Article of Faith 3
We believe that through the
Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved,
by obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the Gospel.
This is
the sixth essay about the Atonement of Jesus Christ as stated in the third
Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The first
week, I discussed the importance of understanding how the atoning sacrifice of
Jesus Christ, as the third pillar of eternity, is essential to Heavenly
Father’s plan for the eternal happiness of His children. The second week, the
discussion was about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the nature of the
atonement. The third week, the discussion concerned the Atonement of Jesus
Christ as a vicarious sacrifice. The fourth week, the discussion was about
Christ’s sacrifice being voluntary and love inspired. Last week, the discussion
was about the Atonement being foreordained and foretold. The discussion for
this week will use the words of Elder James E. Talmage to discuss the extent of
the Atonement (Articles of Faith [1913], 85-87).
The Extent of the Atonement is universal, applying alike to
all descendants of Adam. Even the unbeliever, the heathen, and the child
who dies before reaching the years of discretion, all are redeemed by the
Savior’s self-sacrifice from the individual consequences of the fall. It is
proved by scripture that the resurrection of the body is one of the victories
achieved by Christ through His atoning sacrifice. He Himself proclaimed the
eternal truth: “I am the resurrection, and the life”; and He was the first of
all men to rise from the grave to immortality – “the firstfruits of them that
slept.” The scriptures leave no room for doubt concerning the fact that the
resurrection will be universal. The Savior announced to His apostles the
beginning of this work of deliverance from the tomb; hear His words: “Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves
shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation” or, as the latter part of the declaration has bene rendered through
inspiration in the present day, “They who have done good in the resurrection of
the just, and they who have done evil in the resurrection of the unjust.”
Paul
preached the doctrine of a universal resurrection: “That there shall be a
resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” On another occasion he
wrote: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
John the Revelator testifies of his vision concerning futurity: “And I saw the
dead, small and great, stand before God; And the sea gave up the dead which
were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them.” Thus it
is plain that the effect of the atonement, so far as it applies to the victory
over temporal or bodily death, includes the entire race. It is equally clear
that the release from spiritual death, or banishment from the presence of God,
is offered to all; so that if any man lose salvation such loss will be due to
himself, and in no way be the inescapable effect of Adam’s transgression. That
the gift of redemption through Christ is free to all men was specifically
taught by the apostles of old. Thus Paul says: “Therefore as by the offense of
one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of
one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” And further: “For
there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Who gave himself a ransom for all.” John spoke of the Redeemer’s
sacrifice, saying: “And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
The
same truths were taught among the Nephites. Benjamin, the righteous king,
preached of “the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world
for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who
ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.” In revelation of the present
day we read of Christ’s having come into the world, to suffer and to die: “That
through him all might be saved whom the Father into his power and made
by him.”
But
besides this universal application of the atonement, whereby all men are
redeemed from the effects of Adam’s transgression both with respect to the
death of the body and inherited sin, there is application of the same great
sacrifice as a means of propitiation for individual sins through the faith
and good works of the sinner. This twofold effect of the atonement is
implied in the article of our faith now under consideration. The first effect
is to secure to all mankind alike, exemption from the penalty of the
fall, thus providing a plan of General Salvation. The second effect is
to open a way for Individual Salvation whereby mankind may secure
remission of personal sins. As these sins are the result of individual acts
it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual
compliance with prescribed requirements – “obedience to the laws and ordinances
of the Gospel.”
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