Week 9: The Atonement

Song: The Third Article of Faith (CS. 123)

Thought:
Jesus Christ “came into the world … to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; that through him all might be saved” (D&C 76:41–42). The great sacrifice He made to pay for our sins and overcome death is called the Atonement. It is the most important event that has ever occurred in the history of mankind: “For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; … yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement” (Alma 34:9). -Gospel Principles

Object lesson:
To explain death and resurrection, consider this object lesson: Put your hand in a glove. Explain that a hand in a glove can be compared to a person’s spirit in his or her body. Take off the glove. Explain that this is like physical death—the spirit (the hand) and the body (the glove) are separated. Then put the glove back on your hand. Explain that this is like resurrection—the spirit and body are reunited. -Gospel Principles

Discuss with your family that through the Atonement Christ was able to overcome physical death and thus we all will be resurrected again someday. Explain that through the Atonement Christ also took upon himself all of our pains and sins, thus saving us from the fall.

Video: None Were With Him

Lesson Activity:
For younger children consider reading the book "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Once you have read the story ask them who the Tree reminds them of. Discuss ways that the Savior is like the giving tree and that in sacrificing everything for us he fulfilled the Atonement. Have each child color a picture of an apple tree. If they are old enough have them write or draw something that they consider a blessing in their lives because of the Savior on each of the apples.

(A few years ago a young girl in our ward gave a talk using this story and bore her testimony of the Savior based on it's principles. I have never read the story the same way since!)

Invite the older members of your family to read one of the principles of the Atonement in Linda K. Burton’s talk “Is Faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ Written in Our Hearts?” Invite them to discuss what they learned and share an example from their own lives or the lives of people they know that illustrates the principle. (Suggested activity for both the Aaronic Priesthood lesson as well as the Young Women lesson.)

This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family to focus this week on the Atonement and how we can apply it in our lives. This month we will be learning about Faith, Repentance, and Forgiveness. Invite them to begin applying these principles in their daily lives and prepare themselves to worthily partake of the Sacrament on Sunday.