known unknowns about the atonement


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In church today, the Stake Presidency circulated a letter and lesson guide they have prepared. They have asked that the members of the stake focus their personal and family scripture studies and lessons on the atonement for the next six months and have given us a reading guide for every week. I think it’s a good idea and it got me thinking. All the important stuff you need to know about the atonement you learn before you finish Primary and I think that one of the main purposes of further study is not so much to increase understanding, but to increase appreciation. However, if we were to study the atonement for the purpose of gaining additional knowledge, it raises the question of what it is about the atonement that we do not know. What are the known unknowns about the atonement and what role might a study of existing materials play in helping us to reduce the number of known unknowns about the atonement?

 

To partially answer my own question, one of the known unknowns that I’ve sometimes thought about is who/what determines the price of sin, ie, who, and by how, is it determined how much sin will generate, or result in, how much suffering?

 

I’d be interested in hearing of any other “known unknowns” or unanswered questions about the atonement that people have thought about as well as responses to the question about how the sin to suffering ratio has been determined. 

 

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Guest LiterateParakeet

How exciting!  What a wonderful Stake Presidency you have!  I want to live in your stake.

 

Several years ago, I was inspired by an RS lesson to ask the Lord, "What lack I yet?"  The first time I asked this was so enlightening--not the answer I expected.  So I asked again.  The second time, the Spirit told me I needed to learn about the Atonement.  I spent a lot of time studying it, as you are about to do, and at the end I didn't feel I had learned anything new.  I was confused by this, so I went back to my knees and I asked Heavenly Father what it was HE wanted me to understand about the Atonement.   What a beautiful and life-changing experience that was.

 

My suggestion is follow the counsel of your Stake Presidency and at the end, ask Heavenly Father if you have learned what He wanted you to learn from this experience.  It is possible His answer might surprise you as He has surprised me so many times. Enjoy!

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To partially answer my own question, one of the known unknowns that I’ve sometimes thought about is who/what determines the price of sin, ie, who, and by how, is it determined how much sin will generate, or result in, how much suffering?

 

Are you looking for one of those little rate cards like what they include with your traffic ticket so you know what the fine is?

 

I think it was just before the original table of contents, so you can thank Martin Harris for its loss.

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Here is my experience.

 

We suffer from out sins until we repent. There is no set amount. If we don't change then we will continue to suffer because we continue to live in sin or in our blindness, is what the scriptures say.

 

The atonement doesn't take away suffering, per se, but what it does do is enable a person to endure suffering well and with joy. The atonement provides power for you to change. This has  been critical for my understanding of the atonement. It has been so important for me to understand that the atonement is an enabling power. It doesn't take away suffering.  Let me illustrate this by using myown life.

 

I was sexually abused as a child and was exposed to pornography at a very young age (at least 4 years old). I grew up with a sexual and pornography addiction. For all intents and purposes, I was born with a sex and pornography addiction. For many years I was stuck with my addictions. I struggled to change and to overcome. I tried everything. I went to church, I did my callings, I tried to stop viewing the stuff, I went on a mission, I paid my tithing, I went to the temple, I spoke with the Bishop, SP, I prayed, I read the scriptures, I tried to do my callings, HT, etc. Yet, despite all my efforts, I could not overcome my sins. To keep this short I will say that eventually I came to realize that I had no power to overcome my sins and my addictions alone. In fact, I came to realize that I was foolish for thinking that I could somehow man handle my weaknesses and just "will" them away. No, it takes the power of God to change one's heart. It takes the power of God in order for mankind to change.

 

The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the power. As we act in simple humility and meekness, we will be given tasks and things that we do, for sure, but these tasks are simply a token of our obedience. Our actions that we do, not matter what they are, will not save us. If we obey God and do the things He asks, He has promised to save us and to redeem us. It is God's work to redeem us. It is His responsibility to change me. It is my responsibility to allow Him to change me. Somehow, because of the atonement, my simple, useless acts of obedience, become powerful tools to change my heart.

 

Remember too that replacing a stony heart with a heart of flesh is a major operation and it can take time to complete. Being patient with the process is also key.

 

-Finrock

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We learn about justice when we suffer because of our transgressions that cause pain, suffering and discomfort in others.  We learn about mercy and the atonement when we bear through our own suffering, pain and discomfort caused by others and then forgive them and pray that their suffering be mitigated by our suffering - rather than seeking revenge or a just reward returned to them - especially when they show no sign of repentance.

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, ie, who, and by how, is it determined how much sin will generate, or result in, how much suffering?
 
I’d be interested in hearing of any other “known unknowns” or unanswered questions about the atonement that people have thought about as well as responses to the question about how the sin to suffering ratio has been determined. 

 

 

 

I think that Alma 42:22 lays out the mechanics

 

22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God (and that "ain't" guna happen).

 

And all this happened before the foundation of the world was laid down maybe 5 billion years ago give or take.

 

My most fundamental questions started about 60 years ago after joining the church at the age of 12. I had sold new papers on the street for a couple of years by then.  I had been a heathen but new some things about several non-Christian religions.  I was the only son of a divorcee and the only one in my family to join the church.  

 

After I joined the Church one of the first things that caught my attention was I heard people say that Christ paid for my sins.  Having been a newspaper boy I knew that if someone paid for my sins, there had to be a transaction involved which raised many questions in my mind.

 

Since Christ lived some 1955 years before how did he know me, a no account son of a divorcee when there were bigger problems in the world? How did he get a hold of my sins which I hadn’t committed yet? How is a man (I didn’t know He was a God at that time) nailed to a cross equivalent to my sins? How does that work?

 

Within a year or so I figured since I was now a Christian that I had better read the Bible. And believe it or not at the age of 13 or so I made it all the way from Genesis to Leviticus. And in Leviticus I read:

1:3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord.

1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

My mind caught on the word “accepted”. I knew as a paper boy that I would not accept any less than 10 cents for the Honolulu Star Bulletin because I had to account for the number of paper given to me and I got a penny for each paper I sold, and had to pay 9 cents for those not accounted for.  But I would accept more than 10 cents. On occasion I would hear my favorite words, ”Keep the change.”  Anyway as I pondered the word “accepted” I thought that maybe it only had to be a token sacrifice.  I held that belief for some years until I read D&C 19 and it shook me.  That experience cured me of thinking it was a token sacrifice.

Reading on now I read Leviticus 16 where it says:

 

6:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness

 

For the first time I thought I could see that sins are transferable. This is probably not coacher doctrine but I was still in my paper-boy mind.  I thought to myself that there must be a law somewhere that says you can transfer sin because God has told them to do it and it is acceptable.  For me I was satisfied that Christ could in effect get a hold of my sins and pay for them.

 

Further reading and life’s experiences have enabled me to come to a clearer understanding of the unfathomable infinite Atonement.  In the ocean I have explored and have a fair knowledge of the first 30 – 40 feet of the unfathomable depths.  Rare occasions have allowed me to go some deeper.  It is the same with understanding the Atonement.  Difficult experiences in life will enable a person to go a little deeper.  In my opinion reason alone won’t get you there.

 

I love the Atonement and would love to hear other people's learning and experiences.

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