Alma 34:8-9

8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made. (Alma 34:8-9).

After emphasizing the words of Zenos and Zenock, which Alma had shared, Amulek continues

Amulek testified Alma’s words were true. Witnesses are an essential part of the gospel. “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” (Matthew 18:16).

“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1).

“And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day” (Ether 5:4).

“And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (D&C 6:28).

He told them Christ will come among us and take upon Himself our sins. “[H]e shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

“[B]by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12).

“And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else” (Alma 11:40).

that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

He will atone for our sins. We know this “for the Lord God hat spoken it” (Alma 34:8).

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it [GR All of you drink from it];

“For this is my blood of the new testament [GR covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:27-28).

“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

“Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:26-27).[1]

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).

“Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more” (2 Nephi 9:7).

“O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world” (Helaman 5:9).

“Saints who respond to the Savior’s message will not be led astray by distracting and destructive pursuits and will be prepared to make appropriate sacrifices. The importance of sacrifice to those who want to be Saints is exemplified by the atoning sacrifice of the Savior, which is at the center of the gospel.”[2]

It was essential an atonement be made. Without it, the plan of salvation would have failed and all would have been lost.

 “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

“For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord” (2 Nephi 9:6).

 “And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect” (Alma 12:26).

“[W]hy shouldn’t the Atonement be dispensed with altogether? With Alma, whom he thought ‘among the greatest of the ancient American prophets,’ [B. H.]Roberts says it is ‘expedient,’ and in brackets he interprets expedient to mean necessary. The great and last sacrifice must occur, infinite and eternal, for the highest impact on the family of God (see Alma 34:8-14). ‘Even God’s omnipotence must conform to the attributes of truth and wisdom and justice and mercy. But neither justice nor mercy would require nor permit more suffering on the part of the redeemer than was absolutely necessary.’ (TWL, 34.) Otherwise, it would be cruelty, pure and simple. The testator’s blood is the effectual seal of the testimony of the testator (see I Nephi 9:7; Alma 13, 14). Hence came a Lord of life with power of life within himself and power to impart it in a voluntary act.”[3]

The atonement was necessary. Without it, we would all but cut off and be fallen and lost.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

“I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world” (Mosiah 4:7).

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[1] “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made ruler over the heavens;

“And not as those high priests who offered up sacrifice daily, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people; for he needeth not offer sacrifice for his own sins, for he knew no sins; but for the sins of the people. And this he did once, when he offered up himself” (JST, Hebrews 7:25-26).

[2] Are You a Saint?, Elder Quentin L. Cook, October 2003 General Conference.

[3] B. H. Roberts: the Book of Mormon and the Atonement, Truman G. Madsen, Maxwell Institute website.