Thoughts on the Atonement

I asked Sis. Hansen to share some of her thoughts with me on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Here was her response:

"Also, the Atonement 

is the most beautiful topic in the whole world!  I feel like a lot of the insights I've had on my mission have been simple and foundational so pardon for not having anything earth-shattering to offer.  But some things it makes me think about...

- Alma 14:6--

" 6 And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the words which had been spoken; and he also knew concerning the ^ablindness of the minds, which he had caused among the people by his ^blying words; and his soul began to be ^charrowed up under a ^dconsciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell."

he [Jesus Christ] suffered the pains of hell, which is the weight of our sins before God.  When we sin against God's laws, it's the natural consequence according to the eternal laws upon which the world is built (2 Nephi 2).  

It just struck me that the pains of hell are when we experience the pain we are doomed to suffer without the Atonement.  Only through the Atonement that pain is alleviated.  In D&C 19, it's made clear that these "pains of hell" and conscience are heavier and more painful than we can imagine, and it's just so unbelievably beautiful to me that the only way to overcome that is to choose Jesus Christ.  Like what President Packer said: 

“There are so many of us who are thrashing around, as it were, with feelings of guilt, not knowing quite how to escape. You escape by accepting the Atonement of Christ, and all that was heartache can turn to beauty and love and eternity.”

It's so simple that sometimes it seems complicated.  But repentance and utilizing the Atonement is just the answer to all of our problems.  It's the solution the Lord has given us to every challenge we face in mortality.  All He asks is that instead of condemning or scoffing at the simplicity, we look and live! (Alma 37:38-47) 

" 38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

 39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

 40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

 41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

 42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

 43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

 44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

 45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

 46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

 47 And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell."

Also, fear in the Bible dictionary.

"Fear

Care should be taken to distinguish between two different uses of this word. The “fear of the Lord” is frequently spoken of as part of man’s duty (Ps. 111:10; Eccl. 12:13; Isa. 11:2–3; Luke 1:50); it is also described as “godly fear” (Heb. 12:28). In such passages fear is equivalent to reverence, awe, worship, and is therefore an essential part of the attitude of mind in which we ought to stand toward the All-holy God. On the other hand fear is spoken of as something unworthy of a child of God, something that “perfect love casteth out” (1 Jn. 4:18). The first effect of Adam’s sin was that he was afraid (Gen. 3:10). Sin destroys that feeling of confidence God’s child should feel in a loving Father and produces instead a feeling of shame and guilt. Ever since the Fall God has been teaching men not to fear, but with penitence to ask forgiveness in full confidence of receiving it."

Repentance--the very thing satan wants us to avoid and feel ashamed of and fear (for this, read "Do not Delay" by President Eyring--TOOOO GOOD)--is the answer for overcoming fear.  

Being clean before the Lord enables us to believe in Him and have real faith in Him and move forward with that to fulfill His will for us and for others.  SO BEAUTIFUL.  

Sorry that was super disconnected and maybe not relevant for you.  Just some stuff from studies lately.