Several years ago, the missionary who baptized me gave me a copy of the book The Infinite Atonement by Tad R. Callister. I remember looking at that rather large book and thinking, I could give a talk about the Atonement, but how on earth is there enough to know to fill an entire book? That thought alone shows how little I understood at the time. I have read that book several times now, and each time my mind feels stretched as I try to take it all in.

In truth, I do not think it is possible for us to fully comprehend the Atonement.

President Gordon B. Hinckley once said:

“I sense in a measure the meaning of His Atonement. I cannot comprehend it all. It is so vast in its reach and yet so intimate in its effect that it defies comprehension.”

Although we may never comprehend the Atonement of Jesus Christ in its fullness, we can understand its central importance. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught:

“The Atonement of the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh is the crucial foundation upon which all Christian doctrine rests and the greatest expression of divine love this world has ever been given. Its importance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot be overstated. Every other principle, commandment, and virtue of the restored gospel draws its significance from this pivotal event.”

You may remember President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation from the October 2024 General Conference:

“I urge you to devote time each week—for the rest of your life—to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

Did we all accept that invitation? And if we did, are we still doing it?

I would suggest that two of the most important verses in all of scripture are Moses 1:39 and John 3:16, because together they teach us what God’s work and glory are—and by what means He accomplishes them.

It is not necessary for us to understand every detail or mechanism of how the Atonement works. What is necessary is that we understand how to access the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our daily lives.Elder Boyd K. Packer taught:

“You need not know everything before the power of the Atonement will work for you.”

I now want to talk briefly about 7 powers of the Atonement (identified by Professor BJ Allen)

1.The Resurrecting Power

Christ’s atoning power overcomes all the effects of the Fall, including physical death. Because of Him, every person who has ever lived will be resurrected. Although Christ was not subject to death, He willingly allowed Himself to be sacrificed, and through that sacrifice gained power over the grave.

In Mosiah 15:8 we read:

“And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men.”

2.The Forgiving or Redeeming Power

Through the forgiving or redeeming power of the Atonement we can be forgiven of our sins. 

Helaman 5:11 teaches:

“And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance.”

Tad R. Callister wrote:

“On occasion, I have met with good Saints who have had trouble forgiving themselves… They have innocently but incorrectly placed limits on the Saviour’s redemptive powers… But it is an infinite Atonement because it encompasses and circumscribes every sin and weakness.”

Elder Bruce C. Hafen explained that the Atonement is not merely about erasing mistakes, but about growth:

“The Atonement and repentance make that process possible by protecting us while we learn… Because of the Atonement we can learn from our experience without being condemned by it.”

The Atonement also empowers us to forgive others. As we remember how completely the Saviour forgives us, our hearts soften, and His grace makes room for mercy where resentment once lived.

3.The Purifying or Sanctifying Power

Sometimes we limit the powers of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to these two powers (resurrecting and redeeming). But the Atonement of Jesus Christ also has the power to transform us. This power helps us to become more holy, or sanctified, as our disposition to do evil gradually diminishes.

President David O. McKay taught that the purpose of the gospel is “to make bad men good and good men better.”

Mosiah 3:19 teaches that as we yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, we can “put off the natural man and become a saint through the Atonement of Christ.”

Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ helps us become who we were always meant to be.

4. The Comforting Power

Through the comforting power we can be consoled through the trials of life.

The comforting power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ brings peace and hope in the midst of struggle. 

In Revelation 21:4 we read: 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Christ does not promise a life free from hardship, but He does promise rest to our souls. When we turn to Him, even unresolved problems can be met with calm assurance and quiet hope.

5. The Healing Power

Through the healing power we can be healed from the wounds caused by life’s challenges.

Alma taught that Christ took upon Himself not only our sins, but our pains, sicknesses, and infirmities, so that He would know “how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12).

This means that Jesus Christ understands not only our sins, but also our grief, exhaustion, discouragement, loneliness, anxiety, and fear. There is no part of our mortal experience that He does not comprehend perfectly.

Because He descended below all things, He has the power to lift us in all things.

Elder Hafen wrote:

“The Saviour’s Atonement is portrayed as the healing power not only for sin, but also for carelessness, inadequacy, and all mortal bitterness. The Atonement is not just for sinners.”

6. The Strengthening or Enabling Power

Elder Boyd K Packer said: 

“For some reason we think the Atonement of Christ applies only at the end of mortal life to redemption from the Fall, from spiritual death. It is much more than that. It is an ever-present power to call upon in everyday life.”

The Atonement of Jesus Christ can give us strength beyond our own. There are days when we simply feel unable to keep going—whether as parents, spouses, caregivers, leaders, or disciples. In those moments, the Saviour’s grace can enable us to do what we cannot do alone. As the Apostle Paul taught, 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Consider the example in the Book of Mormon as Alma and his people are persecuted by Amulon. The voice of the Lord came to these good people in their affliction and indicated:

“I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs. …

“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:14–15; ).

What was changed in this episode? The burden did not change—the people did. Their capacity to bear was increased. And then through the strength of the Lord, they were eventually delivered.

7. The Compensating Power

Through the compensating power of the Atonement, all injustice will be made right. Christ will recompense every wrong, heal every wound, and restore every loss.

The compensating power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ also counteracts the negative aspect of our nature by compensating us and others for our imperfections. Elder Bruce C Hafen said: 

‘The Atonement compensates the harmful consequences of all our acts…both the consequences we may suffer and the consequences other people suffer through our actions.

Think of Alma the Younger. Inn Alma 36 he describes the sorrows he felt from his rebellion against God. In particular he said:

Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror. (Alma 36:13)

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

Elder James R Rasband said 

“The joyous truth on which Alma’s mind caught hold was not just that he himself could be made clean but also that those whom he had harmed could be healed and made whole.”

We may not know when or how that compensation will occur, but we do know that Christ will make all things right.

How do we access these powers?

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not merely an historical event—it is a living source of power available every day. When we access the power of the Atonement, it begins to shape the ordinary moments of our lives

The simplest explanation I have found is offered by Sheri Dew: 

“He knows how to succour all of us. But we activate the power of the Atonement in our lives. We do this by first believing in Him, by repenting, by obeying His commandments, by partaking of sacred ordinances and keeping covenants, and by seeking after Him in fasting and prayer, in the scriptures, and in the temple. 

Believing is choosing, again and again, to turn toward the Saviour rather than away from Him.

Repentance is not meant to be a fearful or discouraging process. It is an invitation to change direction and come closer to Christ. President Russell M. Nelson has taught that repentance is a gift, not a punishment. As we sincerely repent, we do not merely receive forgiveness—we receive strength to do better, to think differently, and to become more like the Savior.

Obeying His Commandments – which means having a sincere desire to obey God’s will

Partaking of Ordinances and keeping Covenants.  Each Sabbath day, as we partake of the sacrament, we are promised that we may always have the Spirit with us. That promise is made possible only because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Seeking Christ through fasting and prayer, scripture study and going to the temple.

Go to the Temple

Remember that “the story of Christ’s life is the story of GIVING the atonement. The story of Adam and Eve is the story of RECEIVING the atonement. Their story is our story too ” (Bruce and Marie Hafen)

How do we know if the Atonement of Jesus Christ is effective in our lives?

The Atonement changes us gradually and quietly. Over time, we may notice that we react with more patience, feel more compassion, or experience greater spiritual confidence. These changes are evidence that His power is at work within us.

Elder Henry B Eyring taught a key to knowing if the Atonement of Christ is active in our lives:

“You can invite the Holy Ghost’s companionship in your life. And you can know when he is there, and when he withdraws. And when he is your companion, you can have confidence that the Atonement is working in your life.” 

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not meant to be distant or reserved only for moments of crisis. It is meant to be woven into our daily walk as disciples.

I testify that Jesus Christ lives. I testify that His Atonement is infinite, personal, and powerful. As we choose daily to access the powers of Christ’s atonement through faith, repentance, and covenant living, our lives will be changed—not all at once, but forever.