Giving Thanks: What the Atonement is Really About

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Image via churchofjesuschrist.org

Justin really nails it on the head.

The Atonement is a crucial part of our mortal existence. Through the Atonement, the Savior has provided a way for us to return and live with Heavenly Father again. Understanding the Atonement can help us to repent, move forward and become a true disciple of Christ.

Because that’s what the Atonement is all about: moving forward. It’s so much more than utilizing the ability to repent of our sins. It’s about the progression towards who we were born to become, whether that’s magnifying the talents we’ve been given, fulfilling our Church callings or enduring heart-wrenching trials.

Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy spoke of the power of the Atonement to help us change:

“The atoning sacrifice of the Savior is what makes perfection or sanctification possible. We could never do it on our own, but God’s grace is sufficient to help us. As Elder David A. Bednar once observed: “Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better.”

We will constantly fall short in our own lives. We will blow off important obligations in favor of watching Netflix all day. There will be days when we fail important tests because we didn’t study hard enough, or we yelled at our spouses over the state of the kitchen. Because life is the way it is, we will constantly fall short in various aspects of our lives.

The Atonement, when applied correctly, not only is the eraser of those mistakes but also the pencil that draws a new future for us. It allows us to move past who we were and become who we want to be.

Because of this, I can echo what Justin said. I’m thankful for the power of the Atonement for not just protecting me from past mistakes, but helping me become the person I dream of becoming.

Logan Groll is a BYU undergraduate student studying English with a minor in Creative Writing. Born in the mountains of Utah but raised in the wooded hills of Virginia, he now lives in Springville, Utah with his sweetheart. His passions are his wife, his faith and his dream of being an author.