The Intimate Atonement

Apr. 1^st, 2017

I thought about saying that I forgot to write a blog post this week, but I’ve always been bad at April Fools’ Day pranks!

This lovely weekend, I’m sure you all know, leaves us in the middle of general conference. It always amazes me how the spirit helps these speakers have the right words to say for all that listen. In correlation with what we learned this in class this week, I want to echo what Brother Griffin talked about as we learned of the Savior’s coming to the Americas – the Savior’s atonement was not only infinite, but intimate as well.

We talk all the time of how the Savior suffered for all of mankind, how he “took upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy” (Alma 7:11). We often talk of everything He did for everyone, but what is everything that He did for you? One by one He showed the Nephites that he died for each of them. He showed them how much He loved and cared for them on such an individual level. I think in a way similar how we each get to hear individual messages specifically for us at general conference.

But how do we remember that what he did for each of us was so individual?

I don’t know if we’ll ever truly understand exactly what happened, but I’ve been thinking about how we might be able to internalize that relationship, and I think in addition to study and meaningful prayer, we can remember the atonement by being kind to our fellow men and following the example of the Savior. I think this can help us remember the individual struggles each one of us goes through, and how we can all overcome by being lovely and helping each other. This concept kind of came to me when I saw my mom help someone out earlier this week – we were in a restaurant, and my back was to the entrance of the store, but she saw someone in a mobile chair struggling to open the door and she ran without a second thought. Simple, but individual for that person’s needs. I remembered that example a couple days later when I saw a young mom with a stroller, a baby, and a toddler trying to wrestle her 2 year old off the elevator – I got to help her out. Those are the little things that make a difference to everyone – when we are the Savior’s hands, we have the opportunity to help fulfill his mission while becoming Christlike in the process.