The gospel principle that I have decided to study about is The Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I have decided to study this topic because I feel like it’s much deeper than people think. A lot of

people think that the Atonement is only there to help us repent of our sins, but there’s so much

more than that! In his April 2017 conference talk titled “Drawing the power of Jesus Christ into

our Lives” President Russell M. Nelson stated “Jesus Christ, gave His life for us. All so that we

could have access to godly power—power sufficient to deal with the burdens, obstacles, and

temptations of our day.” The Atonement is there for us when we need upliftment, guidance, and

to feel like someone understands what we’re going through. Jesus Christ is there to listen and

comfort us 24 hours a day 7 days a week. No matter what circumstance we may be in. He is only

a prayer away and is the only one who can truly understand how to overcome our obstacles and

help us to do so.

Alma 7:11-12 read “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations

of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the

pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the

bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels

may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to

succor his people according to their infirmities.” I feel like this scripture accurately describes all

that the Atonement offers us. Jesus Christ will be there to help us through pains, temptations,

heartache, and any other trial we go through. As we turn to Him we can find the eternal

happiness that we all strive to have.

If Jesus Christ hadn't preformed the Atonement, we wouldn’t be able to return to live

with our Father in Heaven again. We would be stuck with no way to overcome our physical

death. Alma 14:15-17 reads “For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it
behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the

dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord. Yea, behold, this death

bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual

death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are

considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual. But behold, the

resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into

the presence of the Lord.” Jesus Christ willingly preformed the Atonement for us because he

knew we couldn’t do it on our own. It was a way of showing the children of men His everlasting

love. Without the Atonement, our families wouldn’t be able to be together for eternity, which is

very scary to think about. Knowing that I will be with my family for eternity is something that I

hold very close to my heart.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ wasn’t just performed for a few of us. Jesus Christ

suffered and died for everyone who has ever or will ever walk the earth. 2 Nephi 9:21-22 reads

“And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for

behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men,

women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the

resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgement

day.” The Atonement of Jesus Christ shows us just how much our Savior loves us! Everything he

went through was for our benefit and to bless our lives. I want to spend the next few months

learning more about Him and His teachings. To do so, I am going to underline every time I come

across Jesus Christ speaking in the “Book of Mormon”. Doing this will help me to learn of Him

and allow His light into my life. I got this idea from the above-mentioned talk by President

Russel M Nelson. He gave this promise which I find to be really powerful. He said “We begin by
learning about Him. It is impossible for us to be saved in ignorance. The more we know about

the Savior’s ministry and mission—the more we understand His doctrine and what He did for

us—the more we know that He can provide the power that we need for our lives.

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So how have I strived to incorporate the Atonement of Jesus Christ more in my life the

last few weeks? I have strived to include Jesus Christ in every aspect of my life. I've tried to have

an open heart that is willing to receive His love and His help. If I'm being completely honest,

coming out to BYU-I has not been an easy thing for me to do. I came out here with blind faith

that the Lord has a plan for me and will help me along the way. Even though I know He’s there,

it hasn’t been easy, and has actually been one of the hardest things I've ever done. I've been super

homesick and feeling like I don’t belong, and I have absolutely no idea why I'm out here. Before

I came out, people would say stuff like “you went on a mission going to Idaho will be easy.”

Well they were wrong! For me going on a mission was easy. I knew ever since I was little, that I

wanted to be a missionary, and I knew that the Lord wanted me to be one as well. Was my

mission all rainbows and butterflies? Absolutely not!! It was extremely hard at times, but I never

doubted that I was where I needed to be.

Even though it’s been tough for me to be here, I am shown all the time, that the Lord is in

even the tiniest parts of my life. Whether it be random strangers coming and talking to me when

I'm having an emotional moment, or just someone being willing to help direct me around

campus. He’s there! I think one of the biggest ways He’s showed me He’s here, is through my

friends who have become family. There is a family from my home ward who moved out to Idaho

a few months before I did. They have basically adopted me and 2 others from home into their
family. They have us over every Sunday for Family Dinner, and it’s the highlight of my week. I

don’t think they realize the impact it has had, and the blessing it is in my life.

I had set a goal this semester to read from the “Book of Mormon” every night and to

underline the times Jesus Christ speaks. I have not been anywhere near perfect with this goal. I

have missed quite a few times, which I'm not proud to admit. I could have done much better with

this goal, but the times that I did read I felt an undeniable peace and love that could only come

from my Father in Heaven. He knows be so well, and is aware of how stressful things have been,

and how much I've struggled, and you know what? He’s been there with me every step of the

way. One of my favorite poems is called “Footprints in the Sand” by Margaret Fishback Powers.

It reads: One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across

the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the

sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really

troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd

walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of

my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the

most, You would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave

you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was

then that I carried you." This poem has brought so much hope into my life. I know without a

shadow of a doubt that I have a loving Father in Heaven who know me inside and out. He gave

me the gift of His Devine Son so that I would always have someone by my side to help me
through this life, and stay true to who I am. I couldn’t do it without my Savior and Friend Jesus

Christ.

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