Atonement

Just some thoughts I had on the atonement over this last weekend. I was reading a book about the creation, time and space. When the Lord is talking with Moses he says they he has created worlds without numbers (infinite) but they are numbered to Him. Naturally the Lord knows how many worlds that He has created. So to him there are a finite number of worlds. This play on words is what got me thinking about the atonement, but we'll get to that. The scriptures talk about space, and that the light of Christ fills all of space, but then Joseph Smith made a comment about how the light only fills the organized regions of space. That outside of this organized region there is matter unorganized, in infinite amounts, waiting to be worked with by God. Space to us is infinite because we are incapable of comprehending its vastness.

The atonement is said to be an infinite and Eternal sacrifice. And it needed to be for it to cover all of God's children, but If it is taken literally as infinite, then would it not as well cover the sins of God the Father? Will it cover the sins of my spirit children? Or yours? In the terms of infinite meaning innumerable, then to us and all of God's children the atonement is infinite. All covering, and innumerable because it surpasses our understanding. Jesus, however, knows who he sacrificed for. He knows his sheep and cares for each one. To him his sacrifice was finite. It was numbered, but such a number as is unknown to us. And we don't need to know. The scriptures say that the atonement is worth a soul of man. It was worth it even if only one man was saved.

We know of several names by which God is called upon. Elohim, LORD, Father, Man, and Eternal. Eternal is one of God's names. When looked at in this respect anything that is Eternal means like God. So when He says, "behold my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" He isn't saying his work is to make men live forever, and to make men live forever. He is saying his goal is to grant us immortality and life qualitatively like unto His own. Eternal life, life like God's.

Now, we are saved through an infinite and eternal atonement which is far sufficient enough to save all men. With our mere mortal capabilities we cannot comprehend such ideas of eternity, and immortality. But the Lord can. It is just not given to us at this time to understand.

Brigham young said (paraphrasing) that when our mortality puts on immortality, that the acquisition of this knowledge will be very consoling, like having a burden lifted off our minds. Finally to be able to understand some of the ways of God will be one of the greatest gifts I can receive from the Lord. Until then, All I can do is live how I know I'm supposed to, and strive to help others around me.