eternally indebted to have received.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I hope you ate well, laughed a ton, and spent it with those you love. I invite you to remember this Divine gift: The Atonement of our Lord. It is the gift that keeps on giving. And it is above the riches of the earth. Never allow yourself to take it for granted or treat it lightly. I will be eternally grateful for it. And I know it to be just and true. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Love Elder Hill
