Atonement

Capture your memories. The more I look on the past the more I realize that I have forgotten so much of what I thought I could never forget. Live for today, that’s for sure.

Most of the people you meet are probably like myself...living in yesterday or tomorrow. Having nastalgia about the past and excitement for the future. I don’t think those things are bad; I do think that a healthy appreciation of the moment right now, and now, and now, etc. will make myself and a lot of people a lot happier.

I’ve been reading Believing Christ, written by Robinson, and I think I finally understand the atonements role in our worthiness. Indulge me by reading on.
Say you have a negative balance on your debit account because you made a few small mistakes. No matter how small they were the bank is not happy with you.
Now, If you were to marry someone who had a healthy savings account (an infinite amount of resources) then no matter how negative your account is the debt is repaid.

When Christ atoned for our pains and sins he had the infinite mercy and paid all of justice in full. When we think that we need to be perfect and others need to be perfect in order to be worthy to talk to Father in Heaven, or think that we are worth anything, we are refusing to allow Christ to pay our balance.
If we instead choose to be baptized and confirmed, and take on the covenant with Christ, we say that we will allow him to make up for our weaknesses until we learn how to be perfect. The problem is that because we beforehand thought we had to be perfect to return to the father we still kind of think that way. We have to have a desire. We have to try. We have to forsake our wrongs over and over. When we choose to return to Him we can. It is only our own desire for independence that keeps us from being interdependent with the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. I don’t know how to better say what is in my heart.

The people you teach will not be perfect when they join the church. They will not be perfect when they die. But if they allow a broken heart and a contrite spirit to fill them and truly forsake their sins (as tempting as they are) they will find happiness. Each sin we forsake brings us more happiness, less dependence on Satan hollow incentives, and an less difficult path to conquer the next vice. Knowing that Christ makes them perfect lets them know of their infinite worth. No matter what they do, no matter what they think, no matter how poorly they feel they are infinitely worthy to him. He loves them when they have committed the blackest of sins. So it is their choice, once they know they are making it, to turn and progress towards Him or turn and digress away from Him.

It is that simple. Either you are “trying to be like Jesus” or you are not.

You are beautiful and full of life! Keep sharing that with those who you serve. Lose your life in the work and you will discover a greater deeper life than you ever imagined. Remember that you are there to bring all people the greatest happiness you can. That does not mean baptize everyone, (for you’ve obviously learned they will make their own choices whether or not that makes them happy), it means that you love them for who they are. When they are ready they will receive it like a runner drinks water after a race, or a freshly tilled garden receives water and sunshine. Tell that to the members who feel discouraged about missionary work. That way they won’t feel like they have to change their friends. Instead they will live in glorious truth and love their neighbors; and their lights cannot be hid.