Sunday afternoon session: He suffered willingly: A gift of hope
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Relating the tragic loss of a grandson in an airplane crash this past January, Elder M. Russell Ballard said Sunday afternoon, "Nathan being taken so suddenly from our mortal presence has turned each of our hearts and minds to the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Elder Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve said: "While it is impossible for me to put into words the full meaning of the Atonement of Christ, I pray that I can explain what His atonement means to me and our family and what it might also mean to you and yours."
The apostle declared: "There is no greater expression of love than the heroic Atonement performed by the Son of God. Were it not for the plan of our Heavenly Father, established before the world began, in a very real sense all mankind — past, present and future — would have been left without the hope of eternal progression."
In Gethsemane, among the gnarled olive trees, "Jesus suffered willingly so that we might all have the opportunity to be washed clean — through our faith in Him, repentance of our sins, being baptized by proper priesthood authority and through receiving the purifying gift of the Holy Ghost by confirmation, and by accepting all other essential ordinances."
Later, the Savior endured cruel beatings and death by crucifixion at Calvary. Speaking of the recent media commentary about this, Elder Ballard reminded those listening "that no one had the power to take the Savior's life from Him. He gave it as a ransom for us all. As the Son of God, He had the power to alter the situation."
Elder Ballard continued: "The gift of resurrection and immortality is given freely through the loving grace of Jesus Christ to all people of all ages, regardless of their good or evil acts. And to those who choose to love the Lord and who show their love and faith in Him by keeping His commandments and qualifying for the full blessings of the Atonement, He offers the additional promise of exaltation and eternal life which is the blessing of living in the presence of God and His Beloved Son forever. . . ."
"Brothers and sisters, I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is ONE son or daughter of God," Elder Ballard said, explaining that at the heart of the English word "Atonement" is the word "ONE."
He continued: "If we truly understood the Atonement and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. We would help them to know the love Christ has for them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel."
Speaking of sharing gospel truths, Elder Ballard said: "I pray that every one of our youth will seek to know the blessings of the Atonement and that they will strive to be worthy to serve the Lord in the mission field. Surely many more senior couples and others whose health will permit would eagerly desire to serve the Lord as missionaries if they would ponder over the meaning of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Heavenly Father invites all to "come unto Christ," Elder Ballard said. "He has taught us that it is through our faithful adherence to gospel principles, through receiving the saving ordinances that have been restored, through continual service, and by enduring to the end, that we can return to His sacred presence.
"What possible thing in the whole world is remotely as important as to know this?"
