This week in our
Book of Mormon class, we studied the chapter accounting Christ’s visit to the
Nephites in the Americas shortly after his crucifixion and resurrection. 3 Ne
chapter 11 gives a beautiful account of this crowning event as it depicts the
different aspects which played a part in His performance of The Atonement. In
vs. 15 it states, “And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and
thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his
hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they
had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands,
and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was
written by the prophets, that should come.” I feel that this verse perfectly
portrays both the extraordinary saving aspect of His Atonement, and also the
intimate and individual aspect of it as well. As we see the entire multitude of all the Nephites going
forth, we remember that Christ’s Atonement was for ALL mankind, whether or not
some would choose to accept and apply it or not. His sacrifice is incomprehensibly
deep and encompassing as it is still in affect today. The Book of Mormon speaks
of it as a sacrifice for every living thing that has ever been brought into
existence; not only was it to pay the price for our sins, but also to give us
hope and comfort and peace in the midst of our afflictions and weaknesses. At
the same time, we read in this verse that as the Nephites went forth, they each
took time, one-by-one to look at the Savior, speak to Him, touch his wounds,
and have a face-to-face personal experience with him, he being their personal
Savior. As He suffered in the Garden of Gethsamane, I believe that Christ took
the time to think of and sacrifice for each and every single one of us. So, He
truly does know us perfectly, and has empathy to relate to our hard
circumstances in this life. The Atonement was not only infinite, it was also
intimate and personal.