Studying the Atonement (Plus Winners and one More Giveaway)

First, THANK YOU to everyone

who left a comment about what you would like to see more of on this site.

I like to ask you this periodically because it helps me know the direction I should go, and motivate me to do it!

I want you to know that I have several VERY COOL things in the works that I believe will address your very comments.

So, I know I promised three $10 gift cards (to my download store) to three random people who commented, so here you go:

But let me say first, that if you win you may want to hold onto the gift card for a few weeks, because the designers who design for my store are working on something AMAZING.  Seriously —- I want to burst I am so excited about it… and I really want to tell you what it is…. but I will control myself 🙂

Here are the lucky three winners:

Lisa Johnson

Janeen Jones

Stacey Pyne

(My husband or I will email you with the gift card code… probably him cause he is smarter than I am at that stuff)

 

And today I am giving away one more gift card to someone who answers one or some of the questions below…

doctrinal spouse study

In the new youth curriculum, the March topic is “The Atonement of Jesus Christ”,

and since I am following along with the curriculum in my personal study I would like to know what are your favorite sources of study on this topic.

So….

What are your favorite places in the scriptures to study about the Atonement?

What are your favorite talks about the Atonement?

What are your favorite books about the Atonement?

What are your favorite methods of study when studying a topic like this?

You can leave separate comments for more entries

Thank You!

I am working on a few posts/articles on this topic, and I will give you my favorites then, and use some of yours to learn more….

 

72 comments

  1. Elder Bednar’s talk on the enabling power of the Atonement originally given at a BYUI Devotional but he has since used it in several talks.

  2. 2 Nephi chapter 9, Mosiah chapters 3-5,

    Tad R Callister’s book “The Infinite Atonement”

    Some of the talks I like:
    James E Faust “The Atonement: Our greatest hope” GC oct 2001
    Elder Spencer J Condie : T’e Fall and Infinite Atonement” Ensign Jan 1996
    Elder D Todd Christofferson “Justification and Sanctification” Ensign June 2001
    Elder Boyd K Packer “The Touch of the Master’s Hand” GC Apr 2001
    Elder Russell M Nelson ” The Atonement”
    and many many more…

    when studying a topic, I don’t have a tried and tested way, but I look at lds.org for general conference talks, I look at the topical guide in the scriptures and also the bible dictionary. I look at the ordinary dictionary meanings sometimes. When I look up particular scriptures about a topic, I might make/follow a trail by using the footnotes. I like to take notes. I write down quotes from talks and scriptures that stand out to me. I also scribble down the impressions that come to me as I read and study. Granted, these impressions can be about anything and not necessarily related to the topic at hand. I’m sure that Heavenly Father thinks “Right, she’s paying attention. I’ll tell her a few things while I have the opportunity”

    Not sure this is what you’re after…. but these were my 2 cents’ worth today 🙂

  3. My two favorite general conference addresses on the Atonement are: The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace and Happiness by Elder Richard G. Scott and The Atonement Can Clean, Reclaim and Sanctify Our Lives by Elder Shayne Bowen. I find myself coming back to them again and again and again.

  4. I’ve been thinking a lot about this talk by Elder Richard G. Scott. He lives! All glory to His Name from the April 2010 conference.

  5. The Infinite Atonement by Tad Callister. Hands down the most thorough book I’ve ever read on the Atonement. Love it!

  6. My favorite book on the atonement is “The Peacegiver”. A beautiful story to teach about the how the atonement works inbound lives.

  7. It has to be Elder Bednar’s talk, In The Strength of the Lord. I was so excited to see that you knew of this talk and even more excited to see that it is being used next month to help teach about the atonement under the lesson topic about grace. I have had this talk in my night stand drawer and have also given it away to others. I find myself going back to it often to remember and ponder on his words about the enabling power of the atonement. What a gift! Thank you for putting in on your blog – I love the numbered paragraphs and will be using it with my YW soon!

  8. I love Brad Wilcox’s talk about “Grace.” I found the topical guide so helpful in studying this topic. I love section 18 in the D and C. On the IPAD you can click on the links in the scriptures and it sends you to conference talks as well. Bruce Hafen has a great book about the atonement as well.

    the scriptures are still the best place. so valuable to me.

  9. My favorite book about the Atonement is the Peacegiver by James Ferrell. It is in story format and yet the layers of depth and understanding which it brought to me were profound. Another book I love is The Bicycle by Stephen Robinson. It is a picture book and is beautifully illustrated, so it’s great for children or just as a reminder of how far reaching the atonement is for each of us.

    When I am studying a topic, I love to look up definitions in the Noah Webster 1828 dictionary to get Biblical meanings of words and how they were used in earlier times. I also search through lds.org, and the scriptures and have my scripture journal close by to record thoughts, ideas and connections that I make while studying.

  10. Favorite books on the atonement- The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell and The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox.

    Talks- In the Strength of the Lord by Elder Bednar and The Purifying Power of Gethsemane by Elder McConkie

  11. My favorite article(s) on the Atonement is the four part series on “The Atonement of Jesus Christ” by Hugh W. Nibley in the July-October 1990 ENSIGN. The articles have amazing insights!! I love reading in 2 Nephi and Alma. One of the most touching excerpts from a book I have ever read about the Atonement comes from the book “Lighten Up!” by the wonderful Chieko Okazaki, pages 174-175, starting with the sentence, “We know that on some level Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane.” I am currently reading “The Infinite Atonement” by Tad R. Callister, and it is excellent.

  12. I love the book by Tad R. Callister, Infinite Atonement. When I read it the first time I filled a notebook with thoughts and quotes from the book. I find this a good way to retain what I read. The Atonement touches every aspect of our lives and I am so grateful for my Savior and his great love for us in performing the Atonement.

  13. My favorite talk is the one “In the Strength of the Lord” given by Elder Bednar at BYU Idaho in 2001…can be seen on BYU talks….and several of his talks that are built from that talk….ie. the one you mentioned in a post earlier this month … In the Strength of the Lord, also another of his talks The Atonement and the Journey of Life….
    I have loved reading Ted Callister’s book, The Infinite Atonement, reading all the scriptures he lists and then writing down my thoughts as I went through it. (yes, those notes filled an entire notebook!)

  14. My most favorite story of the Atonement is the story of the little girl who wants a bicycle. Her Dad tells her to save her money. She saves and saves and saves every penny she earns. She asks her Dad if it is enough. Her Dad then tells her since she has done all she can do he will “make up the difference” and they go get the bike. Her contribution was something like sixty seven cents. The author then likens this story to us. Through the
    Atonement, when we have done all we can do, Christ will “make up the rest. This story is found in the book Believing Christ. I LOVE this llittle book.

  15. I just want to say that I LOVE the photo of your scriptures. To look and them makes me cry. I love scriptures that are “used”. They look nice and fat!!!! You know that you love and study the sciptures because they are not brand new, nice “flat” scriptures/ If I can I want to print that photo and put it in my scriptures. You are truly amazing. Where do we find a copy of the lesson curriculum for the youth? You have a great idea to use that as a guide for your personal study! You are amazing!!!

  16. My favorite book on the atonement is The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox. Love it. Might be my favorite book. I love the way he dissected it and applied the Atonement in every possible way.
    Love it! Definitely going to be using it in my teaching. Is it sad I wish he was an apostle so there was more umph behind his teachings? Either way he has taught me a lot in his book.

  17. 1. Where Alma the Younger & the Sons of Mosiah see an angel
    2. None Were With Him from Elder Holland during Easter
    3. The Infinite Atonement
    4. Read & study everything about it. Then go to websites like yours with lesson helps. Pray to narrow down parts I want to share that will help the students in the class I’m teaching. Decide whether or not to use videos, stories, etc. to bring in the Spirit.

  18. I love a talk by Brad Wilcox, His Grace is Sufficient. His book is also great. I shared the talk with my young women a while back and so many felt it was in terms that they could understand. Their own parable for their time!
    I love using my ipad and having all my talks and scriptures open and bouncing back and forth. Thank goodness for technology:)
    I enjoy this new curriculum and the mountains of resources available. It is a wonderful way to learn. I especially like the challenges to apply it too!
    Thank you for your additional resources!

  19. I gave a lesson on the Atonement many years ago and what I found to be the most spiritual was Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s final General Conference address. I had it on a cassette for the sisters to listen to. They could feel the emotion in his voice as he bore testimony of the Savior and knowing he would be seeing his face soon. I also had a large railroad nail/spike that I passed around and let them imagine it going into their hands and Christ’s. Of course using the hymn “I Believe in Christ” goes along with it.
    I also asked the sisters to look at the sister sitting next to them and without knowing what their lives were like, I asked them if they would be willing to take on that other person’s problems, whatever they would be. They all said no of course. Then I tied in the Savior taking on all of our problems without hesitation.
    The Broken Heart by Bruce Hafen and The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox are too great books. Also, Jesus the Christ, and the 3 book series Gethsemane, Golgotha, & The Garden Tomb. There are many wonderful talks to choose from.

  20. I have LOVED studying about the Atonement and although I have studied it a lot, right now it seems so keen in my life! It has been many years since I was in seminary and institutes of religion. I guess I forgot how to study, really dig in, and apply them into my life…above and beyond just reading scriptures, until I bought the teachers edition Doctrine & Principles Study guide for this years theme. My study is much more organized, and with a lot of direction!

    I have changed how I study. I am loving the study of the scriptures by slow method. I am teaching YW (well, the YW are really teaching me & the Holy Ghost is teaching both of us!) and I am following the LDS youth curriculum. I write down the scripture reference for EVERY lesson outline. I read the scripture. First I write my first impressions down. Then I read it again and I read EVERY cross reference, then I write down my next thoughts. I pray a lot and I write down any impressions I get and I look for ways to apply those impressions and I pray some more. Some days I get through several scriptures and other days only one. I let it “marinade” in my soul. I feel my heart becoming softer and my life changing, my family life is slowly improving because I am happier, and my life is full of repentance and hope. This has become my favorite way of studying a topic, and my life has changed incredibly in less than 3 weeks!

  21. It is really hard to pinpoint only one place in the scriptures about the Atonement. Right now I am loving Alma 7:11-13 in the Book of Mormon.

  22. I have been studying: Linda K. Burton, “Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 111–15

    I love this talk because it is a wonderful reminder that ALL people can be healed through Jesus Christ. I cannot think of one thing that cannot, and I we need to do is open our hearts.

    Also love: David A. Bednar, “In the Strength of the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 76–78

    That talk helps me remember that when I make mistakes, it’s okay. I can try again.

  23. My favorite books about the Atonement:

    1. The Book of Mormon
    2. Doctrine and Covenants, JSH, & The Pearl of Great Price
    3. Bible (specifically I am learning a lot from The New Testament)
    4. EVERY life story of any prophet that I have read has been full of examples of how the Atonement can be applied to life.

    Other:
    *Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (non-fiction)- I learned so much from this psychiatrist who survived the Holocaust and the mercy of God on both sides of Earth’s tragedy
    &
    Believe it or not, I was indirectly influenced and reminded of the Atonement in the fictional series: The Newport Ladies Book Club- Daisy, Athena, Olivia, & Paige (4 books, 4 different authors), I list this specifically because the characters are raised in different religions and backgrounds and it shows how God is merciful to all and many other life lessons and how our thoughts influence our actions and how the actions of others affect us. I learned that I cannot be judgmental and was reminded that God loves each one of us unconditionally.

  24. I got my copy of the book “The Topical Guide to the Scriptures of the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” in 1985, and that is always the first place I go to research any gospel topic. Then I go to the internet and google whatever topic I’m looking up. It will take me straight to talks by general authorities and I go from there. I wish I could afford all the wonderful LDS books that everyone says they use, but I can’t, so I use what I have and what’s free. There is so much information at our fingertips on the internet today! I am very grateful for this wonderful tool.

  25. I received the book “The Infinite Atonement” by Tad R Callister for Christmas, loving it. I also love the book “Jesus the Christ”

  26. I love the book Gethsemane by Skinner…
    Also love Chieko Okazaki’s book, Lighten Up! (mentioned by a few others above)… small excerpt here: http://emp.byui.edu/ANDERSONR/itc/Book%20_of_Mormon/07_alma/alma05/alma05_02atonement_cno.htm
    Bought The Big Picture book you recommended … and love the Elder Bednar article you mentioned in previous blog! Thanks for all the help for my atonement lesson!

    I hope to really help the girls internalize it by each talking about what the atonement means to them!
    I think I will have the following props to help my girls better understand the expanse of all the atonement does for us …
    (cleanses power… no matter how many stains)
    shoes (understanding power.best stain remover ever.. no other has completely walked in our shoes… gets us completely)
    weights (strengthening power)
    a heart (converting power)
    Thanks for all your help!

  27. to clarify my above post (somehow it got messed up)
    i will have the following…
    -stain remover to symbolize the cleansing power of the atonement
    -shoes to symbolize th understanding power (Only He can/has walked completely in our shoes… gets us completely)
    -weights to symbolize the strengthen power (see Elder Bednar’s talk)
    -heart to symbolize the converting power

    I also love Elder McConkie’s final testimony talk… amazing!

  28. I love James Ferrell’s “The Peacegiver”. I love how it teaches that the Atonement is not only for those who have sinned, but also for those who have been hurt from the sins of others.

  29. Hugh W. Nibley “The Meaning of the Atonement” from FARMS (Foundation For Ancient Research And Mormon Studies)

    Hugh Nibley traces the origins of many words related to the atonement, he lists where the word “atonement” is used in our standard works and its significance, and shows how features of the atonement relate to the Jersusalem temple. And much more.

    I love getting into history and researching so this lecture is right up my alley.

  30. In his newest book, Act In Doctrine, Elder Bednar has a chapter on the character of Jesus Christ. I loved reading it. It really got me thinking. He points out that we need to better understand the character of Christ so we can have greater faith in Him. The greater our faith, the smaller the gap between what we know we should do and what we actually do. In other words, understanding the Savior and his atonement changes us. Elder Bednar is great. I also love anything by Elder Holland. Probably my favorite talk on the Atonement was given by President Faust in October of 2001. It’s called The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope and it is a wonderful talk!

  31. My favorite talk ever about The Atonement is “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane” by Bruce R. McConkie. I know it’s old, but it is POWERFUL.

  32. I love starting in True to the Faith, it starts such a deep topic off simple. I love True to the Faith, we have taught many FHE lessons out of there and I love to start there to gain a base for what I am learning about!

  33. Years ago when I was coming back to activity in the church and working with my bishop on some things, he recommended the book Believing Christ by Stephen E Robinson. The book changed my life. The premise is that too many people believe IN Christ but they don’t BELIEVE him. We convince ourselves that the atonement applies to everyone but us or that some sins are just too great to be forgiven of. It also tells the parable of the bicycle (look it up if you haven’t heard of it, it is such a great parable for the atonement) which was just what I needed to hear at the time. Actually, I’ve got two weeks before I’m teaching on the atonement so I think I will pick it up again – thanks for the reminder!

  34. One of my favorite study methods started just this year. At the start of the year, our RS presidency gave each sister a copy of the Book of Mormon with the challenge to read it with the atonement in mind and to look for those verses or words that relate specifically to the atonement. I love my own marked up used set of scriptures so I wasn’t sure how it would be studying a blank copy, but it has opened my eyes to many new insights into the atonement…its application and its power!

  35. “Lighten Up!” Chieko N Okazaki is one of my absolute favorites when it comes to the atonement. And I also love looking at Preach My Gospel and its suggestions.

  36. My favorite scripture that teaches about the atonement is Alma 7:10-12.
    I also really like 2 Nephi 9 that teaches why the atonement and resurrection are so important.
    My all time favorite scripture story is Alma the Younger. Such a great example of repentance, change of heart, and forgiveness.

  37. I loved Sister Burton’s talk “Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?” given at the RS broadcast in October 2012. So glad it is one of the resources for teaching the youth about the atonement.

    I also love “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness” by Boyd K Packer (Ensign, Nov. 1995) I keep a well-marked up copy in my scriptures. My favorite quote from it is “The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance. Save for those few who defect to perdition after having know a fulness, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness.”

  38. As mentioned by others already, “The Peacegiver” by James L. Ferrell is a powerful book. Loved it! And after reading some other comments, I’m super excited to read “Believing Christ.”

  39. I am loving the new youth curriculum! I love how easy they have made it to start studying each topic. I also have your Journal for the curriculum, and it has helped me to. I love using “True to the Faith” and I only just recently got my own copy of “Preach my Gospel” but it too is full of such great information and they both list even more scriptures to look up.
    I love studying talks, especially. Actually having a paper copy in front of me that I can mark up is the best.

  40. My favorite talks about the atonement are BYU devotionals. One is by Brad Wilcox and is called His Grace is Sufficient. The other is by James R. Rasband called Faith to Forgive Grievous Harms. They are phenomenal.

  41. I am the secretary in Young Womens, so I don’t teach often, but I love the new curriculum! I’ve never been taught how to study the scriptures, so my husband has been helping me and I have already learned so much!!! Elder Bednar came and spoke at our Stake Conference, and did a fireside for the youth of the stake. One thing I remember him saying was that everything Christ did was “ONE BY ONE” When He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane he suffered for each of us one by one, not as a group!

  42. I love 2 NE 9. I like to ask the youth what WOULD have happened if Christ had not performed the Atonement. Would we cease to exist? Would we freeze in our progression? Would we all go to outer darkness? Telestial Kingdom? Die and never resurrect? I get all kinds of guesses- then this verse answers the question with the SCARY reality. (To call the youth’s attention I call it the ‘scary scripture’ and have the youth underline it.) And Nephi follows it up with “O the goodness of our God, His Grace and His mercy…saved us from that awful monster of death and hell.” It really gives meaning to His title as Our Savior!

  43. Alma 34: 30-35 is great for showing what we need to do to USE the atonement. And that we need to do it NOW and not procrastinate. Very intense scriptures I think, which helps gain the youths’ attention spans.

  44. My favorites are the old doctrinal new testament commentary books (20+ yrs ago from BYU) and of course, Lectures on faith. Every time I read them, I always come away with something new and exciting. LOVE your blog.

  45. Luke 10: 25-37- the parable of the Good Samaritan. I love this one! When I was an EFY counselor, one of my favorite session directors taught this one to us is such an interesting and atonement-focused way. Love it!

  46. I love these questions and everyones suggestions. I am currently enrolled in an Atonement Institute class and i”m loving it!
    Some of my favorites (I’m pretty sure they’ve been mentioned but I ‘second’ them…)
    Brad Wilcox-His Grace is Sufficient-I love this one, I discovered it recently and I think we don’t cover grace enough when talking abou the Atonement. Especially pertinent for youth and/or returned missionaries who have tried so hard and still stuggle from time to time.
    Elder Bruce C. Hafen-The Atonement-All for All-Such a great talk given in General Conference. Elder Hafen is a great writer
    Any Christ centered talk by Elder Holland. That man is a powerhouse!

    I also love Alma 7:11 where it talks about how Christ knows how to succor us.

  47. So many that i love have already been mentioned. The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell is one of my favorites. I started reading Believing Christ but now i need to go finish it after reading everyone’s comments. Thank you so much for all you do to help us grow spiritually.

  48. (I forgot this one). “This Do in Remembrance of Me,” by Elder Holland. Technically given on the sacrament, but it is a great talk about the what the Savior went through and how the atonement (and the symbols of it) is our personal Passover. It mentions the physical and spiritual suffering and what each overcame. Such a great talk.

  49. My favorite books are “Believing Christ” by Stephen E. Robinson and “The Big Picture”. I recently bought “The Big Picture” and I seriously cannot put it down…this one is not just for teenagers!! 🙂

  50. My favorite scripture about the Atonement is Isaiah 1:18. I love how it starts ‘Come let us reason together’. Makes me feel like the Savior is sitting down next to me talking to me like a friend and explaining how his atonement will apply to me personally. Then the rest of the scripture goes on to tell us about the healing power of the Atonement.

  51. Neal Maxwell for adults. Several
    Care for the Life of the Soul
    Neal A. MaxwellApril 2003 General Conference

    Hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ
    Neal A. MaxwellOctober 1998 General Conference

    http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1997/10/apply-the-atoning-blood-of-christ?lang=eng

    Elder Holland’s for the youth ww.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-laborers-in-the-vineyard?lang=eng

    Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: The Savior’s Atonement
    JAMES E. FAUST 2002 in the Friend for children

  52. Book = The Gift of the Atonement: Favorite Writings on the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Hardcover )
    by Various

  53. I like to study in the scriptures and General Conference talks and then with church approved religion teachers but with the focus always on the scriptures and the teachings of the spirit to my soul. I also like to ponder in the Temple on what I am studying.

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