The Atonement

I'm grateful every day for the gift of the Atonement. I say it in my prayers every day and night. Before Christ died on the cross, He asked His Father to forgive the people who persecuted, betrayed and rejected Him, and the soldiers who whipped Him, spat on Him, and nailed Him to the cross "for they knew not what they do." We were given the Atonement so that we could start over and begin individually as a new person.

I'm not a perfect being like God is. No one on this Earth is perfect. We all make mistakes. But, it doesn't mean that God loves us less. I don't believe in that. He is merciful, loving, peaceful, kind, patient, forgiving, compassionate and listening. He knows us and our hearts. Making mistakes also doesn't define who we are. Only our hearts do.

While we make mistakes every day, shouldn't we continually strive to do what is right and good to all men despite the circumstances?

I've learned that lesson from my own experiences and mistakes. I sometimes wish I never made those mistakes because I feel guilty and ashamed of myself. But, I've learned that I'm still a child of God because He created me. He knows who I am and my heart. He knows everyone else's hearts as well. We're not perfect, but not less.