Why was the Savior's Atonement Necessary?

A Fallen World 
We live in a fallen world from which we will not escape unscathed by sin. Because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, the natural man of flesh will ensure that all of us make poor choices and commit sin during our mortal sojourn. The only one to ever walk this earth free of sin is Jesus Christ.

The Demands of Justice
The law of justice is an eternal law of consequences that cannot be avoided or nullified. Every action demands a reaction. Every choice we make demands a corresponding consequence. The most harmful consequence of sin is that it distances us from God. On our own, there is no way back to God until justice is satisfied with a punishment we're incapable of paying.

Distanced from God
A fullness of joy and inner peace will only be found when we are close to God. We cannot be truly happy when sin distances us from our Heavenly Father. This applies in the eternities as well. We strive to someday return to God's presence and receive all that he has in store for us, yet we cannot to so if the chasm of sin divides us from Him. The scriptures make it clear that God cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance and that in a sinful state we would rather hide ourselves from Him than come into his presence.

The Need for a Mediator
We all sin and fall short of qualifying to be in God's presence. We cannot bridge the gap on our own, which is why a Savior was prepared for us from before the foundation of the world. God knew we would sin and prepared a merciful way forward, a mediator to shield us from the eternal consequences of our mistakes and become our Lord. Rather than answer to the buffeting of Satan and his enslavement in sin, Jesus Christ has stepped in as our mediator, savior, and master.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ
Because justice must be paid, Jesus Christ came to earth as a sinless offering to satisfy the demands of justice for the redemption of all those who will repent and believe on His name.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL!

Without this infinite and eternal sacrifice, we would be lost forever. No event so significant ever has or ever will transpire on this planet! Every prophet since Adam prophesied of and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. Every prophet since that time has also testified of that sacred event.

What Is Asked of Us?
The Savior simply asks that we repent and believe on Him, that we offer up a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He has already paid the price for our redemption. Now we just need to follow Him.

A Free Gift
Because Jesus broke the bands of death, we too will be resurrected. All of us. This is a free gift for everyone. I believe it's a reward for our choosing to follow Christ before this life. Nobody will be left behind in the grave - we all will have our body and spirit reunited to be brought before the bar of God.

His mercy goes one step further. For those who die before they've reached accountability or who live a lifetime without mental capacity for accountability, Christ's atoning sacrifice saves them. They never willingly transgressed the commandments and therefore need no repentance. Jesus satisfied the demands of justice for them.

It's my testimony that these things are true. I've made many mistakes and have felt the redeeming power of Jesus Christ's atonement in my own life time and time again.

(See 2 Nephi 2:5–10, 17–26; 9:5–26; Alma 34:8–16; 42:9–26.)

Scriptures Teaching the Plan of Salvation

Why is it important to know the scriptures that support our beliefs? This is one of the reasons we encourage memorizing scriptures, especially in Seminary. But it is even more important to learn where they are so we can reference them, even if we can't recite them word for word.

Pre-mortal Life
Did we exist before we were born?
God is the father of our spirits (Hebrews 12:9)
God knew Jeremiah before he was born (Jeremiah 1:5)

We shouted for joy at the creation of the earth (Job 38:4-7)
The spirit shall return to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Chosen of God before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4)
Poetically teaches we were with God before the creation (Proverbs 8:22-31)

What happend in the pre-mortal life?
Abraham saw the pre-mortal life in vision, including the "war in heaven" (Abraham 3:21-28)
War in heaven (Revelations 12:7-9)
Reference to the angels that kept not first estate (Jude 1:6)
Learning "first lessons" and preparation (D&C 138:56)
We were given callings and purpose (2 Timothy 1:9)

Creation
God tells Moses it was his Only Begotten that created all things (Moses 2:1)
Abraham's vision of the Son saying, "we will go down...and we will make an earth" (Abraham 3:24)
Jesus created all things (John 1:1-3) - The JST changes this quite a bit, but both ways are pretty clear that it was Jesus that created. Verse 14 clarifies that The Word = Jesus.

Fall
The fall of Adam was a necessary and foreseen part of the plan (2 Ne 2:22-25).
Without the Fall we could have never come to earth (2 Ne 2:22-25).
Alma 12:22-34 - Because of the fall, we are also fallen, meaning we sin (22). Physical death is a result of the fall (24). Because of the Fall we have the Atonement (33-34)

Earth Life (What is the Purpose of Life?)
This is the time for man to perform his labor, improve himself, repent and prepare for eternity (Alma 32:32-33)

Mosiah 3:19 - We must put off the natural man

This is a probationary state (Alma 12:24)

Alma teaches his son that this is a time to prepare to meet God, to repent and serve Him, a probationary state, so that they can overcome the Spiritual Death introduced by the fall (Alma 42:4,9-10)
But we have our choice on earth (agency) to choose the way to Eternal Life or captivity and death (2 Ne 2:27)
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)
No unclean thing can enter into God's kingdom (3 Ne 27:19)
We kept our first estate by bringing our Spirit in subjection to God's will. We must keep our second estate by also bringing our physical body in subjection to God's will (overcoming the natural man). See Abraham 3:25-26 and Mosiah 3:19.

Atonement
The Fall brought both Spiritual Death (sin) and Physical Death into the world. Both must be overcome to dwell with God. Because of justice - and the fact that no unclean thing can dwell in God's presence - any sin would prevent us from ever being with Him again, for we all sin. And because of the Fall we would all die, losing our physical bodies that we came to earth to gain. All of this was part of God's plan, which is why Jesus was chosen before the world was even created to be our Savior. Jesus came to the earth to atone for our sins (pay the price for us so that we could be cleansed from our sins) and also to over come death through the resurrection which makes it possible for all of us to also be resurrected. He doesn't just make up the distance for us, he makes all the difference for us.

Death
All men die because of the fall (1 Cor 15:20-22)

Spirit World
The righteous go to a paradise where they rest in a state of happiness and peace (Alma 40:11-14)
The wicked will be in darkness and fear as they receive the just wrath of God, suffering for their own sins, until the resurrection (Alma 40:11-14)
The same spirit that you have now will be yours then (Alma 34:34)
Spirit returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Gospel preached to the dead - 1 Peter 3:19-20 & 1 Peter 4:6
Read D&C 138!

Resurrection
All men will be resurrected because of Christ (1 Cor 15:20-22)
Just and the wicked to be resurrected (John 5:28-29)
Our resurrection will make us perfect (no corruption) (Alma 5:15)
Resurrection is because of Christ and brings us to the bar of God for judgment (Jacob 6:9)
Resurrection is before judgment (2 Ne 9:15)

Judgment
All men will be judged (both good and bad) by their works as recorded in the Book of Life (Rev 20:12-13)
The resurrection comes to all so that they can then be judged according to their deeds (Alma 5:15)
Every man will be judged and receive his own dominion/mansion/reward according to his own works (D&C 76:111)
Mercy versus Justice - Alma 42:13-15
Alma calls on introspection in teaching about the judgment and preparation for that time (Alma 5:15-21)
No man comes unto the Father but by Jesus (DC 132:12)
Father does not judge, but by the Son (John 5:22)
All men judged according to works and desires of their hearts (DC 137:9)

Heaven (Degrees of Glory)
Everyone who does not go to outer darkness (99.9999% of us) will be redeemed through the "triumph and glory" of Jesus Christ (D&C 76:38-39).
The Bible talks about three degrees of glory (even clearer in the JST): 1 Corinthians 15:40-42

Celestial = Those who had faith, repented, were baptized, kept commandments, had temple ordinances,  overcome adversity with faith, members of Christ's church, Priesthood bearers (or married to one) (D&C 76:50-70)
Those who die without the gospel that would have accepted it given the chance, will receive this glory because they'll have a chance in the Spirit World to receive it (D&C 137:7-10).
Those who die before the age of 8 will also inherit the Celestial kingdom (D&C 137:7-10).

Terrestrial = Those who died without law, honorable men who were blinded by world, had the gospel but did not live valiantly (D&C 76:71-80)

Telestial = Those who receive not the gospel or a testimony of Jesus - even this level of glory "surpasses all understanding" (D&C 76:81-89) and includes liars, sorcerers, adulterers (D&C 76:103-105)

Outer Darkness
Only suffered by those who "deny the Holy Ghost" and "crucify" Christ (figuratively). Better for them to have never been born. Includes the 1/3 that followed Lucifer in pre-mortal world. (D&C 76:30-37)

Exaltation (highest degree of Celestial Kingdom)
The requirements for Celestial glory are high, but insufficient for Exaltation, which is the highest degree of glory possible - that which allows us an eternal increase. (DC 131:1-4)

Is There Life After Death?

To study the question "Is there life after death?" let's read the words of the prophet Alma to his son Corianton in Alma 40 in the Book of Mormon.

Alma teaches his son that all men will resurrect: "Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed" (Alma 40:4).

The next question he answers is what happens between death and the resurrection? He teaches, "the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life" (Alma 40:11).

For the righteous: "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" (Alma 40:12).

For the wicked:

13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
 14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this estate, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. (Alma 40:13-14)

So the righteous and wicked remain in a state of happiness or misery from death until the resurrection. Alma then continues by explaining what the word resurrection really means: "it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body ... The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (Alma 40:18, 23)

This resurrection is a precursor to the final day of judgment: "the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works" (Alma 40:21).

How Can Believing in Jesus Christ Help Me?

To study the question "How can believing in Jesus Christ help me?" I'm going to study Alma 36 in the Book of Mormon, which contains the words of the prophet Alma to his son, Helaman.

I can imagine the intense emotion of a father testifying to his son of the thinks he believes and knows to be true. His words are motivated by the love of a father for his son. With this intensity he begins, "My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land" (Alma 36:1). In order to keep God's commandments, one must believe in God and that the commandments are His. I also know that keeping His commandments leads to prosperity in all aspects of life.

He continues, "I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it was the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he surely did deliver them in their afflictions" (Alma 36:2). I think this is a very important point that Alma makes. Their ancestors at times were in captivity by their enemies and the only way they were able to escape was through the deliverance of the power of Jesus Christ. Believing in and turning to Jesus Christ can deliver us as well in our time of need. This is another powerful benefit of believing and trusting in the Savior of the world.

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 36:3). If we believe in Jesus Christ and put our trust in him, then this promise is available to us as well- we will be supported in our trials, troubles, and afflictions. I know that for me, this is the time when I most need help, and I am grateful that the Savior has been there time and again to lift me up and support me when I'm having a rough time.

Believing in Jesus Christ and laboring with him to help bring to pass the salvation of others fills your soul with "exceedingly great joy" (Alma 36:25).

And another reason to believe in Jesus Christ- listen to how it has helped Alma throughout his adult life:

"27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me." (Alma 36:27)

And lastly, from this chapter, I learned that believing in Christ will help me to "raise me up at the last day, to dwell in glory" (Alma 36:28). And isn't that what we all hope for? To learn more about Jesus Christ visit http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/.

The Resurrection - Will I be resurrected?

One of the big three questions that most everyone asks at some point in their life is "What happens after death?" We wonder if life stops at death, or if it continues eternally. If it continues, what will it be like? Will our mortal actions determine our eternal future?

To be honest, the scriptures are full of answers to these questions. A New Testament verse gives an important insight:

"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
John 5:29

John teaches us here that EVERYONE will be resurrected. If we are good, we'll have the resurrection of life, meaning eternal life. If we are evil, we'll have the resurrection of damnation. We will be rewarded according to how we live on this earth.

What is the resurrection?
Simply put, resurrection is the reuniting of the body and spirit. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was the first to resurrect, breaking the bands of death for all mankind.

The Book of Mormon also teaches this doctrine very clearly:

"Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption."
Alma 11:45

I wish I had more time to continue examining the scriptural teachings about the resurrection, but here are two other great resources about life after death and resurrection and judgment.