The Surprising Atonement

In Alma 34, Amulek, the newly converted disciple of Christ and companion to his mentor, Alma, teaches about the Atonement with surprising insight. As a side note, we must never consider someone who is new in the faith to be less able to receive spiritual insight than ourselves. Listen to their insight and learn from their freshness.

In speaking of the Atonement, Amulek states that Christ's purpose is to take upon Him the transgressions and sins of mankind without which all mankind must inevitably perish. In so doing, the sacrifice must be infinite and eternal. Perhaps it is inaccurate to imagine that the sin we just committed caused an ounce more pain in the Garden of Gethsemane or on the cross, because the sacrifice had to be infinite. Just as infinite is impossible to conceive, so is a sacrifice that is infinite. He then states that the whole law and the teachings of all the prophets points to that infinite and eternal sacrifice.

The question then becomes, what do we have to do to take advantage of this great, last, infinite and eternal sacrifice?

According to verse 15, we first have to believe on his name. We take upon us his name. It is the name by which we make sacred covenants and receive sacred ordinances. Thus, when we believe on His name, we accept the promises associated with receiving those ordinances and keeping the associated covenants. It is the name by which we pray to the Father, thus we accept the promptings and act accordingly. This is how we receive the mercy of Christ.

Second, we have faith (which seems to be inherent in taking upon us his name) to repent.

Amulek then advises that we exercise faith unto repentance by calling upon his holy name:
18. for mercy, for he is mighty to save;
20. in your fields, over all your flocks;
21. in your houses over all your household throughout the day;
22. against the power of your enemies
23. against the devil;
24. over your crops, that ye may prosper in them;
25. over your flocks that they may increase
27. continually for your welfare and for the welfare of those around you.

He then advises that we never neglect the poor, the sick, the needy who stand in need of our substance. He states that not doing so will make our prayers and faith vain or worthless. We need to soften our hearts and repent in order to have the advantage of the plan of redemption in our lives.

It seems that when we read these verses, we often assume that chapter 34 is all about the atonement except for the little part about prayer. In fact, Amulek never stopped talking about the atonement. Prayer is part of the atonement; the atonement covers all aspects of our lives including our work, our fight against sin and sloth, our spouses and children. In other chapters, it is clear that the atonement covers all sicknesses and sorrow.

If Christ overcame the effects of the Fall of Adam, the great sacrifice covers all aspects of the Fall, not just the sins and transgression of man. Before the Fall, there was no sin, no pressure to work, no families to worry us and no sickness, sorrow, death, aging, insecurity, or poverty.

What do we have to do to take advantage of having the blessings of Christ's great atonement? Constantly repent, keep the covenants we have made in conjunction with the ordinances, and not put off our efforts. Life is short and we must not procrastinate the day of our repentance. (v. 32) We must put off the old person and become new creatures who desire more to serve God and put His will above our own so we have no disposition to do evil. It is that spirit that will possess our bodies in the eternities. We damn our spirits when we give in to temptation and grow them when, in a spirit of love for God and all his creations, we are humbly obedient (v. 33-36). Finally, be patient no matter what afflictions we are called upon to bear. The end is worth the wait. (v. 41)