Atonement of Jesus Christ All that is unfair about Life can be made fair through the Atonement of Jesus

Christ.

in what seem lonely and overwhelming trials

Why Life is so unfair Despite our best efforts, things dont always work out as we have planned (Christofferson, 2012). There are several reasons for this, in my brief study I ran across four: perspective, growth, and agency.

Perspective
It is important to recognize that we are not omnipotent nor omniscient. God is. There are things and events in life that will happen and we dont know why. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). What we need to remember is that God is in control, Hes got our back, and we are not alone. Hymn 124 Be Still My Soul [emphasize added] Be still, my soul; The Lord is on thy side; With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.

Leave to they God to order and provide; In evry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heavnly Friend

Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; Thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as he has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know His voice who rule them while he dwelt below. Be still, my soul: The hour is hastning on
*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, loves purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. Growth
It is important to remember that as much as we dont like trials, it is essential for our growth and progress. Our needed conversions are often achieved more readily by suffering and adversity than by comfort and tranquility (Oaks, as quoted by Burton, 2012). Eyring used a word in his talk (2012) that I liked: polished. Each trial tests and impacts us differently. One of the attributes tested mentioned by Christofferson (2012) is integrity. He is on trial as Job was on trial for his integrity.

Agency
Agency, as defined by Oaks (1987), is the exercise of the will, the power to choose and freedom is power and privilege to carry out our choices. This principle has two aspects. One is that a lot of our problems are caused or aggravated by other people. It is important to remember that they have their agency to make bad decisions as well as good decisions. It was Satans plan to take away the agency of others. The second aspect is that no matter what we have lost or never had, we always have our agency. What will we do with what we do have? no person or organization can take our free agency in mortality However, as Oaks goes on to explain, our freedom can be taken away ...in the circumstances of mortality, freedom is always qualified. He lists three ways our freedom can be limited: physical laws or limitations, our own actions, and the actions of others. He ends by saying: May we use our free agency to make righteous choice and to act upon them as we have the freedom to do so. Since, immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment and scriptures

inspire commitment to act as healing balm (Cook, 2012), here are some great scriptures to
ponder on: 2 Ne 10:23 therefore cheer up your hearts and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves D&C 29:35 behold I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself Moses 3:17 thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee 2 Ne 2:11 there is an opposition in all things
*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

2 Ne 2: 26-27 they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves...they are free to choose liberty and eternal life... or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil.. And Hymn 240 Know this, that every soul is free

What the Atonement offers us So, what can the Atonement offer us? I found four specific ways the Atonement can help us feel better about life being unfair: courage, strength, peace, and hope. The following are some inspirational quotes to help us remember what the Atonement can offer us. The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations and sorrow. We hope in Jesus the Christ, in the goodness of God, in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, in the knowledge that prayers are heard and answered. This type of hope in God, His goodness, and His power refreshes us with

courage during difficult challenges and gives strength to those who feel threatened by enclosing walls of fear, doubt, and despair. (Uchtdorf, Christ, Our Hope, 2012)
[emphasis added] Eyring (2012): we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace we never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lords service we can feel the love of God. The savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up. And he always keeps his word (scripture reference: D&C 84:88) Other scriptures, included by Sarah Millers talk:
Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give ye rest. Luke 4:18 He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives... to set at liberty them that are bruised. Elder Scott is quoted in that article as saying: The Lord has provided a way for you to overcome, letting go of self destructive anger. Christ bore our pain and has provided us a way to heal. The saving principles of the gospel have the power and capacity to heal wounded souls (Miller). Remember: The Savior offers solace to aching hearts, heals wounded souls, and changes sorrow into joy (Miller).

*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Hymn 129 Where can I turn for peace? Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace When other sources cease to make me whole? When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart, Searching my soul? Where, when my aching grows, Where, when I languish, Where, in my need to know, where can I run? Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish? Who, who can understand? He, only One. He answers privately, Reaches my reaching In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend. Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching. Constant he is and kind, Love without end. Hymn 115 Come all ye Disconsolate

Come, ye disconsolate, whereer ye languish; Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel. Here bring your wounded hearts; here tell your anguish. Earth has no sorrow that heavn cannot heal. Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure! Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, Earth has no sorrow that heavn cannot cure. Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above. Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but heavn can remove What we need to do So, now that we know what kind of peace and joy the Atonement can bring into our lives, how do we obtain it? Christ has told us simply come unto me. I found four actions that we can do
*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

to help apply the Atonement into our lives: repent, forgive, be grateful, have faith, and be committed.

Repent
One of the causes of our lives not being what we want is through our own actions. It is important to recognize that and repent of these actions. However, since none of us are perfect, even if all the negative things in our lives are caused by something or someone else, we still have something to repent of. Packer (2012): ... understands and applies the Atonement, they will know that those experiences and the pain connected with them can be erased. No pain will last forever. It is not easy but life was never meant to be either easy or fair. Repentance and the lasting hope that forgiveness brings will always be worth the effort. He continues in How to Survive in Enemy Territory, life turns out to be a succession of trials and errors. Repent often. This will bring you lasting peace that cannot be purchased at any earthy price. I love this quote. We are allowed to make mistakes in life, it is expected. After we make these mistakes, we repent (often) and do better. And we are promised peace when we repent. Cook (2012) quoted Benson saying, Repentance will be the only panacea for all ills. Eyring (2012) in talking about how things go wrong: ... there are reasons for that. Knowing those reasons may not give much comfort, but it can give you a feeling of patience. Those reasons come from this one fact: in their perfect love for you, Heavenly Father and the Savior wanted you fitted to be with them to live in families forever. Only those washed perfectly clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can be there.

Forgive
Forgiveness is the opposite side of the coin to repentance. Scott (2008) explains When you can forgive the offense, you will be relieved of the pain and heartache of hating the abuser. ... Your preoccupation with a need for justice only slows your healing. It will take time to forgive, especially if the offending party is unrepentant, but it will bring greater peace into your life. The one thing I really learned in my studies is from Eyring (2012), There is someone to forgive. I hadnt realized how many people that I still resented how they had treated me and instead of forgiving them I had just forgotten about them.

Grateful
*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

I already knew I needed to repent and forgive others, what surprised me was how being grateful helps make life less unfair. As we focus on what we have and what we can do and are grateful for what we have and what we can do, we become more positive and happy. Uchtdorf (Of regrets and resolutions, 2012): Brothers and sisters, no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it. ... So isnt it better to see with our eyes and hearts even the small things we can be thankful for, rather than magnifying the negative in our current condition? .... The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness, the less likely we will be on a path of regrets. .. Brothers and sisters, no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see it and appreciate it. Let us
resolve to be happy regardless of our circumstances. I loved that talk. It takes a conscious effort to be see joy in our lives, especially when society in general loves to focus on all the negative and everything that is going wrong. Have we not reason to rejoice? (Alma 26:35) Uchtdorf, in the above talk, mentions three: the plan of salvation, the gospel, and the great beauties we find in our mortal journey. No matter how unfair life is, everybody has these three great blessings in their life.

I had also not realized the great blessings that went along with being grateful. And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessing thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more. (D&C 78:18-19, italics added) I love this quote from Eyring (2012, italic added): There is someone you can forgive. There is someone you can thank. There is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted

you may feel. .... Your faith in Him led to acts of charity that will bring you hope.
We need to turn our gratitude into service. Instead of focusing on what we dont have or cant do, we need to focus on what we do have and what we can do.
*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

Faith
God does love us. He will heal us. We need to believe it. ...faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. .... [God has] prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift [eternal life], that they might hope for those things which they have not seen. (Ether 12:6,9) those things refer to a previous verse: Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with a surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God. (Ether 12:4) Eyring (2012) told a story of a woman who demonstrated profound faith: ...that faith and those words of testimony [I know that my Redeemer lives] were still there in the mist that obscured but did not erase memories of her childhood... Her faith that the Savior would forgive her if she forgave others prepared her with a feeling of peace and hope.... Scott (2008) put it simply: Since our Heavenly Father is completely just, there has to be a way of overcoming the tragic consequences of such damaging use of agency.. that secure healing comes through the power of the Atonement... to rectify that which is unjust.... I love his use of the word overcome in the following quote. Faith in His power to heal provides the means to overcome the terrible consequences of anothers unrighteous acts. Referring back to agency. We cannot control anothers actions, but God will heal the terrible consequences; we can overcome. Scott pleads for us to accept His invitation to let Him share your burden until you have sufficient time and strength to be healed. He also warns us of the influence of Satan. Satan does not want us to turn to Christ for healing, he wants us to sin as well or to wallow in suffering. Scott says Satan has extraordinary capacity to lead an individual into blind alleys where the solution to extremely challenging
*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

problems cannot be found. ... Do not let Satan convince you that you are beyond help. Satan uses your abuse to undermine self-confidence, destroy trust, create fear, and generate feelings of despair. Scott ends by saying we need faith that all these negative consequences can be resolved ... the beginning of healing requires childlike faith in the unalterable fact that Father in Heaven loves you and has supplied a way to heal. Remember this. Always. Healing is not easy, but it is always possible.

Commitment
Commitment is one way we show our faith in Jesus Christ. Other synonyms I like include diligence, determination, and endurance. We need to avoid a casual observance of our sacred covenants. At our baptism, Cook (2012) point out that we promise to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ having the determination to serve him to the end (italics added, scripture reference: Moroni 6:3). Scott (2008) says healing requires profound faith in Jesus Christ and in His infinite capacity to heal. It is rooted in an understanding of doctrine and a resolute

determination to follow it. (italics added) What are we doing to show our resolute
determination? Do not allow a culture that is filled with violence and immorality and is critical of those who live the principles the Savior taught to disturb your faith (Cook, 2012). I dont know what youre going through, but I do know that God has prepared a way for us to not only return to Him, but to be happy here during our mortal journey, no matter our lot in life. And I will end with some words Cook (2012) quoted from Wordsworth feed your mind with lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues, rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men... shall ever prevail... or disturb your cheerful faith.

*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.

ATONEMENT: All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ

My citations arent done right, but heres a list of References

Burton. 2012. Is faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ written in our hearts? Oct Conference Christofferson. 2012. Brethren we have work to do. Oct Conference Cook. 2012. Can ye feel so now? Oct Conference Eyring. 2012. Mountains to climb. Oct Conference
Miller, S. Hope and healing in recovering from abuse. Oaks. 1987. Free agency and freedom.

Packer. 2012. And a little child shall lead them. Packer. How to survive in enemy territory. Scott. 2008. To heal the shattering consequences of abuse. Uchtdorf. 2012. Christ, our hope. Uchtdorf. 2012. Of regrets and resolutions. Oct Conference

*note* as you read this, I would recommend you highlight parts that stand out to you and write down the thoughts

and questions that occur for your own personal study.