—ATONEMENT—
THE PERFECT PARADOX
and
Becoming Children of God
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KEVIN L. PACKARD
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© 2013
Kevin L. Packard
Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered (2 Nephi 2:6-7).
In his book, Atonement—The Perfect Paradox, Kevin L. Packard contemplates divine law and takes a literal approach to ascertain the law and the ends of the law to which Lehi refers in these verses. Using the scriptures, the words of the prophets, and illustrations, Brother Packard explains how Christ answered the ends of the law. Moreover, he provides a simplified look at the ends of the atonement and how the ends of the atonement were likewise answered when Christ answered the ends of the law. In so doing, he describes divine qualities that resulted from answering the ends of the atonement.
Drawing from the prophet Joseph Smith’s declaration that Christ “descended in suffering below that which man can suffer . . . and was exposed to more powerful contradictions that any man can be,” Brother Packard notes how mercy is ignited in the contradictions suffered by our Lord. He provides insight into the alliance between justice and mercy and how these godly attributes demonstrate themselves in essentially identical ways to bring to pass our salvation. He discusses the effects of the fall and personal sin and probes whether we can answer the ends of the law for ourselves and, if not, explains how we can gain access to the Lord’s answers to the ends of the law through faith in Christ and choosing to emulate Him. By comparing and contrasting justification and sanctification, he explains how these doctrines apply in our journey to becoming the seed of Christ.
“One of the most profound experiences we can have in mortality is that of being born again,” writes Brother Packard. “Our spiritual journey does not end with baptism, confirmation, and being given the gift of the Holy Ghost”, he continues. "Rather, these things are but the beginning—the gateway whereby one departs the world and enters upon a path that, if followed to its end, will lead to life everlasting.” And analogous to our mortal birth, Brother Packard reminds us “that our rebirth begins with a sacred relationship between a Husband and His bride in which the product of their union is the power of an endless life.”
In applying the Lord’s atonement, Brother Packard teaches that becoming a son or daughter of God’s family and, thus, an heir of eternal life, is a demonstrative and cooperative development with specific requirements and ordinances established by the Lord. Scripture study, prayer, and worship, he writes, are fundamental to this journey. When faced with the decisions of choosing between good and evil, Brother Packard suggests that the question that should cross our minds isn’t, “What would Jesus have me do?” Rather, he recommends that we should know the Savior’s life well enough to ask, “What did Jesus do,” and then emulate Him. We must know the Lord through scripture study and personal prayer. Most importantly, He is known by revelation and through an emulation of His attributes. Therein will be discovered the essence of worship, and the true meaning of knowing God and Jesus Christ.
Drawing from the prophet Joseph Smith’s declaration that Christ “descended in suffering below that which man can suffer . . . and was exposed to more powerful contradictions that any man can be,” Brother Packard notes how mercy is ignited in the contradictions suffered by our Lord. He provides insight into the alliance between justice and mercy and how these godly attributes demonstrate themselves in essentially identical ways to bring to pass our salvation. He discusses the effects of the fall and personal sin and probes whether we can answer the ends of the law for ourselves and, if not, explains how we can gain access to the Lord’s answers to the ends of the law through faith in Christ and choosing to emulate Him. By comparing and contrasting justification and sanctification, he explains how these doctrines apply in our journey to becoming the seed of Christ.
“One of the most profound experiences we can have in mortality is that of being born again,” writes Brother Packard. “Our spiritual journey does not end with baptism, confirmation, and being given the gift of the Holy Ghost”, he continues. "Rather, these things are but the beginning—the gateway whereby one departs the world and enters upon a path that, if followed to its end, will lead to life everlasting.” And analogous to our mortal birth, Brother Packard reminds us “that our rebirth begins with a sacred relationship between a Husband and His bride in which the product of their union is the power of an endless life.”
In applying the Lord’s atonement, Brother Packard teaches that becoming a son or daughter of God’s family and, thus, an heir of eternal life, is a demonstrative and cooperative development with specific requirements and ordinances established by the Lord. Scripture study, prayer, and worship, he writes, are fundamental to this journey. When faced with the decisions of choosing between good and evil, Brother Packard suggests that the question that should cross our minds isn’t, “What would Jesus have me do?” Rather, he recommends that we should know the Savior’s life well enough to ask, “What did Jesus do,” and then emulate Him. We must know the Lord through scripture study and personal prayer. Most importantly, He is known by revelation and through an emulation of His attributes. Therein will be discovered the essence of worship, and the true meaning of knowing God and Jesus Christ.
