Justice - Mercy and the Atonement

K. Douglas Bassett

Alma 34:16-18; Mosiah 15:27; D&C 19:16-19; Lectures on Faith, 4:17; Conference Report, Packer, Apr. 1977, pp. 79-80; Miracle of Forgiveness, Kimball, pp. 358-359

“Justice requires that God must be a God of order and that he must be just and impartial. Mercy agrees with justice; however, mercy introduces the possibility of vicarious payment of the laws that have been transgressed. The law of mercy paraphrased as follows: Whenever a law is broken, a payment (or atonement) must be made; however the person does not need to make payment if he will repent and if he can find someone who is both able and willing to make payment. Note the law of mercy insists the demands of justice be met fully.” (Daniel H. Ludlow, Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, pp. 176-177)
“Justice has many meanings. One is balance. A popular symbol of justice is scales in balance. Thus, when the laws of man have been violated, justice usually requires that a punishment be imposed, a penalty that will restore the balance… . Punishments prescribed by the laws of man only follow the judge’s action, but under the laws of God the consequences and penalties of sin are inherent in the act… . By itself, justice is uncompromising. The justice of God holds each of us responsible for our own transgressions and automatically imposes the penalty… . If we are to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father, we need the intervention of some powerful influence that transcends justice. That powerful intervention is the atonement of Jesus Christ. The good news of the gospel is that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ there is something called mercy. Mercy signifies an advantage greater than is deserved… . If justice is balance, then mercy is counterbalance. If justice is exactly what one deserves, then mercy is more benefit than one deserves. In its relationship to justice and mercy, the Atonement is the means by which justice is served and mercy is extended.”

(Dallin H. Oaks, Address given to CES Religious Educators, Temple Square Assembly Hall, Feb. 7, 1992)

“I once wondered if those who refuse to repent but who then satisfy the law of justice by paying for their own sins are then worthy to enter the celestial kingdom. The answer is no. The entrance requirements for celestial life are simply higher than merely satisfying the law of justice. For that reason, paying for our sins will not bear the same fruit as repenting of our sins. Justice is a law of balance and order and it must be satisfied, either through our payment or his. But if we decline the Savior’s invitation to let him carry our sins, and then satisfy justice by ourselves, we will not yet have experienced the complete rehabilitation that can occur through a combination of divine assistance and genuine repentance. Working together, those forces have the power permanently to change our hearts and our lives, preparing us for celestial life.” (Bruce C. Hafen, The Broken Heart, pp. 7-8)
“I believe that our Heavenly Father wants to save every one of his children. I do not think he intends to shut any of us off because of some slight transgression, some slight failure to observe some rule or regulation… . I believe that in his justice and mercy, he will give us the maximum reward for our acts, give us all that he can give, and in the reverse, I believe that he will impose upon us the minimum penalty which it is possible for him to impose.” (J. Reuben Clark Jr., Conference Report, Sept. 30, 1955, p. 24)
“All of us have made wrong turns along the way. I believe the kind and merciful God, whose children we are, will judge us as lightly as He can for the wrongs that we have done and give us the maximum blessing for the good that we do.” (James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 1996, p. 53)

Latter-Day Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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