BYU–Idaho President Meredith Emphasizes the Importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ

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By Mary Richards, Church News

In his most recent general conference address, Church President Russell M. Nelson invited all to devote time each week to increase their understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

During the first devotional of the winter semester, BYU–Idaho President Alvin F. Meredith III testified to students that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the single most important event in the history of the world — and it lies at the very heart of all that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold true.

“The Savior’s Atonement included His suffering in Gethsemane, His suffering and death on the cross of Calvary, and His emergence from the tomb of Arimathea, or His resurrection,” President Meredith said. “Jesus Christ suffered the penalty for our sins so that we can become clean and be reconciled to God. Because of His Atonement, all will be resurrected, and those who strive to be His disciples and obey His gospel will receive the gift of eternal life.”

President Meredith was joined by his wife, Sister Jennifer Meredith, who also drew from President Nelson’s remarks.

The Creation and the Fall of Adam

A full understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ begins with understanding the Creation and the Fall of Adam, President Meredith explained.

When President Meredith and Sister Meredith were preparing to be mission leaders in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission in June 2019, then-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke at the Provo Missionary Training Center about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

He discussed four issues that Adam and Eve faced after the Creation in the Garden of Eden:

1. Their presence relative to God.
2. Their mortality, or the issue of life and death.
3. Their ability to progress and experience joy.
4. Their ability to have children and create a family.

When Adam transgressed and he and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, this was considered a fall downward, President Meredith said, but it could also be called a “fortunate fall” or a step forward.

“After the Fall, Adam and Eve were no longer in the presence of God. And once out of the garden, they became subject to death and the vulnerabilities of mortality,” President Meredith said. “But on the positive side, they were able to progress and experience joy. And they were also able to have children and create a family.”

The Answer to the Fall

The answer to the Fall is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

“In the eternal realm, the negative effects of the Fall can be restored to beautiful positives. and the positives of our mortal life are magnificently amplified, all because of the Atonement of Christ,” President Meredith said.

God’s children will return to be with Him again and be back in His presence — they will be raised up in the Resurrection as immortal beings with bodies restored to a “perfect frame” (see Alma 40:23). The faithful will become “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). And they will be able to be with their families forever.

“All of the positives of eternal life are available to us because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” President Meredith said.

The Cleansing Power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ

The Atonement of Jesus Christ means sins that are as scarlet can become white as snow (see Isaiah 1:18) and he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42).

“I am deeply grateful for the peace and purity that comes, in this life, from being cleansed and made whole through Christ. If there are any here today, who feel that they have strayed too far or slipped one too many times, I testify to you that the Atonement of Christ is infinite in both its reach and power,” President Meredith said.

He also emphasized that the Atonement of Christ enables and strengthens people in their times of need, quoting President Nelson who said, “Jesus Christ took upon Himself your sins, your pains, your heartaches and your infirmities.”

President Meredith concluded with his witness of the infinite blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The Secret to a Life of Joy

Sister Meredith said the beginning of the new year and the beginning of a new semester brings a fresh opportunity for reevaluation and goal setting.

She invited the students to consider President Nelson’s words from his recent general conference address when he said, “I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ.”

This may be the most important goal for this year, she said. President Nelson gave this promise with his invitation — “This is the secret to a life of joy.”

Sister Meredith asked, “How can we dedicate or rededicate ourselves to Jesus Christ so that our lives become the most meaningful expression of our faith?”

She said she hoped the students will prayerfully and intentionally consider what they might do to follow prophetic counsel, saying that now is the perfect time to start.

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