#2 Behold I Am Jesus Christ the Savior of the World

Get a branch from a tree-Ask “What is wrong with this branch now that I’ve cut it off my tree?
It no longer can get the nourishment it needs. Why can’t it?
It is separated from its roots
“The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the very root of Christian doctrine. You may know much about the gospel as it branches out from there, but if you only know the branches and those branches do not touch that root, if they have been cut free from that truth, there will be no life nor substance nor redemption in them” (CR Apr 1977, 80)

In other words, you may know the priesthood works, you may know tithing is a true principle, you may know that temples are important, but none of these things will matter if we don’t connect them to the roots of the Atonement and Christ’s life.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ brings us life and gives meaning to all other gospel doctrines.

I loved the quote from Jeffrey R. Holland that says, “when difficult times come to us we can remember that Jesus had to descend below all things before He could ascend above them, and that He suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that He might be filled with mercy and know how to succor His people in their infirmities. (Oct. 1995, 91)

We know that Joseph Smith suffered many things! As he suffered he was educated about the atonement and how it worked in his individual life. In D&C 122, which we will study down the road, Joseph gets the biggest lesson in suffering and how to use the atonement to get out of the Liberty Jail experience, all that he needed to, that would carry him through the rest of his life.

In each lesson I give this year I want to present a possible question that Joseph Smith went to the Lord with, in which He received an answer to; the answer that came in the revelations given in each section. I also want to personalize the question to us in our day; even though we are studying by topic rather than section in this lesson, the over all theme gives me the thought that perhaps Joseph asked for one thing in every prayer he uttered, which leads us to this topic.
The question I came up with that he possibly asked over and over again, through each horrible experience is this: How can I get through one more trial? What can give me the strength today to make it through?
These questions alone, relate to our lives, how many times in your lives as you’ve gone through struggle after struggle have you not asked this question.

The answer is the topic of this lesson, The Atonement.

When was the last time you felt the power of the Atonement in your life? Think about it.

I submit that if you are a good person, striving to gain a relationship with Christ, chances are you feel the effects of the atonement daily without understanding or recognizing that it is the atonement at work in your life.

All through the D&C are scriptures that bring us to Christ, just as in the other books. The Lord wants us to know that it is through these scriptures we will always have a sure foundation, a sure knowledge or strong roots to come back to every time we have struggles, as well as build us up during the happy times.

No matter what new branch of the gospel we will discuss as we study the D&C we will always have the roots of the Atonement to connect back to.

Our goal in this lesson is to bring us back to our “roots” the roots of the gospel and those roots that all center on Christ.

When life gets us down-just like Elder Holland says-we may have to descend below all things, like Christ did, before we can rise up. However all through our experience miserable or pleasant the Lord has his hand in our lives to help us through all things.

Let’s talk about the atonement for a minute, tell me what you know about it?
We use it when we repent by taking away the pain or guilt of our sins.
We use it to induce forgiveness.
Its power will bring us forth in the resurrection.
Its power makes it so I don’t have to suffer heartache because the Lord already did.

Now we are going to find out how often the Lords atoning power touches our lives, perhaps without us knowing it.

**Hand out the following questionnaire:
1-Have you ever had an experience where you’ve had a rough day or week and someone has extended their arms of Love to you through, hugs, a note, a phone call; if you have who was it from and when? D&C 6:20-21
*The Father can send earthly angels to extend Love to us when we need it, this is also the power of the atonement being extended to us.

2-When was the last time you obeyed a commandment on a new level and received blessings for it? (i.e. decided to up your fast offerings and got a raise or felt the spirit stronger when you prayed) D&C 6:33-37
*As we obey commandments on deeper and higher levels we receive more Atoning power into our lives to strengthen us.

3-When was the last time you submitted your will to the Father’s and felt true freedom or peace? D&C 19:2 & 3
*As Christ submitted His will to His Father’s He bought His freedom as well as ours; as we seek the Father’s will we can be free and perhaps free others who follow.

4- When was the last time you were humbled? Did you humble yourself or were you compelled to be humbled? D&C 29:1-2
*As we humble ourselves the power of the Atonement is working in our lives.

5- When was the last time you walked outside and noticed that a particular sunset was just for you, or a butterfly crossed your path that day, or perhaps all the colors of the world were vibrant? D&C 38:1-3
*His creations are all part of the gospel roots. As we notice God’s creations and we are grateful, that too brings peace which is also the Atoning Power.

6-Can you think of someone in your life who stood up for you, took your side (not in a confrontational way), but just cheered for you in whatever was going on in your life? Who was it? D&C 45:3-5
*As we appreciate our family and friends and their positive words of encouragement, it helps us to remember the Savior, how much He loves and cheers for us. As we do this for each other the atonement power promises to spare us-from what heartache, depression etc.
7-What was the latest gospel principle you learned about and in a new way? Can you truly add that to your foundation or testimony? D&C 50:44
*As we build our testimonies on the foundation of Christ’s atonement we are promised we shall not fall- Fall into Satan’s hands.

8-Just as we honor Him, as we serve, we are also honored as we allow others to serve us? Who was the last person to serve you and were you thankful? Or when was the last time you served someone without expected payment? D&C 76:5
*As we serve we are taking upon us Christ’s name and His atonement and as we do that this same power gives us mercy in return.

9-Christ is the only Begotten, when was the last time that our knowledge that we are God’s children-God’s and Goddesses, ourselves helped you to overcome a fear, receiving grace to grace and gaining more fullness of glory and power of the Father? Which fear did you overcome? Which new fear can you overcome now or next? D&C 93:12, 15-19
*As we conquer fears and remember who we are and what our purpose, we receive grace on grace and eventually receive all power in heaven and earth.

10- What is the latest sign of the 2nd coming that you’ve noticed? Did that help you appreciate His loving kindness as you were spared that tragedy? Did you feel comforted or frightened as you noticed it? D&C 133:52
*If you felt scared- examine and ask yourself if it might be because you aren’t ready? The Power of the Atonement gives us loving kindness and goodness as we stand with Him during these last days.

11- When was the last time you gave out a hand of fellowship? D&C 136:22
*As we extend an arm of fellowship to others we are bringing the power of the Atonement closer to their reach; as well as enjoying the power of missionary work ourselves.

Now that we’ve filled out this questionnaire I want you to evaluate it. Can you see the Lord’s Atonement at work in your life?
If you wrote down names of anyone who brought the Atonement into your life I ask you to thank them with a hug, words, or a note telling them what they did for you.

The power of the Atonement is real; it strengthens and teaches us, always. Every moment of our lives we can use the power of the Atonement, we just need to recognize it as such and use it to change our attitudes and lives in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Questionaire:
Has the Power of the Atonement manifested itself in your life lately?


1-Have you ever had an experience where you’ve had a rough day or week and someone has extended their arms of Love to you through, hugs, a note, a phone call; if you have who was it from and when? D&C 6:20-21

2-When was the last time you obeyed a commandment on a new level and received blessings for it? (i.e. decided to up your fast offerings and got a raise or felt the spirit stronger when you prayed) D&C 6:33-37

3-When was the last time you submitted your will to the Father’s and felt true freedom or peace? D&C 19:2 & 3

4- When was the last time you were humbled? Did you humble yourself or were you compelled to be humbled? D&C 29:1-2

5- When was the last time you walked outside and noticed that a particular sunset was just for you, or a butterfly crossed your path that day, or perhaps all the colors of the world were vibrant? D&C 38:1-3

6-Can you think of someone in your life who stood up for you, took your side (not in a confrontational way), but just cheered for you in whatever was going on in your life? Who was it? D&C 45:3-5

7-What was the latest gospel principle you learned about and in a new way? Can you truly add that to your foundation or testimony? D&C 50:44


8-Just as we honor Him, as we serve, we are also honored as we allow others to serve us? Who was the last person to serve you and were you thankful? Or when was the last time you served someone without expected payment? D&C 76:5


9-Christ is the only Begotten, when was the last time that our knowledge that we are God’s children-God’s and Goddesses, ourselves helped you to overcome a fear, receiving grace to grace and gaining more fullness of glory and power of the Father? Which fear did you overcome? Which new fear can you overcome now or next? D&C 93:12, 15-19
10- What is the latest sign of the 2nd coming that you’ve noticed? Did that help you appreciate His loving kindness as you were spared that tragedy? Did you feel comforted or frightened as you noticed it? D&C 133:52

11- When was the last time you gave out a hand of fellowship? D&C 136:22