The Atonement and
Church Membership Councils
Reading Assignments for the course
REL 480 - Church Organization and Leadership
Prof.  Marcus H. Martins, Ph.D.

Readings: 

Elder Boyd K. Packer
Resisting Unworthy Feelings and Temptations
Conference Report, October 1990

Now, in a spirit of sympathy and love, I speak to you who may be struggling against temptations for which there is no moral expression. Some have resisted temptation but never seem to be free from it. Do not yield! Cultivate the spiritual strength to resist—all of your life, if need be.

Some are tortured by thoughts of covenants already forsaken and sometimes think of suicide. Suicide is no solution at all. Do not even think of it. The very fact that you are so disturbed marks you as a spiritually sensitive soul for whom there is great hope.

You may wonder why God does not seem to hear your pleading prayers and erase these temptations. When you know the gospel plan, you will understand that the conditions of our mortal probation require that we be left to choose. That test is the purpose of life. While these addictions may have devoured, for a time, your sense of morality or quenched the spirit within you, it is never too late.

You may not be able, simply by choice, to free yourself at once from unworthy feelings. You can choose to give up the immoral expression of them.

The suffering you endure from resisting or from leaving a life-style of addiction or perversion is not a hundredth part of that suffered by your parents, your spouse or your children, if you give up. Theirs is an innocent suffering because they love you. To keep resisting or to withdraw from such a life-style is an act of genuine unselfishness, a sacrifice you place on the altar of obedience. It will bring enormous spiritual rewards.

Remember that agency, that freedom of choice that you demanded when you forsook your covenants? That same agency can now be drawn upon to exert a great spiritual power of redemption.

The love we offer may be a tough love, but it is of the purest kind; and we have more to offer than our love. We can teach you of the cleansing power of repentance. If covenants have been broken, however hard it may be, they may be reinstated, and you can be forgiven. Even for abortion? Yes, even that!

Questions for Review:

1. What is the meaning of the word "atonement"? (Pres. Packer, "Atonement, Agency, Accountability")

2. How could agency have been fatal to us? (Pres. Packer, "Atonement, Agency, Accountability")

3. Someone says: "I have sinned so much that there is no hope for me anymore." What would be a correct gospel-based response to this person? (Pres. Packer, "The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness")

4. If complete repentance requires restitution, how can something intangible like somebody's virtue be restored or emotional pain be eliminated? (Pres. Packer, "The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness")

5. What are the purposes of a disciplinary council? (Elder Ballard, "A Chance to Start Over ...")

6. What are the primary objectives (i.e. expected results or outcomes) of a disciplinary council? (Elder Ballard, "A Chance to Start Over ...")

7. How should a Church leader treat a person who has been disfellowshipped or excommunicated?  (Elder Ballard, "A Chance to Start Over ...")

8. What is the danger posed by procrastinating repentance? (Elder Simpson, "Courts of Love")

9. What is our mission in mortality? (Elder Simpson, "Courts of Love")

This web page was published only as a support for classroom discussion.
For more information, contact Dr. Marcus Martins at: martinsm@byuh.edu