Robert L. Millet - The Atoning One

Contents

Preface

One of the earliest memories I have of my preteen years is being invited by my Baptist friend to attend a revival with his family. The meetings throughout the week were held in a large tent, filled with folding chairs, the ground covered with sawdust. As I recall, we attended a Saturday evening session. I dont remember a great deal about the evangelists message, but I do recall two specific things he said: First, early in his rather fiery sermon, he asked the question, Do you know for sure if you were to die tonight that you would go to heaven? I remember thinking to myself that I had not reflected much on that heavy question but that maybe I should. Second, as his message drew to a close, and just before he delivered the altar call to invite people to come forward and give their lives to Christ, I remember him lifting his arms and hands high above his head and shouting out, Theres power in the blood! Theres power in the blood!

At that early age I certainly had no idea what he meant. He was absolutely right, of course. People of all walks of liferich or poor, black or white, prominent or obscure, Christian or otherwiseare in desperate need of the sanctifying power that issues from the spilt blood of Jesus Christ. Now, some sixty years since that Saturday evening, I still do not understand exactly how what happened in a garden and on a cross can work such a miracle in human hearts. I accept it completely, nonetheless, because I have witnessed that miracle take place many, many times as persons have chosen to turn away from a vain and empty life and turn toward the abundant life to be found only in Christ (see John 10:10). I accept without reservation the Christian tenet that there is no other name under heaven whereby salvation can come to us (see Acts 4:12; Mosiah 3:17), and the claim that peace here and eternal reward hereafter come by virtue of the blood of the Holy One of Israelthe Atoning One. I accept these things, too, because I know what it feels like to be forgiven, to be reoriented, to be renewed, to be reconciled to God the Father through the mediation of God the Son.

In this book I hope to be able to explain why my faith rests in the Lord Jesus Christmy total trust, my complete confidence, and my ready reliance. I intend to discuss

who this Man of Galilee was and is;

why he alone could accomplish what he did in behalf of all humankind;

why the LDS view of the Fall of our first parents in Eden is so very unusual;

the realities, challenges, and setbacks we mortals face in a fallen world;

what it means to say that Jesus was both a human being and God;

how the Saviors atoning work consisted of both suffering and death;

the irony and beauty of an Atonement that is both infinite and intimate;

how we as a people have come to grasp and treasure the grace of God;

the prominent and preeminent role of God our Heavenly Father in the plan of salvation; and,

the need to exercise care and wisdom in how we speak of Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.

The Apostle Paul explained that the message of first importance is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven (1 Corinthians 15:34, English Standard Version). These matters are what the Prophet Joseph Smith referred to as the fundamental principles of our religion.

In the writing of this book I am indebted to my friends at Deseret Book Company. The product director, Lisa Roper, has shepherded this project from concept to published work. I particularly appreciate Tracy Keck, whose keen editorial eye and suggestions have made this a much better book. I am deeply thankful to many persons who have through the years taught me, testified to me, been patient with me, counseled me, and inspired me. Having expressed that thanks, I add quickly that this work is a private endeavor, expressing my own views, perspectives, and conclusions drawn from the evidence cited. While I have sought earnestly to be in harmony with both ancient and modern prophets and their teachings, this volume is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Notes

Introduction

Why Not Speak of the Atonement?

In perhaps a score of interviews or Q&A sessions during the last two decades, I have been asked some variation of the following questions: Why are the Latter-day Saints suddenly so eager to be called Christians? Why are you emphasizing so strongly your belief in Jesus Christ, your acknowledgement of the grace of God, when in fact these were matters seldom discussed by your people in times past? Are you trying to alter your public image, perhaps to slip quietly into mainstream Christianity?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no desire to move into the mainstream of Christianity. We are what we are and we believe what we believe. We profess to be Christian, but different. Those differencessuch as a belief in an apostasy, or falling away of the primitive Christian Church; the need for a restoration through a modern prophet, Joseph Smith; an expanded canon of scripture; the restoration of priesthood or divine authority by heavenly messengers; the place of temples, eternal marriage, and forever families, etc.clearly set us apart from more traditional Christians. Our strength, however, lies in our distinctiveness. People are not joining our Church because we believe the same things as the Roman Catholics or Methodists or Lutherans or Greek Orthodox down the street or across town.

The declaration that Mormons are not Christian seems to me to be a relatively recent phenomenon. I had never heard such a thing growing up in the Southern states, where I came in contact with every imaginable Christian denomination. Rather, such attacks, some of them quite vicious, most of them quite inaccurate, began to be heard more and more as we moved into the 1970s and 80s. Probably as a result of the recent growth and spread of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, certain conservative Protestant groups decided to intensify their anti-Mormon thrust, to dust off the presses, roll the cameras, and produce scores of pamphlets, books, and video presentations seeking to expose the Mormons for who and what they really are. It is but reasonable, therefore, that the leaders of the Church should sense the need to let our voice be heard, to proclaim to the world that we believe in and follow Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of the world, and to center our faith and our way of life in him.

Now, while we have no desire to move into mainstream Christianity, neither do we want people to misunderstand who we are and what we believe. The chant Mormons are not Christian can be terribly misleading. Does it mean we do not believe there ever was a man named Jesus of Nazareth? Does it mean we do not accept or read the New Testament? Does it mean we do not accept the virgin birth, teachings, miracles, suffering, death, Atonement, and resurrection of Jesus, as set forth in the New Testament? Do we not believe that Jesus was sinless and lived a perfect life and that we should strive to live as he lived? If the woman in the pew or the man on the street were to hear that Latter-day Saints are not Christian and assume any of the above, then serious misunderstanding would have taken place. And so one major reason why the Latter-day Saints stress our Christianity, perhaps more now than ever before, is because there are so many people crying out that we are not Christian.