Look for the good news in the following passage from the Book of Mormon as Jesus Christ defines His Gospel more specifically:
“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—” (3Ne. 27:14).
Wait—this sounds suspiciously like bad news. “…as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged…” “Lifted up” has positive connotations in other places in the scriptures, but to be “lifted up” “as” Jesus should give us pause.
How was Jesus lifted up? He was nailed to a cross, without clothing, and put on public display in the cruelest and most degrading manner. And we get that sense from other places in the scriptures—that the Final Judgment, that last interview with the Lord, might be severely painful (unless we are prepared for it).
Alma expresses vividly which kind of agony:
“…so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
“Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds” (Alma 36:14-15).
It is not literal coals and pitchforks that hell is made of; it is shame and dark disappointment.
“Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day” (2Ne. 9:33). Mere admittance into heaven is not enough to make us happy; we have to belong there—a dream about being in public becomes a nightmare if we realize we are there without clothing.
“Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell.
“For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you” (Mormon 9:4-5).
We would not want to go to heaven in such a state—we would back out and flee.
“…the demands of divine justice to awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever” (Mosiah 2:38).
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God—are we all doomed, then? No, and that is the good news—we need not go into that great and final face-to-face interview with our Divine Creator unprepared. Christianity is forever talking about being “saved.” Saved? From what? People sleep through church meetings and sleepwalk through life. There is no apparent danger anywhere in sight (unless we have terminal diseases or other mortal problems).
Saved from what? What is the danger?
The danger is coming into the presence of God unprepared for that inevitable face-to-face meeting.
The Good News
“…nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God…” (Alma 12:24).
That is good news. We have a chance, here, now, to change our actions and our attitudes. But this alone is not sufficient to correct the consequences of sin. If a boy heaves a baseball through a priceless stained glass window, will any misery or even payment on his part piece it back together? Justice alone might require a penalty, but even that does not heal all the effects of sin.
If we break eternal laws, we can only expect eternal consequences, unless there are eternal solutions.
And the Atonement of Jesus Christ is of the magnitude necessary to heal damage and pay for our sins, because it is also eternal in scope and magnitude. It is big enough to offset our sins.
“Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
“But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an inifinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world” (Alma 34:11-12).
Infinity is the price necessary to redeem us from sin, and Jesus paid that price for our sins to save us from the terrible shame we would otherwise feel when our lives are publicized at the Judgment Day.
Let’s continue with the definition of the Gospel, the good news Jesus gives us:
“And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works” (3Ne. 27:15).
It sounds (to me) as though our appearance at the Judgment will be compulsory—perhaps we will be anxiously chatting with friends, awaiting our turn, and without warning, find ourselves flying, drawn towards the judgment bar. Jesus was lifted up with hands other than His own; “even so” is the phrase describing how we will be lifted up before Jesus.
Regardless, we will each arrive there, one by one, standing before Him in all His might, power, and glory, looking into us as though our every thought and feeling were screamed aloud. This is a different, yet equally uncomfortable, kind of nakedness to His.
BUT,
“And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world” (3Ne. 27:16).
THAT (finally) sounds like good news. To be presented blameless, free of crippling, agonizing shame before God—not desiring to have mountains fall upon us to hide our shame, or wanting to run as far and as fast from Him as we can scamper.
What makes this possible? How can a life tainted with sin throughout its duration end in cleanliness before the Lord?
Atonement, Literally
The Atonement is something Latter-day Saints speak of often. Perhaps it would be good to apply our cultural tendency for digging into the etymological roots of words to this highly important Gospel term.
Kippur is the Hebrew translated as Atonement. It is cognate (and similar) with our verb to cover. To cover is a literal translation of Atonement. What is covered? We are, our sins are: covered and erased by blood. (Sacrificial blood was spattered ritually on every important surface of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple at Jerusalem.)
Our definition of the Gospel as given by the Savior continues:
“And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end” (3Ne. 27:19).
That is the Good News—that the blood of Jesus Christ will atone for (cover) our sins; we will not be lifted up naked (like Jesus), but will have Him (mercifully) to cover us, to clothe us. What would otherwise be acutely miserable and humiliating public scrutiny will become a public display of mercy, covering our past, our record of transgressions and sins.
This covering is given freely to those who sin ignorantly. But the difference between our knowledge of right and wrong, and what we actually did, will be the measure of justice we merit. Any difference between knowledge of right and wrong and our actions must be atoned for, covered by Christ.
At-One-Ment
Why not translate kippur literally? The etymology (origin) of Atonement (kippur) and its definition are different. The origin of the word means literally to cover, but there was a lot more to it than that. Kippur refers to what the covering of sin enables—reuniting with God, at-one-ment, with our Father.
(The reunion of the prodigal son with his patient, loving and forgiving parent captures the essence of at-one-ment. He covers his returned son with a robe, as well as sandals, a ring, embraces, and love.)
And so the fuller meaning of to cover is to become at one, reuniting after a long and sad separation.
Premortal Acceptance
When this plan of how to get back from a sin-filled world and be clean again was presented at the Grand Council before the world was created, a full third of the heavenly hosts rejected it. What made the difference between those who subscribed to the plan and agreed to come here, and those who rebelled against the plan?
“And they (we) overcame him (Lucifer) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).
We were willing to risk physical and spiritual death by coming into this world because we trusted in Jesus Christ; that He would be born, and love us enough to suffer for our sins, and die, and be resurrected and glorified. Whatever He gets, His followers also inherit. That includes following in His footsteps, wherever He goes—back into His presence and the presence of His Father, forever.
Because we are not in hell now, we see no danger, and so it takes faith to believe that we are either in peril or rescued. But experiences in life let us pre-sample a little of heaven and hell. We sin, lose light, and so feel pain. We can imagine that loss of light amplified immensely in the next life.
Conversely, when we do willingly what God has asked us to do, such as receive His ordinances, attend the Temple, or at other sacred times, we get a foretaste of heaven—“earnest money,” Paul calls it. Those sweet, ineffable moments when the portion of the Spirit is turned up, and our whole being is “quickened,” convince us that there is more and more of that goodness available in the life to come.
We have afflictions, just like everyone else. But we have something more: Christ promises us strength, and to accompany us in our extremity:
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).
That is good news here and now. I am one more witness that Jesus does actually visit us in our pain, and strengthens us to bear our burdens, or even removes them. Either way, we can be happy in this life, as well as happily anticipating the next life.
Our Share
While there are things only Jesus Christ can do, He demands one thing from us continuously: Repent. The strengthening, grace, and sanctification we receive from Him is delivered almost entirely by His Spirit. Therefore we must change our attitudes and actions to receive the Holy Ghost. This is a continuous process; we always need repentance in some form (hence phrases like “endure to the end”).
“Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (3Ne. 27:22).
BUT,
“And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world” (3Ne. 27:16).
THAT (finally) sounds like good news. To be presented blameless, free of crippling, agonizing shame before God—not desiring to have mountains fall upon us to hide our shame, or wanting to run as far and as fast from Him as we can scamper.
What makes this possible? How can a life tainted with sin throughout its duration end in cleanliness before the Lord?
Atonement, Literally
The Atonement is something Latter-day Saints speak of often. Perhaps it would be good to apply our cultural tendency for digging into the etymological roots of words to this highly important Gospel term.
Kippur is the Hebrew translated as Atonement. It is cognate (and similar) with our verb to cover. To cover is a literal translation of Atonement. What is covered? We are, our sins are: covered and erased by blood. (Sacrificial blood was spattered ritually on every important surface of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple at Jerusalem.)
Our definition of the Gospel as given by the Savior continues:
“And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end” (3Ne. 27:19).
That is the Good News—that the blood of Jesus Christ will atone for (cover) our sins; we will not be lifted up naked (like Jesus), but will have Him (mercifully) to cover us, to clothe us. What would otherwise be acutely miserable and humiliating public scrutiny will become a public display of mercy, covering our past, our record of transgressions and sins.
This covering is given freely to those who sin ignorantly. But the difference between our knowledge of right and wrong, and what we actually did, will be the measure of justice we merit. Any difference between knowledge of right and wrong and our actions must be atoned for, covered by Christ.
At-One-Ment
Why not translate kippur literally? The etymology (origin) of Atonement (kippur) and its definition are different. The origin of the word means literally to cover, but there was a lot more to it than that. Kippur refers to what the covering of sin enables—reuniting with God, at-one-ment, with our Father.
(The reunion of the prodigal son with his patient, loving and forgiving parent captures the essence of at-one-ment. He covers his returned son with a robe, as well as sandals, a ring, embraces, and love.)
And so the fuller meaning of to cover is to become at one, reuniting after a long and sad separation.
Premortal Acceptance
When this plan of how to get back from a sin-filled world and be clean again was presented at the Grand Council before the world was created, a full third of the heavenly hosts rejected it. What made the difference between those who subscribed to the plan and agreed to come here, and those who rebelled against the plan?
“And they (we) overcame him (Lucifer) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:11).
We were willing to risk physical and spiritual death by coming into this world because we trusted in Jesus Christ; that He would be born, and love us enough to suffer for our sins, and die, and be resurrected and glorified. Whatever He gets, His followers also inherit. That includes following in His footsteps, wherever He goes—back into His presence and the presence of His Father, forever.
Because we are not in hell now, we see no danger, and so it takes faith to believe that we are either in peril or rescued. But experiences in life let us pre-sample a little of heaven and hell. We sin, lose light, and so feel pain. We can imagine that loss of light amplified immensely in the next life.
Conversely, when we do willingly what God has asked us to do, such as receive His ordinances, attend the Temple, or at other sacred times, we get a foretaste of heaven—“earnest money,” Paul calls it. Those sweet, ineffable moments when the portion of the Spirit is turned up, and our whole being is “quickened,” convince us that there is more and more of that goodness available in the life to come.
We have afflictions, just like everyone else. But we have something more: Christ promises us strength, and to accompany us in our extremity:
“And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).
That is good news here and now. I am one more witness that Jesus does actually visit us in our pain, and strengthens us to bear our burdens, or even removes them. Either way, we can be happy in this life, as well as happily anticipating the next life.
Our Share
While there are things only Jesus Christ can do, He demands one thing from us continuously: Repent. The strengthening, grace, and sanctification we receive from Him is delivered almost entirely by His Spirit. Therefore we must change our attitudes and actions to receive the Holy Ghost. This is a continuous process; we always need repentance in some form (hence phrases like “endure to the end”).
“Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;
“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (3Ne. 27:22).
