Atonement⁠, Agency, Accountability - Part One

What does Atonement means to you? What does Agency means to you? What does Accountability means to you? 

This post focuses on highlights from a past General Conference talk called “Atonement, Agency, Accountability” by Elder Boyd K Packer in April 1988. and this post is part one. This post should take approximately three minutes to five minutes to read. 

Elder Packer has mentioned the following; “Before the Crucifixion and afterward, many men have willingly given their lives in selfless acts of heroism. But none faced what the Christ endured. Upon Him was the burden of all human transgression, all human guilt. And hanging in the balance was the Atonement⁠. 

Through His willing act, mercy and justice could be reconciled, eternal law sustained, and that mediation achieved without which mortal man could not be redeemed. He, by choice, accepted the penalty for all mankind for the sum total of all wickedness and depravity; for brutality, immorality, perversion, and corruption; for addiction; for the killings and torture and terror —for all of it that ever had been or all that ever would be enacted upon this earth.

In choosing, He faced the awesome power of the evil one who was not confined to flesh nor subject to mortal pain. … How the Atonement was wrought, we do not know. No mortal watched as evil turned away and hid in shame before the light of that pure being. All wickedness could not quench that light.

When what was done was done, the ransom had been paid. Both death and hell forsook their claim on all who would repent. … Then every soul who ever lived could choose to touch that light and be redeemed. By this infinite sacrifice, through this atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

Atonement is really three words: At-one-ment, meaning to set at one, one with God; to reconcile, to conciliate, to expiate. … I quote from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Christ died for us. … “We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

"What does Atonement mean?" 

“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement⁠” (⁠Rom. 5:8, 10–11⁠).

...  Nephi said, “Because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, … an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them” (⁠1 Ne. 13:29⁠). 

He then prophesied that the precious things would be restored (see 1 Ne. 13:34–35⁠). And they were restored. 

I quote but one verse from Alma: “And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also” (⁠Alma 42:15⁠; italics added).

The cost of the Atonement was borne by the Lord without compulsion, for agency is a sovereign principle. According to the plan, agency must be honored. It was so from the beginning, from Eden. “The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency” (⁠Moses 7:32⁠)." 

To continue reading along with more highlights from this General Conference talk, I strongly recommend you to look forward to reading part two.