“An Infinite Atonement”

Church Educational System
Jacob very clearly explains in 2 Nephi 9:7–12 what would have happened to us if there had been no atoning sacrifice to bring about redemption from sin and resurrection from death. Because all men sin in this life (see Romans 3:23) and because no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God (see Moses 6:57), when a person dies his spirit would be in a state of uncleanness forever. This would put man under the power and dominion of Satan. As Jacob says, “Our spirits must have become like unto him” (2 Nephi 9:9).

“The fall brought death. That is not a desirable condition. We do not want to be banished from the presence of God. We do not want to be subject forever to mortal conditions. We do not want to die and have our bodies turn to dust, and the spirits that possess these bodies by right, turned over to the realm of Satan and become subject to him.

”But that was the condition; and if Christ had not come as the atoning sacrifice, in demand of the law of justice, torepair or to atone or to redeem us from the condition that Adam found himself in, and that we find ourselves in; then mortal death would have come; the body would have gone back to the dust from where it came; the spirit would have gone into the realms of Satan’s domain, and have been subject to him forever."

(Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:122).

Book of Mormon Student Manual (1996 Edition)

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