“Infinite Atonement”

K. Douglas Bassett

D&C 76:20-24, 41-42; Moses 1:33-35; 7:30; Alma 34:10-12; Heb. 1:1-2; John 1:10; Answers to Gospel Questions, Smith, 4:123-125; Journal of Discourses 17:332; Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Millet & McConkie, 1:236-238; 3:247-249; Doctrines of the Book of Mormon, 1991 Sperry Symposium, pp. 82-84

“When the prophets speak of an infinite atonement, they mean just that. Its effects cover all men, the earth itself and all forms of life thereon, and reach out into the endless expanses of eternity… . Now our Lord’s jurisdiction and power extend far beyond the limits of this one small earth on which we dwell. He is, under the Father, the Creator of worlds without number (Moses 1:33). And through the power of his atonement the inhabitants of these worlds, the revelation says, ‘are begotten sons and daughters unto God’ (D&C 76:24), which means that the atonement of Christ, being literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earths.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 64-65)
“Jesus Christ, in the sense of being its Creator and Redeemer, is the Lord of the whole universe. Except for his mortal ministry accomplished on this earth, his service and relationship to other worlds and their inhabitants are the same as his service and relationship to this earth and its inhabitants.” (Marion G. Romney, Ensign, Apr. 1976, p. 32)
“His Atonement is infinite—without an end. It was also infinite in that all humankind would be saved from never-ending death (see 2 Ne. 9:7; 25:16; Alma 34:10,12,14). It was infinite in terms of His immense suffering. It was infinite in time, putting an end to the preceding prototype of animal sacrifice. It was infinite in scope—it was to be done once for all (see Heb. 10:10). And the mercy of the Atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite number of worlds created by Him (see D&C 76:24; Moses 1:33). It was infinite beyond any human scale of measurement or mortal comprehension. Jesus was the only one who could offer such an infinite atonement, since He was born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father. Because of that unique birthright, Jesus was an infinite Being.” (Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 1996, p. 35)
[Speaking of Christ’s Infinite Atonement] “Yet, to help us begin to grasp with our finite, mortal minds the enormous price required, consider a few rough indicators of how much sin there is in our world. If you look at the United States alone, there are now more than fifty murders committed every day (that’s nearly nineteen thousand per year). There are more than twenty-one thousand thefts reported every day, and more than fifty-five hundred reported cases of child neglect and abuse… . Think of how many times on a single day adultery or some other violation of the law of chastity is committed somewhere in the world. How many cases of incest, child abuse, pornography, burglary, robbery? How many times in any one day is the name of God taken in vain? How many times are sacred things profaned? Then multiply these over the span of human history. And that takes into consideration only our world. We know that the Atonement extended to other worlds as well.” (Gerald Lund, Doctrines of the Book of Mormon, 1991 Sperry Symposium, p. 86)
“The effect of the infinite, atoning sacrifice was twofold: First, resurrection and immortality for all, unconditionally granted. Second, eternal life for each one who fulfills the prescribed conditions, which are faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, followed by repentance. Then we must qualify for and receive the saving and exalting ordinances of the gospel with their associated covenants, continuously striving to keep those covenants and obey the commandments of God.” (Ronald E. Poelman, Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 85)

Latter-Day Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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