In his talk “The Atonement Can Clean, Reclaim, and Sanctify Our Lives” Elder Shayne M Brown speaks about the far reaching affect of the Atonement. Elder Brown opens his talk by describing two beautiful places—an airport and a city park. He then goes on to explain that both of these places are built over sanitary landfills that had been reclaimed.
Elder Brown goes on to make the comparison of this to the Atonement. He points out that many people would think that you were foolish if you went to dig up the old garbage that is buried beneath these places. He goes on to ask:
“Is it possible to reclaim a life that through reckless abandon has become so strewn with garbage that it appears that the person is unforgivable? Or what about the one who is making an honest effort but has fallen back into sin so many times that he feels that there is no possible way to break the seemingly endless pattern? Or what about the person who has changed his life but just can’t forgive himself?”
Elder Brown then refers to the teachings of Alma, which speak of the Atonement. He points out that Christ suffered for each of our sins, and gave us the opportunity to be resurrected. Elder Brown emphasizes the point that the Atonement is for everyone. It can help you to become clean again. It can give you the chance to sanctify your life for the Lord. Elder Brown points out that the Christ must feel sorrow when we refuse to use the Atonement and to repent of our sins. The Atonement gives each of us a chance to start over and to live so that we can return to our Father in Heaven again.
This is an excellent talk. I really enjoy the analogy that Elder Brown makes in his talk. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read and ponder it. The Atonement is available to everyone. It is a blessing that we should each take advantage of. The beginning of the new year is a great time to take a moment and assess the direction your life is headed. You can begin to make course corrections and get back on the path that will take you home to Heavenly Father. The Atonement is there to help you along the way.
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