Welcome to the classic speeches podcast presented by BYU Speaches, bringing you treasured talks from 70 years of BYU Devotionals.

Be sure to check out our other podcasts by searching BYU speeches wherever you get your podcasts, or by visitingspeches.BYU.edu slash podcasts.

This devotional address entitled entitled The Atonement, was given on May 6, 1953, by Bruce R. McConkey, then a general authority 70 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I have been asked to talk to you about the subject,

the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ,

which I am pleased to do and hope that my remarks may be guided by the Spirit.

The atonement is the most transcendent doctrine of the gospel.

It's the most important single thing that has ever occurred in the history of the world or ever will occur.

It's the foundation upon which all other things rest.

And if it weren't for the atonement,

we could write the gospel off as a myth

and the purpose of all creation would be wholly frustrated.

I think this morning we might with profit stay close to the revelations. And I think I'll take a text from a sermon that Father Lehigh preached.

Redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah,

for he is full of grace and true.

Behold, he offerth himself a sacrifice for sin.

To answer the ends of the law, 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.

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth

that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God

save it be through the merits and mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth

down his life according to the flesh and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit

...