President James E. Faust on the healing power of Atonement and Resurrection

President James E. Faust (1920-2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.

"Many who think that life is unfair do not see things within the larger vision of what the Savior did for us through the Atonement and the Resurrection. Each of us has at times agony, heartbreak, and despair when we must, like Job, reach deep down inside to the bedrock of our own faith. The depth of our belief in the Resurrection and the Atonement of the Savior will, I believe, determine the measure of courage and purpose with which we meet life’s challenges.

"The first words of the risen Lord to His disciples were, 'Peace be unto you' (John 20:19). He has also promised, 'Peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come' (D&C 59:23). The Atonement and the Resurrection have taken place. Our Lord and Savior suffered that appalling agony in Gethsemane. He performed the ultimate sacrifice in dying on the cross and then breaking the bonds of death.

"All of us benefit from the transcendent blessings of the Atonement and the Resurrection, through which the divine healing process can work in our lives. The hurt can be replaced by the joy the Savior promised. To the doubting Thomas, Jesus said, 'Be not faithless, but believing' (John 20:27). Through faith and righteousness all of the inequities, injuries, and pains of this life can be fully compensated for and made right. Blessings denied in this life will be fully recompensed in the eternities. Through complete repentance of our sins we can be forgiven and we can enjoy eternal life. Thus our suffering in this life can be as the refining fire, purifying us for a higher purpose. Heartaches can be healed, and we can come to know a soul-satisfying joy and happiness beyond our dreams and expectations."

- James E. Faust, "Woman, Why Weepest Thou?", Ensign, November 1996, pp. 52-54
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I love President Faust's perspective and wisdom. If you think life is unfair, you aren't thinking enough about the gift of the Atonement and Resurrection of the Savior. We will all have times of "agony, heartbreak, and despair" in life:

And so the Savior offers us His peace, promises peace, if we come unto Him. That is the power of His love and sacrifice for us. Joy replaces hurt in life as we allow "the divine healing process" to work in our lives. With the eternal perspective, we see that the challenges and suffering of this life are "the refining fire" that purifies us to a higher purpose. The Easter promise is glorious indeed!

Elder David A. Bednar on the personal blessings of the Atonement and Resurrection

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"The central feature in Lehi's dream is the tree of life—which is a representation of 'the love of God' that is 'most desirable above all things' and 'most joyous to the soul' (1 Nephi 11:22-23; see also 1 Nephi 8:12, 15).

"Lehi explained:

"'And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.

"'And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also' (1 Nephi 8:11-12; emphasis added).

"The greatest manifestation of God's love for His children is the mortal ministry, atoning sacrifice, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The fruit on the tree can be considered a symbol for the blessings of the Savior's Atonement.

"Lehi's instant response to partaking of the fruit of the tree and experiencing great joy was an increased desire to share with and serve his family. Thus, as he turned to Christ, he also turned outward in love and service....

"The enduring lesson we learn... is the importance of experiencing in our personal lives the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as a prerequisite to heartfelt and authentic service that stretches far beyond merely 'going through the motions.'"

- David A. Bednar, "Come and See," Ensign, November 2014, pp. 107-110
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Elder Bednar applies the lesson of Lehi's dream, where the tree and its fruit are identified as representing God's love for His children. That love is manifest profoundly in the ministry, atonement, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Elder Bednar notes that when Lehi first tasted of the fruit, his "instant response" after discovering the joy it brought to him, was to want to share it with his family:

Elder Bednar's suggestion is that we, likewise, as we begin to understand and appreciate the sacred blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, will be filled with the desire to serve as He encouraged us. We will respond as did Lehi: "As he turned to Christ, he also turned outward in love and service."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on the powerful ideas of Resurrection and Atonement

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (b. August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984.

"Every follower of Jesus Christ knows that the most powerful ideas of the Christian faith are the resurrection and the atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of him we can be forgiven of our sins and we will live again. Those powerful ideas have been explained in countless sermons from this pulpit and a million others. They are well known but not well applied in the lives of most of us.

"Our model is not the latest popular hero of sports or entertainment, not our accumulated property or prestige, and not the expensive toys and diversions that encourage us to concentrate on what is temporary and forget what is eternal. Our model—our first priority—is Jesus Christ. We must testify of him and teach one another how we can apply his teachings and his example in our lives."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Powerful Ideas," Ensign, November 1995, pp. 25-27
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What are the most "powerful ideas" that influence us in this life? Elder Oaks considers that question and encourages us to ponder what we believe and what we teach, what are the foundations of our faith and action.

The ideas of the resurrection and atonement of Jesus Christ have to be among the very most powerful of all. Elder Oaks worries that these ideas "are well known but not well applied in the lives of most of us." If those ideas are understood and applied properly, they will influence us in significant ways:

We should do more testifying and teaching about the Savior! That would bless us as we strive to follow and apply those teachings in our lives.

Elder M. Russell Ballard on true progress through appropriate goals

Elder M. Russell Ballard (born October 8, 1928) was called as a Seventy in 1976, and has served as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles since 1985.

"Wise goal setting includes the understanding that short-term goals are only effective if they lead to clearly understood longer-term goals. I believe that one important key to happiness is to learn how to set our own goals and establish our own plans within the framework of our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan. If we focus on this eternal path, we will inevitably qualify to return to His presence.

"It is good to have goals and plans for our careers, for our education, even for our golf game. It is also important to have goals for our marriages, our families, and our Church councils and callings; this is especially true for missionaries. But our greatest and most overriding goals should fit into Heavenly Father’s eternal plan. Jesus said, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you' (3 Nephi 13:33)....

"During the coming weeks, find time to review your life’s goals and your plans, and make sure they align with our Heavenly Father’s great plan for our happiness. If you need to repent and change, then consider doing so now. Take the time to prayerfully think about what adjustments are needed to help you keep your 'eye single to the glory of God' (D&C 4:5)."

- Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Return and Receive," General Conference, April 2017
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Elder Ballard's message included some important principles for setting goals that lead to improvement:

• A long-term goal, once clear and well understood, is blessed by establishing short-term goals that lead to attaining it
• The most important long-term goal is "immortality and eternal life," and the short-term goals leading to it are defined in the plan of salvation
• We are blessed to the extent that we establish our goals and plans in harmony with God's goals and plans

So Elder Ballard's challenge is that "our greatest and most overriding goals should fit into Heavenly Father’s eternal plan." Once we set our plans in the context which He has established, we will be blessed.

It's always good to note specific challenges and instructions given during general conference. This is an example of such a request made of us all by Elder Ballard:

The serious personal evaluation suggested by Elder Ballard would truly be a blessing to any individual willing to seriously review his or her goals and plans, and make appropriate adjustments.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks on the blessings of our understanding of God

Elder Dallin H. Oaks (b. August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984.

"So, how does understanding this heavenly revealed doctrine about the Godhead and the plan of salvation help us with our challenges today?

"Because we have the truth about the Godhead and our relationship to Them, the purpose of life, and the nature of our eternal destiny, we have the ultimate road map and assurance for our journey through mortality. We know whom we worship and why we worship. We know who we are and what we can become (see D&C 93:19). We know who makes it all possible, and we know what we must do to enjoy the ultimate blessings that come through God’s plan of salvation. How do we know all of this? We know by the revelations of God to His prophets and to each of us individually.

"Attaining what the Apostle Paul described as 'the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (Ephesians 4:13) requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ challenge us to become something."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "The Godhead and the Plan of Salvation," General Conference, April 2017
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In his familiar style, always thorough and organized, Elder Oaks shared a message summarizing our understanding of the Godhead. After his careful explanation, this final section of his address provided somewhat of a "Therefore, what?" summary as he considers how that understanding can bless us in confronting our challenges. Having a correct understanding of the nature of God provides us with "the ultimate road map and assurance for our journey through mortality." The key is to make sure that understanding is correct; then we will also comprehend our relationship to God and how we can be blessed and helped in all of our needs.

But more is required than just acquiring a correct knowledge; we must allow the knowledge to change our lives, change our natures:

I truly love that summary. It doesn't matter at all what we know unless that knowledge leads us to become something different and better. So the blessing of our learning and understanding must be accompanied by a softened heart and a willing spirit.

President Russell M. Nelson on a correct understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ

President Russell M. Nelson (b. Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He was set apart as president of the Quorum of Twelve on July 15, 2015.

"As Latter-day Saints, we refer to His mission as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which made resurrection a reality for all and made eternal life possible for those who repent of their sins and receive and keep essential ordinances and covenants.

"It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as 'the Atonement' or 'the enabling power of the Atonement' or 'applying the Atonement' or 'being strengthened by the Atonement.' These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

"Under the Father’s great eternal plan, it is the Savior who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bands of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.

"There is no amorphous entity called 'the Atonement' upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did, according to the Father’s plan, so that we may live with hope in this life and gain eternal life in the world to come. The Savior’s atoning sacrifice—the central act of all human history—is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives," General Conference, April 2017
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President Russell is now 92 years old, and is the oldest of the current general authorities (three years older than President Monson). Yet he continues to teach with insight and power. I thought this talk was among the most instructive of the recent conference; it is full of nuggets of clarification and inspiration.

This explanation of the Atonement of Jesus Christ was particularly helpful to me. As we discuss that event and consider how to draw benefit from it, we sometimes do speak as if the event itself takes on power and life. But President Nelson explains it's our connection to the One who performed the action that is the crucial aspect we need to focus on. We must never forget:

• It is the Savior who suffered.
• It is the Savior who broke the bands of death.
• It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance.
• It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.

With that clarification, President Nelson then teaches:

How grateful we are, not just for the Atonement, but for the Atonement of Jesus Christ! What a marvelous thing to ponder in the coming week as we approach the Easter commemoration.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on living with joy in our world

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (b. November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He has served as second counselor in the First Presidency since 2008.

"One of the ways Satan wants us to manipulate others is by dwelling upon and even exaggerating the evil in the world.

"Certainly our world has always been, and will continue to be, imperfect. Far too many innocent people suffer because of circumstances of nature as well as from man’s inhumanity. The corruption and wickedness in our day are unique and alarming.

"But in spite of all this, I wouldn’t trade living in this time with any other time in the history of the world. We are blessed beyond measure to live in a day of unparalleled prosperity, enlightenment, and advantage. Most of all, we are blessed to have the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which gives us a unique perspective on the world’s dangers and shows us how to either avoid these dangers or deal with them.

"When I think of these blessings, I want to fall to my knees and offer praises to our Heavenly Father for His never-ending love for all of His children.

"I don’t believe God wants His children to be fearful or dwell on the evils of the world. 'For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind' (2 Timothy 1:7).

"He has given us an abundance of reasons to rejoice. We just need to find and to recognize them. The Lord often reminds us to 'be not afraid,' to 'be of good cheer,' and to 'fear not, little flock' (Luke 12:32)."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Perfect Love Casteth Out Fear," General Conference, April 2017
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It's interesting to consider the extremes of the position offered by Satan and by God. The first would create fear and dread, building on uncertainty and danger to cause us to struggle even more with the challenges we face. But the second offers a spirit "of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"—the knowledge that all is well in His hands, and we need only trust and follow.

With that perspective, we can be grateful, as President Uchtdorf defines, for the privilege of living in a time of "unparalleled prosperity, enlightenment, and advantage":

So our world is filled with "an abundance of reasons to rejoice"—and our task is "to find and recognize them." That's a great assignment!