Tuesday, May 22, 2012

KEYSTONE WEEKLY LETTER



 May 20, 2012 



Keystone 
Washington D.C. South Mission 
Elders and Sister as I have been thinking of what I can say to help not only you, but myself as a 
missionary, I realized one simple truth. We all need help, and the only true and lasting help comes 
from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

I have had missionaries in the past tell me that they feel like their understanding of the Atonement 
isn’t as strong as someone who has experienced great sins  and found absolute forgiveness 
through Jesus Christ. This could not be more false. Our loving heavenly father would not prohibit 
any of us from coming closer to him because we have not greatly sinned. It is easy to think that 
the only way to feel the Atonement is through finding forgiveness. I myself used to limit the real 
strengthen of the Atonement to only forgiveness. That is until I read the talk, “The Enabling 
Power of the Atonement.” Which was given at a BYU devotional by David A. Bednar. 
This talk explains that the Atonement is there to make bad men good and good men better. Right 
now Elder’s and Sister we are all good. We are servants of the Lord, we have accepted his calling 
for us and we are here. That is good, but it can get better! How? through the enabling power of the 
Atonement. In Alma chapter 31 Alma is grieved at the apostate Zoramites. Alma had not sinned, 
yet he called upon the Atonement. In verse 31 he says, “Wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ.” 
Christ knew what Alma felt because he would soon suffer it in the Garden of Gethsemane.  How 
amazing is it that we have someone to lift and help us in all of our trials. Even to strengthen us in 
our natural weaknesses. 

Elders and Sisters when we fully apply the atonement to make ourselves better, our desire to share 
the gospel will be increased! There is nothing in this gospel more important than the Atonement. 
Study it, apply it, and be strengthened by it, and you will begin to spread the gospel with the true 
power that has been attended for each of us. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 
Elder Chance Johnson 

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