Writing in his record, he addresses the Nephites; however,
his words apply to us today.
He tells us the through the atonement, we will be reconciled
with Christ.
“Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through
the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a
resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ,
and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and
obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh
“And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why
not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him,
as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come”
(Jacob 4:11-12) (emphasis mine).
Through this, we will obtain forgiveness for our sins and a
resurrection. Through the atonement, we will obtain a perfect knowledge of
Christ.
Elder B.H. Robert wrote about the atonement in The Way, the Truth, and the Life. He
explained virtually every book (excluding Jarom, Enos, and Omni) in the Book of
Mormon teaches us about the atonement.[1]
It is not surprising Jacob would ensure we understand the importance of the
atonement.
During Jacob’s ministry, Sherem came among the Nephites,
teaching them there would be no Christ. Some listened to his teachings and fell
away. Jacob realized he had to challenge Sherem and his teachings.
He met Jacob and told him “I, Sherem, declare unto you that
this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things [the doctrine of Christ];
for he cannot tell of things to come. And after this manner did Sherem contend
against me” (Jacob 7:6).
He confronted Sherem and challenged his false teachings. He told him he did not understand the
scriptures. If he did, he would understand “they truly testify of Christ.
Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied,
save they have spoken concerning this Christ” (Jacob 7:11).
He also taught him about the atonement. “And this is not
all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also
has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I
know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost” (Jacob
7:12).
Sherem was overcome by the power of the Lord. As he was
dying, he confessed he was deceived by the power of the devil. Among his last
words, he said “I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have
lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the
scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto
God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God” (Jacob
7:19).
“This unique mortal mission of the Lord—the gospel as He defined it—we know as the
Atonement. The fulness of the gospel, therefore, connotes a fuller
comprehension of the Atonement. This we do not obtain from the Bible alone. The
word atonement, in any of its forms, is mentioned only once in the King James
Version of the New Testament.23 In the Book of Mormon, it appears 39 times! The
Book of Mormon also contains more references to the Resurrection than does the
Bible.” (emphasis in original)[2]
[1] B. H.
Roberts: the Book of Mormon and the Atonement, Truman G. Madsen, Maxwell
Institute website.
[2] A
Testimony of the Book of Mormon, President Russell M. Nelson, October 1999
General Conference.
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