Vol. 8, No. 6, 1991

Articles on Mormonism

In the official LDS newspaper, Ezra Taft Benson, current prophet of the Mormon Church, explained the Atonement for Mankind's sins happened in the Garden of Gethsemane.

"What happened in that garden, said President Ezra Taft Benson, `was the greatest single act of love in recorded history.

"`It was in Gethsemane that Jesus took on Himself the sins of the world, in Gethsemane that His pain was equivalent to the cumulative burden of all men, in Gethsemane that He descended below all things so that all could repent and come to Him.'"

He continues by stating, "`That holy, unselfish act of voluntarily taking on Himself the sins of all other men is called the Atonement'" (LDS Church News, 1 June 1991, p. 14).

Thus, it is the LDS Church's position that the Atonement was brought about by Jesus suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane.

However, the Apostle Paul gives a different perspective.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:8-11).

One must choose who is to be believed.

Either the LDS Church which explains the atonement happened in the Garden of Gethsemane or the Bible which explains the atonement was brought to Man as a result of the death and resurrection of Jesus.