Ensuring a Righteous Judgment
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- How does the Book of Mormon clarify the doctrine of Christ and His atoning sacrifice?
- What does it mean that Christ's sacrifice fulfills all the demands of justice?
- How does the Savior's Atonement ensure a righteous judgment?
- What are the implications of the Savior's ability to mend what we cannot fix?
- How does the Atonement bring peace to us, especially when we have caused harm to others?
Topics
Understanding the Doctrine of Christ through the Book of Mormon
Elder Rasband underscores the clarity provided by the Book of Mormon about the doctrine of Christ, which includes faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. He explains that all these elements hinge on trust in Christ's atoning sacrifice.
The doctrine of Christ—which consists of the saving principles and ordinances of faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end—is taught numerous times in all the scriptures of the Restoration but with particular power in the Book of Mormon.
The more we understand about the Savior’s supernal gift, the more we will come to know, in our minds and in our hearts, the reality of President Nelson’s assurance that "the truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls."
- What are the elements of the doctrine of Christ?
- How does the Book of Mormon provide clarity on these elements?
- Why is trust in Christ's atoning sacrifice crucial?
- How has your understanding of the doctrine of Christ influenced your faith?
- How can you deepen your trust in Christ's atoning sacrifice?
- What steps can you take to apply the doctrine of Christ more fully in your life?
Christ's Atonement Satisfying Justice
Elder Rasband explains that Christ's atoning sacrifice fulfills all the demands of justice, allowing for God's plan of mercy to be accomplished. He uses Alma's experience to illustrate how Christ's mercy allows us to return to Heavenly Father.
A vital and peace-giving contribution of the Book of Mormon to our understanding of the Savior’s Atonement is its teaching that Christ’s merciful sacrifice fulfills all the demands of justice.
A penitent Alma pleaded for Christ’s mercy and then felt joy and relief when he realized that Christ had atoned for his sins and paid all that justice required.
- What are the "demands of justice" that the Atonement satisfies?
- How does Alma's experience illustrate the interplay between justice and mercy?
- How has your understanding of the Atonement's role in satisfying justice affected your view of repentance and mercy?
- How can you seek Christ's mercy in your life?
Healing and Restoration through the Savior's Atonement
Elder Rasband emphasizes the healing power of the Savior's Atonement, not only for those who sin, but also for those who are harmed by others" sins. He assures us that the Savior can restore what we cannot, including healing the wounds we cause.
The joyous truth on which Alma’s mind "caught hold" was not just that he himself could be made clean but also that those whom he had harmed could be healed and made whole.
The Savior will clear away the underbrush of ignorance and the painful thorns of hurt caused by others.
- How does the Savior's Atonement heal and restore both the sinner and those harmed by sin?
- What does it mean that the Savior can restore what we cannot?
- How have you experienced the healing power of the Atonement in your life?
- What steps can you take to seek healing and restoration through the Atonement?
The Savior's Sacrifice Ensuring a Righteous Judgment
Elder Rasband discusses how the Savior's atoning sacrifice ensures a righteous judgment for all, including those who sin in ignorance and those who sin knowingly. He emphasizes that the Savior offers healing to all, conditioned on repentance and faith.
These scriptures teach a glorious doctrine: the Savior’s atoning sacrifice heals, as a free gift, those who sin in ignorance—those to whom, as Jacob put it, "there is no law given."
Not only does the Savior heal and restore those who sin in ignorance, but also, for those who sin against the light, the Savior offers healing on the condition of repentance and faith in Him.
- What does a "righteous judgment" entail?
- How does the Savior's atoning sacrifice ensure a righteous judgment for all?
- How have you experienced the Savior's healing in your life, especially when you have sinned knowingly?
- How can you exercise greater faith in the Savior's promise of a righteous judgment?
The Savior's Promise to Mend All We Have Broken
Elder Rasband concludes by emphasizing the Savior's promise to mend all that we have broken, offering both healing for those we have harmed and restoration for us when we repent. He assures us of the Savior's perfect love and commitment to ensuring a judgment that honors both justice and mercy.
The magnificent, peace-giving promise of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel is that the Savior will mend all that we have broken.
He offers both of these gifts because He loves all of us with perfect love and because He is committed to ensuring a righteous judgment that honors both justice and mercy.
- What does it mean that the Savior will "mend all that we have broken"?
- How does the Savior's promise bring peace?
- What broken things in your life do you need the Savior to mend?
- How can you seek the Savior's healing and restoration in your relationships with others?
