Mormonism and Jesus' Mission on Earth
Purpose of Christ's Suffering and Death According to Mormon Belief
Oct 21, 2009
Different religions use a myriad of terms to talk about Jesus Christ's suffering. Some refer to the agony of Christ or the passion of Jesus. Mormons use the word "Atonement" to collectively describe Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection.
Two-Part Atonement in Mormonism
Mormonism teaches that Christ made two sacrifices for humankind, both of which are indispensable parts of the Atonement. These are:
- Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane; and
- Christ's resurrection from the tomb.
Jesus Christ's Suffering in Gethsemane
Luke 22: 42-44 describes how Christ entered the Garden of Gethsemane and suffered mental anguish so intense it caused Him to bleed, and it's believed that an angel was sent from heaven to strengthen Him.
Mormons believe that the suffering of Jesus was caused by vicariously experiencing the consequences of the sins of every person who ever lived or will live on earth. As the only sinless person who ever lived on earth, Christ was the only person able to perform the Atonement.
Why Did Christ Have to Suffer?
New Testament accounts of Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane are brief, leading some readers of the Bible to minimize the event's importance. But this is probably due to the fact the authors were asleep when it happened (see Matthew 26: 40-45.) Mormons believe that the events at Gethsemane were crucial for human salvation.
According to Mormonism, justice demands that the penalty for sin is spiritual death (or separation from God.) Jesus paid the price of sin for humankind, overcoming spiritual death and enabling complete forgiveness for sin. Mormons believe that Jesus' forgiveness is not automatically given, however – it is accessed through faith and repentance (see Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 27: 19.)
Jesus' Death and Resurrection
The Bible account says that Jesus was tried by Roman governmental leaders, beaten and mocked, and finally crucified. Mormons believe that His body was removed to a tomb that was found empty on the third day. This rising from the dead is known as Jesus' resurrection.
Why Was Jesus Christ's Resurrection Necessary?
Many people ask, "Why was Jesus crucified?" Though the exact method of His death probably didn't matter, Mormons believe that it was necessary for Jesus to die because it made His resurrection possible. And as Matthew 27: 52-53 says, "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection."
Mormons believe that Christ's resurrection overcame physical death, opening the gate for every person to eventually be resurrected after Him. Resurrection is the rejoining of the body and spirit.
Mormon Views of Jesus' Atonement
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is taught that the reality of Christ's two-part Atonement is absolutely necessary exaltation in heaven.
- The Book of Mormon teaches that "all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement" (Alma 34: 9) and calls the Atonement an "infinite and eternal sacrifice" (Alma 34: 10.)
- Church official James E. Fast said that the "Atonement is, in its simplest terms, a reconciliation of man with his God... It transcended all other events in the history of the world."
- Religious leader M. Russell Ballard taught that "without the Atonement of the Lord... we could not become worthy and prepared to return to dwell in the presence of God."
Christ's Atonement is thought to conquer physical and spiritual death, allowing humankind to receive salvation. Mormons believe that all humankind will overcome physical death through the resurrection, but that people need to actively repent in order to access Christ's forgiving power and avoid spiritual death (see Alma 34:16.)
Readers might also be interested in Mormon Beliefs: What Happens After We Die?
Sources:
- James E. Faust, “The Supernal Gift of the Atonement.” Ensign, Nov 1988.
- M. Russell Ballard, “The Atonement and the Value of One Soul.” Ensign, May 2004.
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