The Atonement of Jesus Christ, Like a Ship in the Lock: Staying Steady with Jesus Christ

Thank you, Sister Kush. I assured everyone that I spoke to this morning that they would hear a wonderful message from Sister Kush—and we have.

Brothers and sisters, as we begin this morning, I want to express my love to and for each of you. Sister Kush and I cherish every day that we are blessed to be with you, to look into your faces, to greet you on campus, or as you arrive for Devotional. You are the hope of Israel. You were sent to earth with talents, capacities, and abilities that are uniquely yours. And when I look at you, I am looking at the future of the Church.

When I look in the mirror, I am not.
In the concluding devotional of the recently held Utah Area YSA Conference, President Jeffrey R. Holland said of you:
“I am totally convinced that it is the young adult age group of this Church—single and married—that offers the richest resource we have anywhere. Solid gold that to some degree is lost to us because we have left it largely untapped.”

So, look around this theater at your fellow students. He was talking about you and your generation. Now, I cannot tell you exactly how or what or when, but the leadership of Ensign College is going to figure out how we can more effectively tap into you as this rich resource. I know what you are capable of, so get ready!

In the October 2024 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson said: “I urge you to devote time each week for the rest of your life to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”He continued: “My heart aches for those who are mired in sin and don't know how to get out. I weep for those who struggle spiritually or who carry burdens alone because they do not understand what Jesus Christ did for them.”

Today is September 9th, 2025, and just happens to be—as I believe we all know—President Nelson’s 101st birthday. So, in addition to wishing President Nelson a very happy birthday, it seemed appropriate to center my remarks on an important message from him.
Now, if you have not yet devoted time this week to increasing your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, let’s do it together this morning. Just a few minutes ago, you indicated that you were prepared to be taught by the Holy Ghost. And my hope and prayer for all of us this morning is just that—that we will each be edified, and that we will leave this devotional rejoicing for what we have learned and, more importantly, what we have felt.
So why would President Nelson urge us to devote time each week to increasing our understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

We invited you to respond to a few questions about President Nelson's invitation to increase your understanding of the Savior’s Atonement. Thank you to those who responded. They were heartfelt and inspiring. I wish we had time to share many more, but I can only share a few this morning.

The first question was: In the October Conference of 2024, President Nelson said, “I urge you to devote time each week for the rest of your life to increasing your understanding of the Atonement.” How could applying President Nelson’s invitation help you become a more capable and trusted disciple of Jesus Christ?

One of you responded:

“If I study the Atonement every week, I will become more capable because I will learn how the Savior’s grace actually helps me change. It gives me the strength to repent more quickly, practice self-mastery, and make better choices with clearer priorities. It makes me more trusted because it softens my heart. I become quicker to forgive, more honest about my mistakes, and more consistent in keeping my covenants.”

The second question was: “How could a deeper understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ help you stay strong and feel peace in the midst of all the world’s turmoil?”

Another of you said:

“The Atonement is the anchor of our hope. In this time of chaos and confusion, division and darkness, fear and trembling, when there is so much pain in the world and so many things we cannot control, the fact that Jesus Christ has already won the victory over all these things is cause for profound peace. He walks with us. He strengthens us. And He alone can give us the peace the world cannot give.”

The word “atonement” signifies the reconciliation of man to God. Sin causes us to be estranged or distanced from our Heavenly Father. In a spiritual sense, to be reconciled with God is to mend a broken relationship with Him, so the purpose of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is to correct or overcome the consequences of sin, which will ultimately erase the distance and qualify us to live eternally with our Heavenly Father.

The Plan of Salvation teaches us that we are the spiritual offspring of Heavenly Father and that we lived with Him before coming to earth.
This plan includes receiving a physical body, learning of and obeying God’s commandments, receiving ordinances, and making covenants that prepare us to achieve our eternal potential. Before we came to earth, we knew that mortality would be accompanied by accountability for our decisions and actions; that the precious gift of moral agency would be ours with the opportunity to exercise faith in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. In fact, we fought for this privilege.

We knew there would be trials and challenges, temptations and difficulties. And somehow, I think we knew that, as mortals, we would do dumb things, and that we would make dumb mistakes. We knew that unresolved sin would make us unworthy to dwell in Heavenly Father’s presence because “… no unclean thing can dwell with God” (see 1 Nephi 10:21). We knew that we would be subject to the consequences of sin and disobedience to God’s laws and commandment, and we knew that one day we would stand before the judgment seat of God (see 1 Nephi 10:21) to be judged and give an accounting of our lives.

So—do you see our dilemma? How could we possibly overcome the sins we have committed? How could we become clean and qualify to live again in His presence?

But we also knew that “…there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah…” (see 2 Nephi 2:8) We rejoiced, knowing that His plan included a Savior for us who would bring to pass an infinite and eternal Atonement that would rescue us from the bondage of sin and allow us to become clean and qualified to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. Now listen carefully to the qualifications:

2 Nephi 2:7
“Behold, He offereth Himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”

“And unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.” “Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth.”

Alma 34:15-16
“…this being the intent of this last sacrifice: to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpower justice and bring about the means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
And thus, mercy can satisfy the demands of justice and encircle them in the arms of safety…therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.”

Now, of course, these scriptures refer to the Savior and His prophesied coming to earth.

When I was five or six years old, my parents took me to Disneyland for the very first time. Like any young child, I was full of excitement. I was there with an older cousin, and at one point during our visit, we decided to ride one of the trains that circled the park. Just the two of us.

My parents agreed, trusting that we would return to the same place where we boarded.

That’s not exactly what happened.
We rode the train for a while, and we eventually saw a stop that looked familiar. Believing that it was the right one, we got off. We looked around and nothing was familiar. My parents weren’t there. We had made a mistake. We got off at the wrong place, and we did not know how to get back. We were lost.

I’m reliving this experience again right now. I still remember the panic that I felt of being separated from my parents, and I began to cry—really, really hard. Thankfully, a kind Disneyland staff member found us and took us to the lost children’s center. I do not remember how long we were there, but we waited. And I will never forget the moment of joy that I felt when my parents walked through the door. I ran to them, and I held them tightly. I was safe. I had been found.

Now, this childhood experience has become a quiet parable in my life—a reminder of what it means to stray, to be lost, and to be found.

Whether by pride, by distraction, by choice, or even innocent ignorance, we can find ourselves spiritually off course—separated from the safety and love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
But the good news of the gospel is that we are never beyond being found.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:
“No matter how lost you may feel or how long you have been gone, the moment you turn to your Father in Heaven, He will run to you.”
–“The Way Back Home,” Oct. 2009 General Conference

Now, brothers and sisters, we all make mistakes. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ is the way back. He is the bridge between being lost and being found. His Atonement can erase the distance between us and our Heavenly Father. But it is not automatic, and it doesn’t happen without effort on our part. This effort is the personal, diligent, and joyful application of the doctrine of repentance.

Without Jesus Christ, there would be no Atonement. Without the Atonement, there would be no repentance. And without repentance, there would be no need for mercy. We would be subject to the consequences of breaking God’s commandments, with no hope of rescue. Can you see why President Nelson would want us to dedicate time each week to increase our understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and why the Lord instructed the Prophet Joseph Smith to "…say nothing but repentance unto this generation" (see D&C 6:9)?

Here's the third question that you were asked to respond to:

Why is President Nelson’s invitation to devote time each week to increasing your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ so vital to our spiritual survival?

One of you responded with these thoughts:

“President Nelson’s invitation is so vital to my spiritual survival because it strengthens me during hard times and difficult trials, cleanses me from my mistakes and sins, enables me to forgive and be forgiven, and motivates me to make good choices and to walk towards righteous actions, words, and thoughts.”

President Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “we must change anything we can change… In short, we must repent, perhaps the most hopeful and encouraging word in the Christian vocabulary. We thank our Father in Heaven we are allowed to change. We thank Jesus we can change, and ultimately we do so only with Their divine assistance.”Certainly, not everything we struggle with is a result of our actions. Often, it is the result of the actions of others or just the mortal events of life. But anything we can change, we should change. And we must forgive the rest. In this way, our access to the Savior’s Atonement becomes as unimpeded as we—with our imperfections—can make it. He will take it from there.

Now, there are two very basic questions about repentance that I would like to try and answer:

What really is repentance? And how can I know that God has forgiven me?

To understand what repentance is, we must first understand what it is not.
Repentance is not a series of checklist items.
Repentance is not just stopping sinful behavior.
Repentance is not simply confessing transgressions, either to God or to an authorized priesthood leader.
Repentance is not intended to be punishment.

So, if this is what repentance is not, then what is it?

President Nelson said:“…when Jesus asks you and me to ‘repent,’ He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, and even care for our bodies. ”Repentance is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ “ (April 2019 General Conference, “We Can Do Better and Be Better”).

Now, I know, brothers and sisters, that often our reluctance to begin a sincere effort to repent may be because we are afraid. President Nelson’s description of repentance doesn’t sound like something we should be afraid of. It sounds glorious! We know that the Savior finds great joy in the soul that repents. So, if it’s a joyful experience for Him, shouldn’t it be a joyful experience for us, too?

From the Guide to the Study of the Scriptures, we read:

“Repentance involves a person turning away from sin and surrendering his heart and will to God—submitting to the Father’s commandments and desires, and forsaking sin. True repentance is born of love for the Lord and a sincere desire to obey His commandments.”

Sincere repentance and the exercise of faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement lead us to the waters of baptism—if we’ve not yet entered them—and to receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. They lead us to the temple, where the most sacred of all covenants are made. These covenants are qualifying if we are to receive every blessing God has prepared to bestow on His children.
In His wisdom and love, the Lord has appointed certain presiding priesthood leaders to represent Him in helping members of the Church in their efforts to repent. For most of us, this is our bishop and stake president. They represent the Lord in many things, but perhaps nothing is more important in their ministries than helping members apply the doctrine of repentance in their lives. They do so with love and kindness; not with anger or condemnation. Please do not be afraid if there is something you need to resolve.

Now, Brother Lund, would you come and join me here?

Many of you know this good man. Come closer. Brother Lund is one of our excellent institute instructors, but he also serves as a married student stake president. He is one of those loving priesthood leaders I just described and I’m going to ask him a few questions.

President:

President, when a member comes to see you and confesses a serious transgression, how do you seek to help them?

Brother Lund:

First, thank you, President, for asking. I would do my very best to respond as the Savior would: to first listen with love, help them feel of the Savior’s compassion, and then seek through the Spirit to discern their needs and guide them in their sincere repentance. I would help reassure them that forgiveness is possible through Jesus Christ, and then discuss ways they can find the peace and joy described in the Book of Mormon—especially by the prophet Alma.

President:

Excellent. Thank you very much. Next question: What do you wish your members knew about repentance that might help them be less reluctant to resolve serious transgressions?

Brother Lund:

There is no shame in repentance. Your bishop and stake president will actually not look down upon you—but they will think more of you, not less of you, because of your journey and your exercising faith in Jesus Christ. Don’t carry this burden alone. Don’t let it slow your spiritual progress. President Russell M. Nelson taught:

“Too many people consider repentance as a punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ, who stands with open arms, hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify, and sanctify us.” (“We Can Do Better and Be Better,” April 2019)

President:

Thank you, President. You're doing really well at answering these questions. He’s usually the one asking the questions.

Final question: How can someone know that they have been forgiven? This is something very personal between them and the Lord. So what would you teach them?

Brother Lund:

It really is personal between them and the Lord. But let’s look at a couple of scripture phrases.

In Mosiah 4:3, it says that when you come to repent, you’ll feel the Spirit of the Lord, you'll be filled with joy, having received a remission of your sins, and a peace of conscience—or a peacefulness in your heart.

Also in Alma 36:21, it says:

“I say unto you, my son, there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.”

Like Alma the Younger, you're able to look at your repentance process in a healthy way. You'll experience peace and joy and gratitude. You’ll have a greater feeling in your heart to want to do good. The burden fades, and it is replaced by thankfulness.

Repentance isn’t just saying you’re sorry, as you just said, President—or stopping the behavior. It’s fully engaging and turning yourself back to God, leading you away from sin and toward that lasting peace.

You’ll no longer have a desire to sin, and you’ll feel a clear sign from Heaven that you have resolved this—that you don’t want to make the same mistake again—and you’ll have that joy throughout your life.

I testify that you can have that joy through Jesus Christ. You can be fully forgiven and feel clean again.

President:

Thank you, President. Thanks, President.

Now, following the example that Elder Renlund set for us last week, we’re going to sing a hymn—and we’re going to sing one of the new hymns with the help of Brother Hoch at the organ.

We’re going to sing Hymn No. 1016, “Behold the Wounds in Jesus’ Hands.” And I want you to think very carefully about the words that are in this hymn as we have the opportunity to sing it.

(Congregational singing occurs here.)

Just a few minutes more and we’ll finish up.

Early in the morning of July 15th, 2014, I was awakened by an ominous feeling of an impending disaster. We had one year left in our service as mission leaders in Mexico. We had experienced earthquakes, tropical storms, and a hurricane. My mind was focused on the mission, and when Sister Kush woke up, I said to her:

“We have to prepare the mission for a disaster. I don’t know what’s coming, but something is coming.”What was to come was not about preparing the mission. It was about preparing Sister Kush and me.

Later that day, in the afternoon, I received a text message from our daughter—who is actually here with us this morning—who, along with her family, was living in our home in Rexburg, Idaho.

It read:“Dad, call me. The house is flooding.”

We’d had minor flooding in our basement before during heavy rainstorms or snow melt, but I was not prepared for what I was about to see.
Thousands of gallons of muddy water were pouring into our basement from the backyard. The water and mud filled our basement almost to our 10-foot ceilings.

The aftermath was shocking. More than 200,000 gallons of water had been pumped out of the basement—even after a window had shattered, allowing water to flow out.

We had stored nearly everything we owned in the basement, with the exception of Sister Kush’s grand piano and one other piece of furniture.

We saw what remained in this picture.
We were stunned. We felt helpless—and even a little bit hopeless.

And then came the rescue—and the miracles.

It began with this picture: Braden Campbell, Spencer Johnston, Timber Finn, and Victor Flores were four of our beloved missionaries who were then students at BYU–Idaho. They sent this picture to Sister Kush with the assurance that they would take care of things in Rexburg and that we didn’t need to worry, so we could continue our missionary service in Mexico confident that everything would be okay.

But it wasn’t just them. Our children and other close family members came to our rescue. And we will never know who all of them were, but others came by the dozens to help shovel mud, sort through the damage, and fill up multiple dumpsters with the things that could not be salvaged. They did for us what was impossible to do for ourselves.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the great Rescuer. His infinite and eternal Atonement rescues us from sin and separation from our Heavenly Father. He does for us that which is impossible to do for ourselves.

When we finished our mission and returned home, the basement restoration began. It took nearly seven months, but eventually, it was completely restored—more beautiful than it was before and more structurally sound than it had ever been. There was no evidence whatsoever of the flood. Not a single stain anywhere.

This is what happens with repentance. When sincere efforts to repent begin, there is work to do. It may take some time. But as we turn to God and come unto Christ, as we exercise faith in His Atonement, as we change, as we study, as we pray, as we worship—the time will come when there will be no stain, nor spot, nor evidence of the past. All of those things will be replaced with peace, happiness, gratitude, and indescribable joy. And we will be better—more spiritually sound—than we have ever been.

Moroni 10:32-33

So, this concludes our study of the Atonement for today. But please don’t overlook President Nelson’s invitation to study it every week. Its power is real because Jesus is real. Our Heavenly Father is real. And the gospel of Jesus Christ is real.It is true. Every single part of it.

I so testify, In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.