Atonement: At-one-ment. To become one with Father.
The Great Commandment: Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all of thy heart, might, mind and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ shalt thou serve him. (D&C 59:5)
One mission of Christ is to bring about the great at-one-ment.
- He teaches us how to stop sinning (faith and repentance).
- He suffered so he could forgive us if we stop sinning.
- He sacrificed his life so that all men would live again.
Only through faith in Jesus Christ is it possible to fulfill the great commandment, which is to become perfect, even as Christ is perfect. Then we can be one with Father, even as Christ is.
| Satan | Satan promotes | Man | Faith in Christ | Christ’s merits |
| Lies | Falsehood | Mind | Truth (D&C 93:28) | All truth |
| Selfish | Evil desires | Heart | Purity (Moroni 7:48) | Wholly good |
| No body | Weakness, death | Strength | Health, resurrects (Alma 11:42) | Died for us |
| Evil deeds | Sin | Might | Righteousness (Ether 12:28) | Suffered for our sins |
Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the father and the son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (2 Nephi 31:17–20, emphasis added)