The 3rd Article of Faith

The 3rd Article of faith is on the atonement of Christ

Ш “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.”

In preparing this read and re-read that A of F about a bah-jillion times

One of these times, sleeping over at a friends house . . . . couldn’t sleep.

Scriptures and re-read to see if I could get any ideas for this opportunity.

This time, noticed that the “Atonement of Christ” is capitalized. I don’t know why, but I had never noticed that before.

Next morning, Asked my friend why she thought it was capitalized

She’s a return missionary and a super genius.

Hoping for a long answer that I could use for this talk, instead of having to write one myself.

Sadly, that wasn’t the case.

All she said to me was, “The Atonement must be pretty important then.” And it is.

Ш John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Our Savior took on all our transgressions, sicknesses, infirmities. He did all of that so we could be saved. He and Heavenly Father loves us that much.

Section 138 in Doctrine and Covenants President Joseph F. Smith is sitting in his room pondering the scriptures.

Ш verses 2-4, “And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God; for the redemption of the world; And the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world; That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved.”

Back to the A of F

Ш “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved,”

All Mankind is a lot of people.

How many people in the room . . . . going to BYU.

My mom and Dad are on a genealogy kick right now, and I look censuses with thousands of names on it.

Still can’t fathom all mankind.

Ш Apostle Orson Pratt said, “We believe that through the sufferings, death, and atonement of Jesus Christ all mankind, without one exception, are to be completely and fully redeemed, both body and spirit, from the endless banishment and curse to which they were consigned by Adam’s transgression . . . whether they believe of disbelieve, whether they repent or remain impenitent, whether they are baptized or un-baptized, whether they keep the commandments or break them, whether they are righteous or unrighteous, it will make no difference in relation to their redemption, both soul and body.”

So all of mankind. People in this room . . . going to BYU . . . everyone that has ever come to this earth can be saved through the Atonement of Christ.

So essentially if everyone can be saved, why does the 3rd A of F end with

Ш “by obedience to the laws and ordinances