The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (frequently misnamed the “Mormon Church”) teaches that Jesus Christ and God are two distinct beings (see Mormon Godhead). This teaching is unique among Christian denominations, and causes the story of Abraham and Isaac to become much more powerful, because it symbolizes God sacrificing His only begotten Son, rather than God sacrificing Himself.

When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, they became imperfect, mortal beings, separated from God. They were already separated from God physically, and because they were now imperfect, when they died, they would be permanently separated from Him spiritually as well. Only a perfect being who had power over death could intervene on their behalf and ours. This was God’s plan from before the foundation of the world on which we now live.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called Mormons or Latter-day Saints), believe that Jesus Christ volunteered to be the one to come to earth on our behalf and pay an eternal price for our redemption. He became our Savior because he conquered death and used that power for our benefit. He saves us from physical death by the power of the Resurrection. He gained this power when He willingly gave His life for us on the cross, then took it up again three days later. Mormon doctrine teaches that this gift extends to all who have ever or will ever live upon the earth.

As far as our spiritual death is concerned, which occurs because we have sinned and are thus unworthy to re-enter God’s presence, Christ became our Redeemer. Because He was perfect, He could take upon Himself the sins of all mortality. He suffered for those sins in our behalf. He has redeemed us with His own blood. However, we can only qualify for this blessing upon the conditions that He has set. Faith on His name is absolutely required for us to be spiritually saved.  In addition, He has given us commandments to follow, and when we break those commandments, He has given us the process of repentance and forgiveness. When we follow His conditions with our whole heart, we can be cleansed from our sins and can be made perfect again through Him. Mormons believe this is an ongoing process. None of us will attain perfection in this life. We must constantly approach our Savior and Redeemer with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, doing our best to right the wrongs we have made and the striving to not make the same mistakes in the future.

Mormon prophets, including Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, have taught that the Atonement of Christ began in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here Christ began to take upon Himself the sins and infirmities of the world. Even He was astonished at the suffering which overtook Him when this process began. He had to bear this burden alone. He suffered the consequences of our sins, but He also suffered every sickness and pain possible in this life. He felt all the consequences of mortality, even those which do not result from sin. He did this in order to be able to succor us and comfort us. There is no trial we can be called upon to bear which He does not understand.

After the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ was crucified. Here, He completely paid the price for our sins.  There was a point, when He hung in agony on the cross, when His Father withdrew from Him.  Thus, Christ even knows how we feel, when we distance ourselves from Him, and when we sin to the point that we cannot feel His love and support.   When the ultimate price was paid, he said, “It is finished,” and He willingly gave His life. He was the Son of God. No one could take His life from Him. He knew when His Atonement was done, and completed it by giving His life for us. This was so He could gain victory over death and give that gift to each of us.

The “Mormon Church” has a unique understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because its view of the Atonement is so much broader than most other denominations’, Mormons do not use the symbol of the cross in their worship. They understand that the Atonement encompassed much more than just the event of Christ’s death on the cross. They also recognize that the joy of the Atonement was found in the empty tomb, after Christ was resurrected, not in His death. Mormons believe in every sense that Christ lives. He overcame the grave so that we might someday also be able to do just that.

Additional Resources:

Mormon View of Jesus Christ

Mormon Beliefs