From a study journal entry dated November 16, 2006:"[The Atonement of Christ] is the very root of Christian doctrine. You may know much about the gospel as it branches out from there, but if you only know the branches and those branches do not touch that root, if they have been cut free from the truth, there will be no life nor substance nor redemption in them" (Apostle Boyd K. Packer, "The Mediator," Ensign, May 1977, p. 56).
Today I discovered an article that has redeemed my view of us Latter-day Saints. More importantly this article has changed the way I worship. The principles of Thomas B. Griffith’s "The Root of Christian Doctrine" can and must bring Latter-day Saints to a new, deeper level of worship. It can only do that if we read it and apply the scriptural principles to our lives, so please, get a copy of the Fall 2006 BYU Magazine and read it.
The need for a change in our worship has been the soapbox craving on my mind for a very long time. The problem is that far too often our meetings do not reflect fully the living water of Christ that was restored to the prophet Joseph Smith. Because of those meetings, the edifying fountain that burst forth continually in our living prophet and apostles does not always trickle down to many of our members. It is too easy to come to some of our meetings spiritually thirsty, and leave just as parched.
I share this problem publicly with much reservation because I have such a deep conviction of the Restoration. By that I mean that the pure teachings of Jesus Christ were lost through centuries of apostasy, but that those same pure Christian teachings were restored by Jesus Himself to Joseph Smith and his successors. I have received a spiritual witness that this restoration is true. Furthermore, those same restored doctrines of Jesus Christ have sustained me through every affliction and have quenched every spiritual thirst I have ever had. However, not every meeting has reflected the power of such a miracle. I believe that we can do more to edify each other at every meeting.
I could give examples to prove the problem, but I think it would be more beneficial to teach the restored principles of Christ and prove the solution. The solution is to constantly help the people understand the depth of Christ’s Atonement.
In the mission I have become famous for saying:
"In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen" should never, ever be the first time Christ is referenced in any talk, testimony, or lesson, no matter what the topic is. I am relieved to know that I am not alone in this. As a stake president, Thomas B. Griffith "laid down a rule that every sacrament meeting talk and every lesson in Sunday School, Relief Society, and priesthood meetings must be related to the Atonement of Christ in a direct and express way." He said, "Our goal was to have all of our meetings filled with "life [and] substance [and] redemption" by having them connected to "the very root of Christian doctrine": the Atonement of Christ. We told the bishops that if they wanted a sacrament meeting about the principles of emergency preparedness—important principles, to be sure—that meeting would be about "Emergency Preparedness and the Atonement of Christ." If you cannot figure out the link between the topic you are to teach and the Atonement of Christ, you have either not thought about it enough or you shouldn’t be talking about it at church. In our limited time in church, we must be talking about the Atonement of Christ." Doing so will be ensure that we never leave a meeting thirsty for truth.
Now, what is the key component to a change in our worship? How can we more completely understand the depth of Christ’s Atonement? Thomas B. Griffith reveals the answer from the Book of Mormon. In reflecting on Christ’s visit to ancient America, he was touched by the change that happened in these people after they touched the scars in the risen Lord’s hands, feet, and side. He writes about these people:
"Although they have been obedient [before Jesus appeared to them], perhaps they had not yet come to know him as their Savior because they had not yet felt the need to be saved. They had led lives filled with good works. They knew Jesus as God, as Exemplar, maybe even as Friend. But maybe they didn’t yet know him as Savior. Their prayer wasn’t, "Thank you for having saved us in the past and reminding us of that by your presence today." No, the prayer was "Hosanna!" or "Save us, now!" That suggests to me that they were just then coming to know him as Savior.
"What had done that? What had turned them from good, obedient people to good, obedient people who now know Jesus Christ as Savior? What had caused them to fall down at his feet to worship him? It was physical contact with the emblems of his suffering. . .
"We have that experience every Sunday when we partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. We eat the broken bread, a token of his slain body. We drink the water, a symbol of his spilt blood. These are striking symbols intended to shock us, to evoke in us a deep sense of gratitude."
I hope that realizing the significance of our weekly sacrament will change the way you worship. I can say that contact with the emblems of Christ’s suffering has in deed changed me. My Sunday meetings will never be the same. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true and living church of the true and living Lord. Of the suffering of that Lord for us I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
"No member of this Church must ever forget the terrible price paid by our Redeemer, who gave His life that all men might live—the agony of Gethsemane, the bitter mockery of His trial, the vicious crown of thorns tearing at His flesh, the blood cry of the mob before Pilate, the lonely burden of His heavy walk along the way to Calvary, the terrifying pain as great nails pierced His hands and feet … We cannot forget that. We must never forget it, for here our Savior, our Redeemer, the Son of God, gave Himself a vicarious sacrifice for each of us" (President Gordon B. Hinckley "The Symbol of Our Faith," Ensign, April 2005, p. 4).
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