Satisfying the Demands of Justice

Since my initial study on the Atonement of Christ I have inquired of the Lord to learn more about the demands of Justice and how they work in conjunction with Christ's sacrifice and how he was able to satisfy these demands and overcome them completely.

Before beginning, it is important to note and understand that there are laws of eternity that supersede God in his power and majesty, of which God is bound to, and he must keep perfectly, or he would cease to be God (See Alma 42:13). In such regards, God walks a razor thin edge to maintain his Godhood. In the words of Cleon Skousen in The Meaning of the Atonement "No other church dares preach this doctrine!" To teach that there are laws of eternity that go above and beyond God, that even he is bound to, and that he could fall from his Godhood if he did not obey them with exactness. God's observance and honor to these laws gives him his power (D&C 29: 36) and thus he remains God, for he honors these laws perfectly and always has.

The Law of Justice is one of these eternal laws. This law demands a payment and sacrifice to be made anytime a law of eternity is broken. Any disobedience or willful rebellion (sin) against a law of eternity sears and brands our mind and heart with intense pain, discomfort, and sorrow. This is the Law of Justice in action. This is true even if we have not heard or been taught those laws here in mortality. In the premortal realms our spirits were taught these laws and remember them even if our mortal minds do not. And even before our spirits were taught them, our intelligences were taught them. These laws have been branded into the very fiber of our beings and we are held accountable to them.

Now, as we have heeded and obeyed these divine laws, we have received additional light, knowledge, glory, and higher laws. With these higher blessings have come higher responsibilities over other intelligences, and spiritual element and matter. At the same time, over the eons any degree of disobedience to these higher laws has caused glory, light, intelligence, and responsibility to be removed from the individual. This has always been, and will always be the case. At any given moment of time in our existence we are always growing or diminishing in light.

As the eons have passed, many of us have done well in choosing obedience and light. Of us, there was one who has grown in obedience and light far beyond what all of us had achieved and was at the point ready to be crowned with glory and eternal lives to rule and reign over his own kingdom. He had reached the seventh heaven of perfection. This individual was ready to become as God, completely empowered to govern the intelligences to create, to change, to destroy and to have this power entirely for himself and no longer on loan from God, nor the intelligences, but given by the intelligences themselves. And so a grand council and commencement and bestowal of authority was called and God posed the age old question, to begin this commencement ceremony: "Whom, shall I send (Abr 3:27)?" Two individuals who had risen through the ranks in intelligence, light, and honor stepped forward to volunteer. The first was Jehovah. He was the firstborn of the Father and had been with him from the beginning. He was perfectly like the Father, and we all honored and respected him. The other candidate, was also a very suitable candidate: Lucifer. This was a man who had also grown in light and intelligence through the eons. He had become one of power and authority in the realms of God. Because of this, he had many followers. However, when he had stepped forward, he seemed to have misunderstood God's proposal and the whole purpose of this grand council, thinking that God was retiring from his position as God and was giving up his honor and power to another, and so he asked to have God's power for himself (Abr 3:27-28). He misunderstood the laws of eternity, thinking that the law of agency was a trivial thing and did not matter: "I will save them all, that not one soul will be lost. Therefore, give me thine honor (Moses 4:1-2)." On the contrary, Jehovah understood what God was asking, and stated that he did not want God's power "The glory and honor be thine forever." 'You keep your power, your throne, dominion, and principalities. They are yours. But if the time has come for us, thy children, to have our own power, throne, dominion, and principalities, then I will step up and enable thy children to partake of the glory that thou hast. If this is thy desire, thy work, and glory, then I will do thy will and make it happen.'

With such a response, God said: "I will choose the first (Abr 3:27)." And so it began. The plan was in motion for Jehovah to become as God and for us as well, in due time.

Now in order for the whole plan to work, and for Jehovah to be granted Godhood by God and the Intelligences, it was required of him to be tested one final time in mortality to see if he was truly ready to be given full power over the intelligences to be able to create his own spiritual entities. He would be tested, tempted and tried, just as man would be. But this time on his final sojourn on earth, he would be required to obey every law of eternity with exactness. He had to be without sin completely in order to overcome every law of eternity, including the Law of Justice. This was the final step to becoming as God is. He had to prove to all the intelligences that he was capable of such a responsibility. This proving ordeal was the way set in place whereby one could become as God. Why? Because the honor of governance over the intelligences is one only the intelligences can grant. To be honored by them, one must first honor them and the laws of eternity by which they are bound (D&C 29:36).

For some reason, that I do not know yet, Jehovah desired to come to this earth to satisfy the laws of eternity, including the Law of Justice for not just himself, but for all of God's spiritual children who were included in this plan. How great his love for us! Now this desire and plan was possible because of how the laws of eternity work. Once a law has been successfully lived and obeyed with exactness and there are no debts demanded to be paid by the Law of Justice for that law, then honor, light, intelligence is added to that individual and a higher law is given and they are no longer required to obey the lesser law. This continues onward until every law has been kept with exactness, and the only remaining law is that of Justice. Once all laws have been kept perfectly, and the individual has proven themselves, then the Law of Justice has no claim on that individual anymore. Honor is then given by the intelligences to that individual and power is given unto them to set in place their own rules of conduct, and laws to those who wish to reside in the presence of that being. This being the case, any wishing to reside in the presence of that individual, who is perfect, must walk up to every law, ordinance, and covenant perfectly that is set by that individual to avoid being delivered up unto the Law of Justice and cast out of the presence of he who is perfect. It seems light, obedience, and honor provide our intelligence and spirit a place of safety, rest, happiness, and joy. Being in the presence of one who is holy provides a safe haven environment for our soul, away from the loneliness, eternal torment, pain, misery, and darkness of the realms where the Law of Justice has full effect.

And so Jehovah came to this world. He walked perfectly and lived a life free from sin. And then he did the unimaginable, the unfathomable, the impossible: He performed an atoning sacrifice and gave himself up to experience the full weight of the Laws of Justice, including having the presence of the Father withdrawn from him for a brief period. To experience something like that in full measure, makes me shudder, and would make me want to cry out in extreme pain, terror, and sadness. Wow! He was willing to do that for me!? That crowning moment of experiencing darkness and hell to it's full extent completed the debt of the demands of Justice for sin and disobedience. With that key moment, it was finished. Jehovah had done it! And in that moment he became The Christ. He had conquered the unconquerable. He overcame all that would keep us from being in God's presence and now his presence as well. Then as a final expression of love, he opened the gates of death with the Key of Resurrection allowing our spirits to be reunited with our bodies so that we could truly become like God.

With the demands of justice now paid in full, the intelligences deemed Jehovah worthy of godhood and honored him by allowing him to have command and dominion over the intelligences, and all spiritual element and matter. He was now authorized by the intelligences to set in place his own laws, ordinances and covenants consistent with the higher laws for his debtors to now make payment to. As part of this new bestowal of power, and contract if those now under Christ's debt walked up to every law, ordinance, and covenant they made with him, then they would be free from all debts and indebted to no man or law. However, if they failed and fell short in any measure whether big or small then justice would require that they suffer, and suffer even as Christ did (D&C 19:1-19). Christ's mercy would only apply to them if they met all his terms and conditions.

This plan was laid out in the premortal realm and we agreed to the terms and conditions set forth. Our acceptance to these terms and agreements and our choosing to cast our lot with Jehovah and follow him granted us the right to be born on this earth and experience mortality ourselves. As we came to this earth the Lord established some essential laws for our well being and to enable other spirits to come to this earth. The law was given to multiply and replenish the earth. This law was given to all living creatures and to those things which had intelligence (Moses 2). Overtime additional laws were given. One of the first was the Law of Obedience and Sacrifice. This was given to Adam as the symbol and payment necessary to repent of ones sins. This law required that the firstlings of the flock without blemish were to be offered up upon an altar unto the Lord. Other laws were then given: the Law of the Gospel, the Law of Chastity, the Law of Consecration, among others. The Law of the Gospel provided means whereby one might receive a forgiveness of sin. Part of this required that Adam and his seed to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and believe that he would be their Savior and save them from their sins as well as the demands of Justice. Additionally, the individual was then to enter the waters of baptism and be immersed in the water as a sign and covenant before God that they were willing to follow Christ and bear his name upon their hearts. To help them accomplish this covenant, the Lord bestowed the Gift of the Holy Ghost upon them. These things were given unto Adam, and even he was baptized (see Moses 6:52-62). The Law of Chastity required that as they reproduced and brought offspring into the world, they kept the family unit alive and at the heart of reproduction. The Law of Consecration required that they had all things in common one with another to avoid pride from overcoming them.

When Christ came to the earth and performed the Atonement for mankind, he met the demands of justice perfectly by suffering spiritually for those who would inherit the Celestial kingdom, the Terrestrial kingdom, and lastly those who would inherit the Telestial kingdom. He did this in 3 phases in the garden. But to be complete he also had to suffer the demands of justice upon the flesh and experience the pains of mortal law even unto death. But prior to dying, he descended below all things and experienced the pains and spiritual suffering of those who were damned and cast out of the Father's presence as naked intelligences into outer darkness. This forth and final phase and pain he went through qualified him to say that he 'descended below all things.' For he truly did.

At this point, the Lord declared that the altar sacrifices made by man and the laws given to Moses were now fulfilled. Although, keeping the ordinance of baptism as a requisite for entering the kingdom of God, the Lord established a new law of sacrifice and payment to repent: That of a broken heart and contrite spirit (see 3 Ne 9: 20). This new law and sacrifice is in force today, and is required of all of God's children if they wish to to enter God's presence and be freed from the demands of justice.

To be a Seer

Lately I've been reading the new Saints book The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints put out. What a fascinating read. I've been learning so much about the history of the church that I never knew.

One of the most fascinating things I have been learning is how revelation is received and how the interpreters and seer stones work and are used.

First off, not everyone can be a seer. It is a divine calling and to see as a seer is a gift from God. Throughout history there have been those who have had this divine gift and calling.

Here is what I've gathered about how the interprets work. Essentially, they are like glasses that you put on. Although different from normal glasses, where the glass is transparent, the Urim and Thummim were sometimes composed of opaque onyx stones (like the ones used by the high priest in the days of Moses, see Ex 28:9-12, 30). Other Urim and Thummims could have been clear like crystal. I am not sure what they looked like entirely, except for the fact the ones that Aaron had were put in gold frames, while the ones the Brother of Jared had were put in silver frames (see JSH 1:1-35).

The definition of onyx stones according to minerals.net is as follows:

"Onyx is a gemstone whose description can have several connotations. Its most accepted gemstone definition describes a solid black Chalcedony, or a banded or layered black and white Chalcedony. The term Onyx is occasionally used to described any engraved stone with a solid color base, or it may describe any banded gemstone with parallel banding. In its solid black form, Onyx is the most traditional black gemstone."


These opaque rocks in frames are what the Urim and Thummim consisted of.  Here are 2 pictures of onyx stones. The one of the left are Sardonyx (red onyx) stones from Wikipedia, and the one in the middle is a Black Onyx stone from cooksongold.com. The last image is one of the seer stones that Joseph had and used (image from Wikipedia).

At first thought, one would look at these stones and ask how can anyone see anything through an opaque stone? That's just it though, when it comes to seer stones you don't use your natural eyes to see anything. Essentially, these stones act as a portal, or gateway to the spiritual realm from which one peers with spiritual eyes into that realm and sees things as they really are, were, and are to come. Truth is made manifest and is not bound by time.

When Joseph Smith first got the plates he hid them in a hollow log for several days before bringing them home. When one of his family members asked about the plates and if they were safe, Joseph peered into the Urim and Thummim and saw them safe in the log, even though he was nowhere near them. 

Then as he translated the plates he switched between the Urim and Thummim and the seer stone he had. Working much like the Liahona did, both the ancient word and the English word would appear and stay visible until copied down correctly then they would disappear and the next set of words would appear. In this fashion, Joseph didn't even need the plates open in front of him. Sometimes they sat on the table in front of him covered by a cloth while he translated. And then when he used the seer stone, which he placed in a hat to block out vision from his mortal eyes, the words would appear in the same fashion. 

Overtime, as Joseph became more accustomed to the language of the plates and the spiritual realm, his reliance on earthly instruments lessened and he could translate the plates, without the aid of before mentioned items.

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Switching gears to discuss the other avenues of being a seer, the revelations Joseph received did not all come at once, but rather here a little, and there a little. Line upon line, over time. Joseph had to prepare himself spiritually to receive the mind and will of the Lord. People would often come to him with questions or problems they were facing and he would turn to the Lord for answers, much like ancient prophets. The Lord would then speak to him and through him where a scribe would then record the heavenly message.

Many doctrinal truths that we have now, came while he was studying the scriptures and pondering over them many a times with another individual. Baptism for the Dead, the 3 degrees of Glory, the spirit world, the premortal world, etc. All of these truths came precept upon precept as the dews from heaven distill.

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Being a Seer is not an easy task, and many times when Joseph made mistakes, his ability to translate or receive revelation was removed. Moroni came and took the Urim and Thummim from Joseph while Martin Harris was carrying the 116 pages to his family (D&C 10:1), and then took the plates from Joseph upon Martins return to Joseph after Martin had lost the 116 pages (which in our Book of Mormon copy is equivalent to 145 pages with each printers page being the equivalent of 1.25 pages in our current edition).

Many a times the Lord warned Joseph that his gift would be taken from him and given to another if he did not shape up. Yet, even when Joseph made mistakes, the Lord was patient and merciful towards him and gave him many second chances, including 4 chances to receive the plates in the first place.


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The Urim and Thummim (or Lights and Perfections as they are known in Hebrew) that Joseph had were the same ones given to the Brother of Jared by the Lord upon the mount (see Ether 3:21-28 and D&C 17:1). There are other Urim and Thummims that have been given by the Lord and used by other seers, such as the one the Lord gave unto Abraham in the Ur of the Chaldees (see Abr 3:1-4).

Lastly we learn that God resides in a sphere that is a great Urim and Thummim (D&C 130:6–11), and in translation of Book of Revelations (Rev 2:17) we learn that this earth in its celestial condition will one day be a great Urim and Thummim, and many within that kingdom will have their own Urim and Thummim with their new name written thereon (similar with how the 2 onyx stones that Aaron had as his Urim and Thummim had the 6 of the 12 tribes written on each stone).

Secrets Beyond the Veil

Oftentimes when we discus the plan of salvation and the grand council in heaven we mention it briefly then continue on. However, what we fail to recognize is how significant this council is on a daily basis.

The Grand council in Heaven was not a one and done event. It did not just happen once and then everything was peachy king. Rather instead it is something that happens daily. Heaven is very organized and very orderly. Looking at how God runs his kingdom here on the earth reveals much about how it is organized and run in the celestial realm.

First off, it is not an idle place. There is much going on and every angel has assignments, stewardship, and opportunities for growth and development. The Lord has his legions organized very orderly. The spirits yet unborn and those who have already gone through this life are each given stewardship and ministering assignments for their siblings currently in this temporary realm of darkness--where a veil of remembrance is placed over each spirit preventing us from seeing or remembering all aspects of life outside the veil. The Lord allows this veil to become thin when have sufficiently sought him and prepared ourselves to be in that holy place. Currently our temporal bodies of dust are not holy enough to be back in that sphere. It is only through diligent and carefully preparation that we are permitted to have our bodies changed to behold visitations from the celestial realm, or carried away in the spirit to those realms, otherwise our frames would quake and cause us to fall to the ground with our souls on fire from the quickening power of the spirit if we are not prepared (See Moses, Elijah, Mary, Peter, James, John, Mahonri Moriancumer, Alma the Younger, King Lamoni, Lamoni's wife, Lamoni's father, and Joseph Smith for examples of prepared and unprepared individuals).

Continuing, those spirits who were especially obedient to each commandment given, the Lord entrusted them with greater responsibility and leadership. These leaders received counsel and direction from leaders above them all the way up to the 12 the Lord had called to preside over his affairs in the celestial realms. When it came time for those leaders to come to the earth, is it any wonder that they were called at a young age to be leaders once again on the earth (See Samuel, Daniel, David, Mormon, Moroni, Joseph Smith and others). Our faithfulness and diligent to the commandments in the celestial realms allowed us to be born under the circumstances we were born into on this earth.

Now concerning our interaction with the heavens: We pray to God, the Father. Now whether those prayers that are uttered ascend straight to him or whether they are relayed via the priesthood order he has set up, I do not know. Yet, I believe that although God knows and hears are prayers directly, to me it makes sense that those angels who have stewardship over us here have the responsibility to relay those messages to the leaders over them who relay them higher up all the way to God, who then gives instruction how to go about answering the said prayer back down through the priesthood chain of command. This way each prayer is answered by God, but through his servants. As the answer comes all the way down to the angel nearest to the veil, that angel will then proceed to either give us an answer spirit to spirit through the power of the Holy Ghost (who's stewardship deals directly with all those spirits in this temporary world). Now that answer may come via a still small voice to our mind and heart giving us an answer to our prayer, it may come via the voice of one of the Lord's anointed servants in a formal or informal setting, it may come by way of a friend, family member, or even via a complete stranger. Whoever is most intune to the whisperings of the spirit is given assignment to speak and share those messages with others or to the specific individual that needs to hear them. The Lord uses many resources and avenues to answer our prayers. Thus ours is the responsibility to be prepared to listen to and head the answer when it comes, whatever way it comes.

Jumping back to the celestial realms lets discuss a few more things, you may have wondered about. The first is Satan's role in the plan and how it is he is able to tempt and try us, yet that he cannot tempt us or try us above our ability to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). This thought goes back to the council in heaven and draws the conclusion that heavenly councils occur on a frequent basis and that Satan is allowed to attend to a portion of that council meeting. This thought comes from Job 1:6-12:

6 ¶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord."

This dialouge between Satan and the Lord helps me better understand what Paul was talking about in his letter to the Corinthians. Satan can't tempt us beyond our ability to bear because God won't allow him. Satan is constantly trying to barter our souls with God. Now God knows what we can handle and bear at one time and only allows Satan to tempt us to that level. Satan does not cross his bounds for he cannot, God will not allow him to do so. So after Satan meets with the Lord, the Lord then continues his council meeting with his leaders and instructs them to warn his children of impending danger both physical and spiritual. This warning comes to us directly through the spirit from the Lord, and often by a second source through one of his chosen servants and sometimes even directly with this verbiage "Satan desires to have thee," or "Repent or you will be destroyed" (Meaning that if we don't, a destroying angel will end our life, or Satan's minions are allowed to cause destruction, since the wicked usually destroy themselves--as at that point they have given themselves to Satan and are all his followers, thus he has control over them and they heed him). Ours is the freedom to choose how we will act, and whether we will heed the warning and choose light, or whether we will succumb to the darkness of the Evil One. Our agency is not obstructed in any manner, yet Satan tempting us is not a one and done thing either else we would cease to grow, for there is no growth in the comfort zone. Challenges and obstacles arise as we are ready to face them. When the Lord sees it fit for us to be stretched and grow to our next level in holiness or darkness (depending on what we choose) he has this council or conversation with Satan just as he did with Job.

This makes total sense to me and helps unravel the mystery of nitty gritties of the Plan of Salvation and how Satan is very much a part of this Plan. If none had fallen from the presence of God, then there would be none to tempt us and the Plan of Salvation would be void. According to Father Lehi, if there was not opposition to light there would be no way for us to choose good and grow, for there would not be a choice. The law of agency is one that supersedes God and goes all the way back to bare intelligences. Light and Darkness are elements of the universe that have existed and always will exist. There are laws of the universe that even God has to obey or else he would cease to be God. Obedience to divine law invites greater light to cling unto us (or differently stated, as we obey divine law we associate and connect ourselves with greater light). Disobedience to divine law distances us from light and causes darkness to be our ally. Adam would never have fallen and left the garden if Satan had not tempted him. There was no other way out of the garden once Adam was placed therein. Falling was part of the plan. It had to happen. Adam wasn't forced to fall, but in a way he was because there was no other way to leave the garden, it was not in the plan, but he had to come to that conclusion and choose to follow Satan (This is a concept that still sits uneasy with me, and is hard to come to terms with, the fact that God left Adam with only one way out and that there was no other way. Maybe more revelation about this topic will come later down the road that clarifies this better). Satan was part of the plan. Satan may have chosen to rebel in that first grand council, but when he did only a portion of his power was striped from him. He possessed power and priesthoods while Adam was in the Garden, and he still does today, because God allows it to be so so that Satan can play his role in the Plan (This power will be removed once the plan is completed in it's entirety and Satan will cast into the darkness). Satan was allowed to tempt Adam, for God allowed him to do so, for Adam had got to the point where he was ready to grow and stretch. Sometimes we have to fall before we can grow or climb higher. Falling and failing is part of the Plan. In a way it could be said that this is a plan of falling, a plan of mistakes and failures, a plan of temptations, sorrows, pains, and remorse, otherwise we could never fully appreciate the Heavenly realms beyond this life and the beauties therein.

Hopefully these thoughts shed some light on the heavenly realms, the order established there, how prayers ascend heavenwards (How they actually work I don't know, but that is a mystery to be solved when I am ready to receive it) and are answered, the councils in heaven, and Satan's role in our progression and how it is that he can tempt us and the degree to which he is allowed to tempt us.

The Final Hours of the Savior's Life

The following is from a 2 year study I did on the Atonement while a missionary in England. (It's a little long, so brace yourself for some great learning :) ).

From the Upper Room to Mount Olivet

Once having concluded with prayer and a hymn, Christ and the eleven apostles left the upper room of the last supper, and went forth from the city. Passing through the open city gates they crossed over the Cedron brook and ascended up the Mount of Olives to an olive orchard known as Gethsemane. This was a familiar place that Christ, and sometimes the apostles with him, came to when seeking rest and solitude from the multitudes.

Christ bade 8 of the apostles (Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Simon, and Judas) to remain at the entrance to the garden with these instructions:

"Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder" (Matt 26:36).

"Sit ye here, while I shall pray" (Mark 14:32).

"Pray that ye enter not into temptation" (Luke 22:40).

Prior to this instruction, all of the apostles had "begun to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy, and to complain in their hearts, wondering if this be the Messiah" (Mark 14:36, JST).

Christ, knowing the thoughts and intents of their hearts, bade and left the 8 with those instructions, while beckoning for his 3 closest disciples (Peter, James, and John) to continue further with him into the garden.

At the point in which Christ had to go on alone he instructed these disciples thus:

"My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here and watch (Mark 14:38, JST).

"My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me" (Matt 26:38).

"Pray that ye enter not into temptation" (Luke 22:40).

Then carrying on, forlorn of mortal companions, Christ retired the distance of a stones cast, collapsed onto the ground, and began the Atonement for mankind.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ begins

Phase 1: Suffering for those of a Celestial Nature (Whether this, the hardest suffering was performed first or last or last I do not know. To me it makes sense that he would do this first, so that he had strength to perform the other phases as they were less intense than this one).

Having retired the distance, aforementioned, Christ fell to the ground, face down, and cried out in prayer to Heavenly Father:

"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matt 26:39).

"Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. Let this hour pass from before me" (Mark 14:35-36).

"Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

From this point on we know that two things occurred while Christ suffered: 1. An angel, believed to be Michael the archangel, came and strengthened Christ, and 2. Christ bled great drops of blood from every pore. 

However, because of the differences in the records, and opinions of scholars, let it be noted that the phase and reasoning of the angel which then appeared unto Christ is not known in its entirety. Nor is the phase in which Christ bled from every pore completely known. The angel could have appeared in the first phase, strengthening him to begin and carry out the Atonement, such as Cleon Skousen presents in 'The meaning of the Atonement.' The angel could have appeared at any point in any of the 3 phases after the Atonement had already begun, providing strength for Christ to continue in carrying out the Atonement. Or, the angel could have appeared in the 3rd phase, as James E. Talmage suggests in 'Jesus the Christ,' providing the strength for Christ to complete his sufferings in the garden (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp 566-568).

The moment when Christ began to sweat great drops of blood and bleed from every pore is unknown as well. The blood could have been spilt in the first phase soon after Christ's prayers had begun. It could have been spilt in each of the 3 phases in the garden. Or it could have just been spilt in the 3rd phase once the pains had escalated to such an extent that not even the capillaries in his skin could stop the blood from gushing forth. (However, if each phase was directed toward a specific degree of glory as the idea has been impressed upon my mind, then it would make sense that either blood was spilt in each phase for each of the three levels, or at least for sure in the phase dealing with those of a Celestial nature. For they are the ones who access the Atonement the most and repent of their sins, while those of a Telestial nature would access it very little and choose to suffer for their own sins rather than accept Christs payment for them. For if they did, then they would qualify for a higher degree of glory. To me it makes sense to have the angel come in the 3rd and final stage providing the strength and encouragement needed to complete his sufferings in the garden--something his earthly companions failed to do, because of how tired they were).

"And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and he sweat as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44, JST).

Christ's suffering, pain, and anguish of body and soul were so great that his physical form could not hold back the pain he was in. The capillaries under his skin could contain his blood no longer. They burst, sending his blood through every pore in his body, drenching and staining his garments until they gleamed as scarlet and were red like crimson.

Little is known or stated about the timing and duration of each of these two events, other than they happened.

After a certain duration of time, Christ came back to his 3 closest disciples, only to find them overcome by sleep.

It makes sense that Christ would return to his disciples after each phase. He needed strength to continue onwards, and he was concerned about them. For while he was away, it would have been very easy for Satan to overpower them in this dark time and most vulnerable of nights. However, the disciples were too tired to offer much encouragement and strength, and so God sent an angel to strengthen Christ to finish the Atonement.

Having come back to his disciples this first time, Christ awoke them from their slumber, and spoke these words unto Peter:

"What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (and from the footnote: 'Are you so powerless that you could not stay awake with me?') "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt 26:40-41).

"Simon, sleepest thou? Couldst not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, the the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:37-38).

Phase 2: Suffering for those of a Terrestrial Nature

Once awake, the 3 disciples watched as Christ left them once again and retired the necessary distance. Christ continued praying with these words:

"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matt 26:39).

"Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt" (Mark 14:35-36).

"Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

"O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done" (Matt 26:42).

Again, after this second duration of time, and phase of the Atonement, Christ returned to his 3 choice disciples only to find them asleep yet again. These disciples must have been very tired, for when Christ came back to them this second time, they were fast asleep because "their eyes were heavy" (Matt 26:43, Mark 14:40). Being awoken again by Christ, they realized that they had fallen asleep, became ashamed or embarrassed and knew not what to say. Whether counsel or reproof was given, again I do not know.

Phase 3: Suffering for those of a Telestial Nature

Retiring for the 3rd and final time in the garden, Christ knelt down and prayed and plead again to his Father that the hour might pass from before him. By this time Christ was entirely spent of energy. He couldn't do it. It was too hard, and so God sent an angel to strengthen him.

In each of these 3 symbolic knocks at the gates of heaven, Christ rent the veil for each group individually to transcend to the next level. Thus enabling them to move from one heaven to the next until they had reached the 7th heaven and obtained perfection that he was about to obtain in his final descent upon the cross (where he would descend to the very beginnings of the realm of outer darkness from whence he came).

After suffering through this 3rd and final phase in the garden, Christ rose and came back to his sleeping disciples for his last few mortal moments with them before being betrayed into the hands of wicked men.

As he approached his disciples, he found them "sleeping for sorrow" (Luke 22:45). He spake unto them thus:

"Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Matt 26:45).

"Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Mark 14:41).

After some period of time, and when Judas was to be seen in the distance, Christ awoke his disciples with these words:
"Why sleep ye? Rise and Pray, lest ye enter into temptation" (Luke 22:46).
"Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me" (Matt 26:46).
"Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand" (Mark 14:42).

The Son of Man is betrayed
Phase 4:
Standing patiently with the eleven apostles, Christ awaited the arrival of Judas Iscariot. A multitude consisting of roman soldiers, and officers from the chief priests, scribes, pharisees, and elders could be seen with torches, lanterns, and weapons following Judas up the mountain to where Christ awaited with the eleven. As this band of wicked men came near unto where Christ and the eleven stood, Judas stepped forward and with the predetermined sign of identification, and solemn mockery greeted his former master thus:
"Hail, master" (Matt 26:49).
"Master, master" (Mark 14:45).

He then proceeded to mock Christ with the salutation of a kiss, socially reserved as a sign of deep respect and salutations of a dear friend, even though his intentions towards Christ at this moment were nothing worthy of this notion. Calling out Judas on his actions of mockery and false appearance, Christ addressed his friend thus:
"Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss" (Luke 22:48).

Then with the same honorable and loving title which Christ had spoken unto the eleven apostles, he spoke unto this man these final words:
"Friend, wherefore art thou come?" (Matt 26:50).

Even in the moment of his betrayal, Christ still loved Judas, and he gave him one last chance to choose which master he would serve. As Judas was backed up to the wall of faith, face to face with his Savior, he chose riches, fame, and glory over his former master, and by so doing in delivering Christ over to these men, he gave himself over to Satan and became a son of Perdition.

As Judas sunk back into the crowd, no one else moved. This man who had stirred up their congregations, taken their followers, and overthrown their doctrine was now standing right in front of them, unarmed, but with the dignity of a god, for he was one. They were terrified of him, and what he was capable of doing, for they did not understand him nor his power.

Breaking the frozen silence, and acting as one with authority, Christ stepped forward. He was in charge, and everyone there knew it.
"Whom seek ye?" (John 18:4).
They muttered a reply:
"Jesus of Nazareth" (John 18:5).
To which Christ boldly responded with no fear of what would follow:
"I am he" (John 18:5).

With a voice that pierced them to the very center, and caused them to tremble under his presence, the crowd "pressed backward." Many fell to the ground with fright. Christ stood erect. These men could not take him captive, unless he willed it to be so. Even with all the power that Satan had been given, and even with his choicest servants, they had no power over Christ. Darkness cannot stand light. It flees from it's presence. And thus as the Light of the World stood before these wicked men of darkness, all they could do was cower and tremble, and so Christ questioned their appearance again, while also giving them a chance to exercise their agency and not go forward with their wicked intentions:
"Whom seek ye?" (John 18:7).
Choosing darkness as their master, they responded:
"Jesus of Nazareth" (John 18:7).
Acknowledging their choice, and submitting to the will of the Father, Christ boldly responded:
"I have told you that I am he: If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way" (John 18:8).

Christ made it known that he was willing to be taken captive, but made it clear that only he was to be taken, and they were to leave the other apostles alone. As nearly newborn babes in the gospel, the apostle's time for trials and persecutions was not yet at hand. Their testimonies of Christ needed to be much stronger and full of conviction before they could go through the fires of the adversary and endure them as complete faithful disciples of Christ (as is evident from Peter's denials of Christ that night).

Gathering their strength and courage about them, and compelled by the prince of darkness, the officers rose to their feet and stepped forward to seize Christ.

Beginning to realize the peril of the situation one of the disciples poised Christ with this inquiry:
"Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" (Luke 22:49).
Not waiting for a response, Peter drew his sword and smote off the right ear of the high priest's servant, Malchus.

With words of authoritative command, Christ ordered the advancing officers to halt:
"Suffer ye thus far" (Luke 22:51).
Then stepping forward, Christ reached down to where Malchus was holding his head and touched where his ear was moments before. As one of his last mortal miracles he restored Malchus' ear, completely healing it to it's proper state. Then turning to Peter, Christ rebuked him for his rashness:
"Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (John 18:11).
"Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" (Matt 26:52-54).

Then turning back towards the officers Christ called them out on their illegal actions:
"Are ye come out as a against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Matt 26:55-56).
"Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled" (Mark 14:48-49).
"Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 22:52-53).

Setting aside Christ's rebuke, the officers pressed forward and seized Christ, binding him with strong cords. As the disciples realized that resistance was pointless, and that Christ was willing to be taken captive, they forsook him and fled. The band of officers then proceeded to take Christ to the palace of Annias, Father-in-law to Caiaphas, the high priest.

The Jewish Trial
Phase 5:
The duration and proceedings of events which took place at the palace of Annais are darkened from public view because of the lack of records recorded. Instead we jump to the next trial, to the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest.

Still bound as a prisoner, the captive Christ was taken to the palace of the high priest, where sat waiting the chief priests, scribes and elders in an illegal meeting of the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas then came forward to Christ and began to cross-examine him concerning his disciples and doctrine. Calling out the council and high priest in their illegal actions Christ spake unto them thus:
"I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, wither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I have said nothing. Why askest thou me? Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said" (John 18:20-21).

Displeased with Christ's response, an officer acting out as a representative of the Sanhedrin's feelings, slapped Christ across the face and tried to silence him with this rebuke:
"Answerest thou the high priest so?" (John 18:22).

To which Christ responded with godlike gentleness:
"If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?" (John 18:23).

Christ was perfect in every sense of the word. These men couldn't pin anything on him. And so from that time forth "the chief priests, the elders, and all [72 members of the Sanhedrin, or the 23 of] the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death" (Mark 14:55).

However, to condemn someone to death, and deal with one such accused of capital punishment, required that the trial be performed in the hall Gazith, begun in the morning after the morning sacrifice, never on the eve of the Sabbath or any other festival, nor begun on a friday or any day before a holiday. In such trials of capital punishment, only the prosecutors who were the witnesses of the crime could witness against the accused, unless the accused bore witness against himself, in which 2 other witnesses bore similar testimony of the accused words from their own memory. Furthermore, the accused was innocent until proven guilty.

Even though all of these men knew the law, they set it aside and sought for as many false witnesses against Christ as they could find. Unfortunately for them, they could find none. With frustrations growing they were finally able to pin down 2 individuals with similar statements against Christ:
"This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days" (Matt 26:61).
"We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands" (Mark 14:58).

Still though, even though these two witnesses statements did not line up entirely, as law required, it was enough for the Sanhedrin to falsely condemn Christ on the charge of sedition, rebellion, and treason. "Making him out to be a dangerous disturber of the nations peace, an assailant of established institutions, and consequently an inciter of opposition against the vassal autonomy of the Jewish nation, and the supreme dominion of Rome" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 579).

Caiaphas arose confidently after both witnesses had spoken, and approached Christ with an evil victorious demeanour:
"Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee?" (Matt 26:62; Mark 14:60).

Christ held his silence, and still answered nothing. Nothing of consistency or accuracy had been stated and thus there was nothing for Christ to respond to.

Angered at Christ's justly silence, Caiaphas demanded Christ under oath and against Christ's rights during the trial, to answer and consequently bear witness against himself:
"I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God" (Matt 26:63).
"Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" (Mark 14:61).

To which Christ responded with truth and boldness:
"Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matt 26:64).
"I am: and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62).

These words struck deep chords into the hearts of the Sanhedrin. This man, whom they hated so much, had just spoken the very words which truth had required of him, but which words they had not wanted to hear. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, was the Christ, the very Son of God who had been prophesied by prophets in all dispensations to come into the world to save the world. This man, who had overthrown their money tables, denounced their wickedness, overruled their power and authority with his own, and had set forth the higher law of living, was their long awaited King and Messiah.

Caiaphas couldn't believe what he had just heard, and so in the most striking expression of grief and horror, he rent his clothes and cried out to the council:
"He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye?" (Matt 26:65-66).
"What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye?" (Mark 14:63-64).

The council cried out:
"He is guilty and worthy of death" (JST Matt 26:66).
"And they all condemned him to be guilty of death" (Mark 14:64).

Christ stood still, now being convicted of the most grievance and heinous offense known under jewish law: that of blasphemy! Christ's own witness against himself was enough for the council to condemn him. No further witnesses were needed, they had found an adequate reason to deem him worthy of death--which was their ultimate desire.

They set aside the law: the need for a second witness other than Christ; a follow up trial the next day; order in casting votes; not being tried before enemies; a friend in trial; and pronouncing capital punishment in a completely private trial at nighttime.

With hatred darkening their faces, the assembly began to spit on him and in his face. They then blindfolded him and began to smite him and strike him with the palms of their hands across his face while jeering the taunts:
"Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee?" (Matt 26:68).
"Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" (Luke 22:64).

Making a mockery of the Son of God, these men carried on striking and smiting him, all the while speaking many more blasphemous jibes. Even to include at one point plucking the hair from off his face as the worst offense of extreme disrespect one individual could show another in their culture.

After having endured this trial of mockery and ridicule, and the cock having crowed twice, Christ was taken to the Hall Gazith, or the Hall of Hewn Stones, where condemnation by law could be pronounced. The proceedings of the previous trial were most likely reviewed by the chief priests, elders, scribes and all of the council to make it appear as if they were doing both of these trials legally.

Although it was morning, the morning sacrifice had not yet been offered, so technically no trial by law could convene and sentence be pronounced. Furthermore, the judges were to fast and pray between the two trials and consider in every possible way that it was impossible for the convicted to be innocent. (However, this was not the desire of the chief priests, nor council, and so no head was given to these rules). Additionally, further witnesses were to be examined as well in the second trial.

In these early hours of dawn (after these trials having taken the majority of the night), the council reviewed the previous proceedings, and questioned Christ further:
"Art thou the Christ? Tell us" (Luke 22:67).

But Christ spake unto them:
"If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter shall the Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of god" (Luke 22:67-69).

"Then said they all, 'Art thou then the Son of God?' And he said unto them, 'Ye say that I am.' And they said, ' What need we any further witness? For we ourselves have  heard of his own mouth'" (Luke 22:70-71).

They had their evidence, and they all "took counsel against Jesus to put him to death" (Matt 27:1). They then bound Christ and took him to the judgement hall of Pontius Pilate.

Christ's first appearance before Pilate
Phase 6:

The whole council, all eager for the glory of taking part in this wickedness, marched Christ to the Hall of Judgment. Being careful not to enter the hall themselves, for fear of becoming unclean themselves (as if they weren't already) and becoming defiled by the connection of the Hall of Judgment with that of a house of a gentile and the possibility of leavened bread being present, they summoned Pilate and tried to give Christ over to him.

Pilate wouldn't take him, without first knowing why the crowd was bothering him at such an early hour. Bothered at their appearance, he questioned them:
"What accusation bring ye against this man?" (John 18:29).

Taken aback, and not prepared for Pilate's questioning of their prisoner, while thinking: 'surely this man must know Jesus. Who doesn't?' Someone from the crowd gave a rash response:
"If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee" (John 18:30).
To which Pilate responded probably in the same tone, and with some annoyance:
"Take ye him, and judge him according to your law;" 'don't trouble me with the matter' (John 18:31) (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp 586-587).

With fear that they were about to be dismissed and have to kill Christ themselves by stoning, the crowd called out:
"It is not lawful for us to put any man to death" (John 18:31) (as if the law mattered to them at this point).

This gave them some stall-time for Pilate to reconsider their cause. For had he dismissed them without giving them the authority to pronounce and carry out capital sentences they could not have killed Christ legally. Furthermore, they did not want to just stone Christ, as the law required for blasphemers, and kill him as an ordinary man, they wanted him to experience the worst possible death they could inflict on him, that of Roman capital punishment.

"And they began to accuse him, saying, 'We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King'" (Luke 23:2).

Reverting back to what they had originally accused Christ of, but not what they had condemned him of, the Sanhedrin accused Christ of high treason, which was the gravest offense under Roman law. Blasphemy, which was the greatest offense known in their law, would have meant nothing to the pagan Roman rulers, and thus the accusation of high treason was made instead.

But to them which accused him, Christ spake nothing, and neither would he until they stood before him at the judgement bar. Pilate noticed Christ's silent demeanor and said unto him:
"Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?" (Matt 27:13-14).
Again, Christ said nothing, which caused Pilate to marvel greatly (Mark 15:4-5).  Impressed with Christ's demeanor, and curious to learn more about the man, while also contemplating the words of accusation against him, Pilate had Christ brought into the judgement hall to question him further away from the angry mob.

"Art thou the King of the Jews?" Pilate questioned. To which "Jesus answered him, 'sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?" (John 18:33-34).
"'Am I a jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: What hast thou done?'
"Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.'
"Pilate therefore said unto him, 'Art thou a king then?'" (John 18:35-37).
To which Christ responded with open boldness:
"I am, even as thou sayest" (Mark 14:2).
"Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice" (John 18:37).

It was now apparent to Pilate that this man, accused of high treason, was of no threat whatsoever to him or the people. There was no need for further questioning. However, Christ's last few statements ignited curiosity into Pilate. While beginning to ponder about who this man was, and what it was that he taught the people, he voiced outloud one of his thoughts:
"What is truth?" (John 18:38).

The question was more of an introspective rhetorical question, rather than one in which a response was desired. Leaving the Hall of Judgement, Pilate "went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, 'I find in him no fault at all'" (John 18:38).
"I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:4).

Enraged with his verdict of truth, the chief priests, elders, and scribes all began to accuse him and cry out against him:
"He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place" (Luke 23:5).

Hearing of Galilee, Pilate questioned whether Christ was of Galilee. Upon learning that Christ indeed was from thence, Pilate had him sent to Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. With this course of action, Pilate had successfully evaded condemning an innocent man, just to satisfy the thirst of an angry mob. Unfortunately for Pilate however, Christ would be back, and then Pilate would be forced to determine the fate of this king.

Christ before Herod
Phase 7:

Seeing Christ brought before him made Herod very pleased. Herod had heard about all of the miracles performed by Christ throughout all of Judea and had the high hopes of seeing one of these miracles performed himself. However, such a act was not going to be performed just to satisfy the curiosity of a man.

Disappointed, Herod carried on with the trial and began to examine Christ. He questioned him with many words, but Christ answered him nothing. Christ stood in kingly silence, even while the chief priests and scribes 'vehemently accused him' (Luke 23:10).

Getting nothing out of this man, Herod decided to play to the mobs desires and made a mockery of the King of kings:
"Herod with his men of war set him at naught, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe" (Luke 23:11).

But unable to find any fault in him, and unable to condemn him, he sent him back to Pilate for judgement.
"And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves" (Luke 23:12).

Christ before Pontius Pilate the 2nd time
Phase 8:

Once Christ was brought back to Pilate, Pilate decided to move forward with an action to release Christ from trial and "called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people," and spake unto them these words of verdict:
"Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him" (Luke 21:13-16).

Pilate knew that the charges of treason and sedition were false, and were just to get an audience with him, and were made against Christ because of envy and malice. Therefore, Pilate desiring to release unto them Christ, recalled that as was custom, the governor could pardon and release a prisoner. Hoping to supersede the death they desired, Pilate questioned the crowd:
"But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?" (John 18:39).
"Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?" (Matt 27:17).

The crowd seemed a bit taken back that 'nothing worthy of death' was found in Christ and that Pilate was offering Christ for release. The chief priests, scribes, and pharisees hated Christ. He had denounced their doctrine, taken their followers, forgiven sin and welcomed in those they had denied. He ate with publicans and sinners, and taught as one with authority in their temples. He, as the Light of the world, was filled glory and honor, and had exposed them as the false hypocrites that they were. This was their chance to get rid of Christ once and for all, but Pilate couldn't see it, and had no idea who this man really was. The crowd called out:
"Not this man, but Barabbas" (John 18:40).

Pilate couldn't believe what he was hearing and so he called out again:
"Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?" (Matt 27:21).
"Then cried they all again, saying, 'Not this man, but Barabbas" (John 18:40).
"Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas" (Luke 23:18).

Surprised, disappointed, and angered at their response, Pilate questioned the crowd further:
"What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ!?" (Matt 27:22).
"What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?" (Mark 15:12).

From among the crowd came the cry which only grew louder and louder:
"Crucify him, crucify him" (Luke 23:21).
"Let him be crucified!" (Matt 27:22).

Pilate yelled back over the crowd:
"Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go" (Luke 23:22).

His response only angered the crowd more, and the deafening roar from the crowd only pained his soul more:
"Crucify him! Crucify him! Let him be crucified!" (Matt 27:23).

'Sorely troubled, and inwardly afraid,' Pilate sat back down on the judgment seat. And "when he was set down on the judgement seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, 'Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him'" (Matt 27:19).

To add to the many things already racing through his mind, this news from his wife troubled him even further. Pilate knew that Christ was innocent and should be released, not crucified, but his fears of the people and his standing before him overrode his conscience. "Pilate knew what was right but lacked the moral courage to do it. He was afraid of the Jews, and more afraid of hostile influence at Rome. He was afraid of his conscience, but more afraid of losing his official position" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 601). He had already made three major mistakes in the past with the Jews and had gotten on their bad side, and thus consequently, when he might have done good and right, "he was deterred through cowardly fear of the accusing past" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp 601-602).

Pilate beckoned for a basin of water and then proceeded to wash his hands before the multitude--symbolically disclaiming any responsibility--and said:
"I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, 'His blood be on us, and on our children.'" (Matt 27:24-25).

"And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will" (Luke 23:24-25).

The Chastisement and Scourging of Christ
Phase 9:

Pilate had Christ taken by his soldiers to the place of scourging. Rending Christ's outer garment, and stripping him of it, the Roman soldiers laid Christ horizontally with his hands fastened together above his head. "The instrument of punishment was a whip of many thongs, [known as the cat of nine tails, it was] loaded with metal and edged with jagged pieces of bone" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 592). Each of the 39 times the lash came in contact with Christ's body, the pieces of bone and metal would pierce the flesh, tearing it, and shredding it as the inflictor yanked the whip away for another lashing. (Many individuals died by this gruesome scourging, and so the Roman soldiers would crucify their dead bodies, leaving them tied onto the cross, until their flesh began to rot and was picked away by the birds. Their bones would then be cast to the side to make way for the next victim.)

Barely able to stand, under the extreme pain and agony Christ had just endured, he was taken by the soldiers to the common hall, known as the Hall Pretorium, to make a sport of him. Calling together the whole band of soldiers they came in to make a mockery of the King of Jews. They placed a purple robe over his bleeding back and then pressed a crown of thorns onto his head. Then giving him his royal scepter, they placed a reed in his right hand, and began to kneel and bow down in mockery before him with these words:
"Hail, King of the Jews!" (Matt 27:29).

As they saluted him in mockery, they seized the reed from his hand and began to smite him and strike him with it. As they smote the reed onto his head, they drove the crown of thorns deeper into the sensitive flesh of his forehead. They slapped him viciously across the face with their hands, and into his face spat their foul spittle. All the while continuing to bow in mockery worship:
"Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mark 14:18).

Christ's final trial before mankind
Phase 10:

Hoping to ignite a sense of compassion and pity into the hardened crowd, Pilate had Christ brought forth:
"Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then Jesus came forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, 'Behold the Man'" (John 19:4-5).

Christ stood in Godlike submissiveness before the jewish crowd. Blood trickled from the thorns down his forehead, spittle gleamed in the light upon his bruised face, his wrists and body revealed raw skin from the chastisement he had endured, and his back bore the scourging marks of gouged, torn and bleeding flesh. This pitiful sight of the very Son of God had little effect on these hard-hearted people. Angered that Christ had survived the scourging, the crowd continued their rant:
"Crucify him, crucify him!" (John 19:6).

Angered at their lack of compassion, Pilate called back:
"Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him" (John 19:6).

No, the Jews could not crucify him. Since Christ was only condemned of blasphemy, the worst thing they could do to him under their law would be to stone him to death. They wanted him crucified, but they wanted the Romans under Pilates direction to do it, not them, and so they gave Pilate the real reason why they brought Christ to him:
"We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God" (John 19:7).

Such an offense and reason for condemnation had never before been brought to Pilate's ears. Curious, but now also afraid of the man he had just scourged, Pilate had Christ brought back into the judgement hall for further questioning:
"Whence art thou?" (John 19:9).
'Are you human or superhuman?' (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 594).

Christ gave no response to this pagan ruler, For if he had, Pilate would only have been frightened further.

Annoyed at Christ for not giving an immediate response to his curious inquiry, Pilate spake unto him in the office of his authority:
"Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?" (John 19:10).

To which Christ corrected him by saying:
"Thou couldst have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin" (John 19:11).

"And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him" (John 19:12). Pilate saw in Christ more than just an ordinary man: the way he answered every question; his complete submissiveness to everything which had taken place; his demeanor and honor. Who was this man? Why did he not fear death or anyone. How could he remain so peaceful and godlike, unless he was himself was more god than human.

With the hour now being noon, Pilate came back out of the hall with Christ, only to hear the Jews cry out:
"If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar" (John 19:12).

Hurt by their words, Pilate was now stuck between a rock and a hard place: Follow his conscience or the anger of the people and potentially have his whole life ruined. Taking a deep breath, Pilate called out to the crowd:
"'Behold your King!' But they cried out, 'Away with him, away with him,'" (John 19:14-15).
"'Shall I crucify your King?' Pilate asked? The chief priests answered back, 'We have no king but Caesar'" (John 19:15).

"With this cry, Judaism was, in the person of its representatives, guilty of denial of God, of blasphemy, of apostasy" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 601) Christ's earthly trial before men was over. The Jews had won Pilate over with blackmailing and fear. Thus, unable to do anything further for Christ, Pilate made the final condemning motion, to have Christ taken away and crucified according to the Jews desire.

On to Golgotha
Phase 11:

As a cross-beam was handed through the multitude and eventually thrown near the feet of Christ, the Roman soldiers took the robe off of Christ's back and put his own raiment on him. Placing the cross-beam on Christ's shoulders, and beams on the shoulders of the two robbers, who were to be crucified as well, the soldiers led the procession to Calvary. The mobbed crowd, and many individuals from various nationalities followed. Struggling under the weight of the cross, with no strength left in him at all, Christ crumpled to the ground. Becoming impatient with Christ, the Roman soldiers compelled the only man willing, Simon of Cyrene, a foreigner, to bear Christ's cross to the place of crucifixion.

As the death-procession slowly passed by, there were that followed or stood by a "a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.' Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;' and to the hills, 'cover us.' For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?' This he spake signifying the scattering of Israel, and the desolation of the heathen, or in other words, the gentiles" (Luke 23:27-31, JST 23:32).

"It was the Lord's last testimony of the impending holocaust of destruction that was to follow the nation's rejection of her king. Although motherhood was the glory of every Jewish woman's life... barrenness would be accounted a blessing; for the childless would have fewer to weep over, and at least would be spared the horror of seeing their offspring die of starvation or by violence" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, pp 606-607).

The procession proceeded through the streets, and then out through the gate of the city to the designated place of crucifixion. Situated on a hill, near the highway, was the place known as Golgotha (in Aramaic and Hebrew), Kranion (in Greek), Calvaria (in Latin), and Calvary (in Anglicized English) all meaning 'the place of the skull.' The executed victims were buried nearby.

Upon arriving on Calvary's hill, some of the soldiers stripped the convicts of all of their clothes, while the other soldiers notched together the two pieces of wood on the ground, to assemble a cross. Proceeding without delay, the soldiers pressed a "narcotic draught of sour wine or vinegar mingled with myrrh" or gall to each victims lips "for the merciful purpose of deadening the sensibility of the victim" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 607). As the drink was pressed to Christ's lips and he sensed the contents therein, he refused to drink it. He was determined "to meet death with faculties alert and mind unclouded" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 607).

Laying Christ on the cross, the soldiers proceeded to place a spike through the palm of each hand in-between the bones. Striking the spikes with a hammer, the soldiers nailed Christ to the cross. Then fearing that those two nails weren't enough to hold the weight of his body, they placed nails in his wrists. Stretching his legs down the cross, the soldiers pierced Christ with two more spikes, one in each foot. "The spikes so cruelly driven through hands and feet penetrated and crushed sensitive nerves and quivering tendons, yet inflicted no mortal wound" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 608).

One after another, each of the three crosses was raised to vertical standing. Christ hung in the middle of the crosses with the two malefactors on his right and left. As the soldiers pulled the cross into it's upright position they placed an inscription above each of the victims heads, describing their crimes. Over Christ's head, in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew they wrote the following letters:
JNRJ or INRI ("Jesus of Nazareth, King [Rex] of the Jews.")
"This is Jesus, the King of the Jews" (Matt 27:37).
"The King of the Jews" (Mark 15:26).
"This is the King of the Jews" (Luke 23:38).
"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (John 19:19).

As the chief priests read the inscription, they thought Pilate had written it wrong:
"Write not, 'The King of the Jews: but that he said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'" (John 19:21). They wanted the inscription to read that Christ claimed to be their king, but wasn't actually their king. They did not want him to be so. But Pilate was just in what he wrote, for Christ really was their king. And they had just crucified their own king:
"What I have written, I have written" (John 19:22).

Once Christ was upon the cross the soldiers took his raiment and rent it, giving a portion to each soldier, while his vesture (his coat) they did cast lots for.

People passing by shook their heads in mockery:
"Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross" (Mark 15:29-30).
"Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross" (Matt 27:40, emphasis added).

The thieves who hung on either side of Christ, joined in the ridicule:
"If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us" (Luke 23:39, emphasis added).

"The dominant note in all the railings and revilings, the ribaldry and mockery, with which the patient and submissive Christ was assailed while he hung, 'lifted up' as He had said He would be, was that awful 'if' hurled at Him by the devil's emissaries in the time of mortal agony.... That 'if' was Satan's last shaft, keenly barbed and doubly envenomed...[sent forth at Christ] to make Him doubt his divine Sonship, or...to taunt or anger the dying Savior into the use of His superhuman powers for personal relief or as an act of vengeance upon His tormentors. To achieve such a victory was Satan's desperate purpose. The shaft failed. Through taunts and derision, through blasphemous challenge and diabolical goating, the agonized Christ was silent" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 611).

As the time ticked by, one of thieves noticed that Christ was submitting to all this opposition without one word being said, and so he rebuked the other thief:
"'Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.' And he said unto Jesus, 'Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.' And Jesus said unto him, 'Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise'" (Luke 23:40-43).

This thief had noticed that he had received his just reward; confessing his guilt, he began his repentance process, while beginning to see Christ for who he was, and beginning to exercise faith in Him.

As the crowd of disbelievers, accusers, and those who mocked Christ began to disperse, the believers came forth to worship and lament over their beloved teacher, master and savior. Among those present, were Christ's closest friends: John the beloved, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene; Martha; Salome, John's mother; Mary, the wife of Cleophas; and many other women from Galilee and Jerusalem.
"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, 'Woman, behold thy son!' Then saith he to the disciple, 'Behold thy mother!' And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home" (John 19:26-27).

The hours that Christ hung on the cross in complete pain and agony slowly ticked by. "Death by crucifixion was at once the most lingering and most painful of all forms of execution. The victim lived in ever increasing torture, generally for many hours, sometimes for days.... The welcome relief of death came through the exhaustion caused by intense and unremitting pain, through localized inflammation and congestion of organs incident to the strained and unnatural posture of the body" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 608). Starvation and the gradual benumbing of the body also played a factor to death for the crucified. "As stated also the crucified sometimes lived for days upon the cross, and death resulted, not from the infliction of mortal wounds, but from internal congestion, inflammations, organic disturbances, and consequent exhaustion of vital energy" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 608). To make the crucified die quicker, the Romans would break their legs so that they could not use the strength from their legs to give their organs and torso a break from the strain they were under.

(Descending below all things)
Phase 12: Suffering for the damned in outer darkness

By 3pm, an impending darkness had covered the land. The light and life of the world was slowly fading, dieing upon a cross. However before he died, the Savior had to endure one last trial: He had to descend below all things, which meant experiencing spiritual death. Christ had to feel the the pain of the damned, and spiritually disembodied spirits. He had to experience the darkness in full measure of a naked intelligence, void of element, light, and life. The presence, and light of the Father had to be withdrawn in it's fullness. Only then would Christ's mortal mission be completed. Christ knew this was part of the Atonement, but was not fully prepared for it. As the Father withdrew his spirit, Christ cried out in agony, with a cry so intense it rent the sky, and impeding darkness, and caused the whole earth to shudder:
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matt 27:46).

The Savior's desperate cry tore through the thickening darkness. The Father's presence had been withdrawn in it's entirety from His son. Christ was alone, alone in the most real sense. The entire weight of the whole world weighed down upon his shoulders. All the suffering, the pain, the remorse, the guilt, the terror, and the fear he had ever experienced as a naked intelligence came rushing back in full force and view to his soul. In an instance he re-experienced what every naked intelligence had ever felt and the pains experienced since Gethsemane, the night before "had recurred intensified beyond human power to endure" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 613), and terrifying beyond mankind's ability to comprehend.

After what seemed an eternity, and spiritually was, the presence of the Father's spirit flooded back over Christ. Relief and a sense of accomplishment filled Christ. He had done it! The sufferings and pains of the Atonement were complete! He had descended below all things, and rent the veil for spirits of each degree of glory to transcend to the next level. His earthly mission was complete! He had done it! He had finally done it! Eons and Eons of preparation, refinement, and bestowal of intelligence had enabled him to reach this point. And now it was finished! From here on out it mattered not what happened to his body, for he had power over death and to heal any infirmity. He could have healed all his physical wounds and come down from the cross in an instant. He had all power over his physical body. But to do the will of the Father, to die physically, and be resurrected, Christ had to let go and allow his body to take its needed course. And so did and cried out:
"I thirst" (John 19:28).

A Roman or Jew quickly ran to get some vinegar. Soaking a sponge with the vinegar and fastening it on the end of a reed or hyssop, the individual pressed the device to Christ's lips.

Many nay-sayers standing by, mistook Christ's cry for Eli, for Elias, and reproved the individual as follows:
"Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him" (Matt 27:49).
"Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down" (Mark 15:36).

As Christ received the vinegar, He cried out with a loud voice:
"Father, it is finished, they will is done" (JST Matt 27:50).
"It is finished" (John 19:30).
"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46) "and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost" (John 19:30).

With this agonizing cry, Christ voluntarily gave up his life. He heart burst, rupturing from the intensity of pain and agony he had endured these many hours. The Savior's love for each of us was so great that it killed him. "The Lord Jesus died of a broken heart" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 621).

The sense of compassion in every intelligence in universe had been touched by the greatness and purity of Christ's love. The earth couldn't hold back her emotions any longer. She began to shake and tremble to and fro. Tempests and storms raged in the heavens. Lightnings, thunderings, and rain rallied forth upon the inhabitants of the earth. It was one thing for the earth to feel so much pain in the days of Noah that's it's tears flooded the earth, and another to have the blood of prophets soak into the ground, but it was something else to have the life of her creator taken on her very soil. Whirlwinds spun through the land. Cities caught fire, sunk into the depths of the sea, were buried by mountains, and left in destruction and ruin everywhere. Highways were destroyed, level roads were spoiled, smooth places became rough, and rocks were rent in twain and scattered abroad. The quakings caused even the veil of the temple to be rent in twain.

For three hours the earth allowed all the inhabitants thereof to feel her pain and to be seen and witnessed by the more righteous individuals, while the wicked were destroyed and killed.

Then unable to carry on in this manner any longer, the earth ceased her commotions and covered herself in a heavy thick blanket of darkness mourning the loss of her creator. The light of the world had gone out. The weight of darkness became so thick that those still alive on the earth could feel the vapor of darkness. No lights could be seen. Candles, torches, and even fires could not be started, nor lit. The sun hid his face, and even the stars and moon refused to shed their light. For three days this gloom would last, until the light and life of the world would return in His glorified, resurrected and perfected immortal state.

As those near the cross saw and heard these things, they feared greatly, and a Roman centurion was heard to say:
"Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt 27:54; Mark 15:39).
"Certainly this was a righteous man" (Luke 23:47).

As the 12th hour (6pm) approached, the disciples and women in mourning watched from afar off as the soldiers went forth with cudgels and broke the legs of the two thieves, quickening their death. "But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs" (John 19:33). "One of the soldiers, to make sure that Jesus was actually dead, or to surely kill Him if He was yet alive, drove a spear into his side making a wound large enough to permit a man's hand to be thrust thereinto" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 616). As the spear pierced Christ's side, there came forth an outrush of blood and water as "further evidence of a cardiac rupture" (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p 620).

Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate and requested the body of Christ. "And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph" (Mark 15:44-45).

With the help of Nicodemus, Joseph wrapped up the body of Christ and laid him in his own tomb to rest. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Christ, and other women watched from a distance that they might know where to come back to after the Sabbath was over to further anoint Christ's body with spices and ointments.

After 3 and a half days in the tomb (from Wednesday night, to Sunday morning (Friday evening to Sunday Morning is not 3 days)), Christ broke the bands of death and rose from the dead, completing the Atonement for mankind. Conquering death, and crushing the serpents head, Jesus became the Christ, the firstfruits of them that slept. Resurrected and perfected in a Celestial glorified state, he paved the way for all to follow. So that we might recognize him, and know the truthfulness of the Atonement he choose to keep the prints of the nails in his hands, wrists, and feet, and the mark from the spear in his side.

The Atonement was complete. God's work and glory could now be accomplished. All the negative effects of the Fall were righted. And all of mankind could return to live with God and become as He is.

To fully satisfy the demands of Justice, Christ not only had to suffer for each of the various spiritual degrees of glory, and outer darkness, but also the pains and suffering of the Law of Justice in the flesh even unto death. Thus he satisfied the demands of Justice in all it's aspects, leaving nothing out.

On Repentance and Change

The power of Christ's atonement enables us, strengthens us, provides peace, and lifts us even when we are unaware, or unworthy of it. Christ loves us so much that his love encompasses us even when we feel lost, afraid, alone, and undeserving of his love. He is always near us, even when we cannot see him there. I love this concept! This is who he is.

In addition to the strengthening and enabling power of Christ's Atonement, is the gift of repentance which is truly one of the greatest gifts God has given to mankind. Regardless of our age, our gender, our ethnic background or race, our religious background, or even the timeframe in which we live on this earth, the gift of repentance is available to all of us.

Christ is the one who offers this gift for us. As part of the plan of our Heavenly Father, Christ was willing to sacrifice himself and die for us that we might become whole and come home to our Heavenly parents.

I love this gift!

The chance we have to start anew each day, week, month, and year--and the ability we have to change at any point in time regardless of our previous or current path, truly is remarkable! Whatever mistakes we made yesterday, we can overcome and change today. The depth of Christ's Atonement transcends all things, all mistakes, transgressions, and sins. We can become whole today, regardless of who we have been. Ours is the opportunity and choice to choose Christ and let him in.

The path of repentance takes time and is a journey. Even the desire to do good must be nurtured over time so that it becomes a part of who we are and the desire to sin and choose wrong is overcome. In this journey it is easy to become frustrated with ourselves and our progress and desire to stop trying to change and become good. But as we keep persevering and rely on the Lord, he will give us strength to overcome. He will heal us of our wounds, bind up our broken hearts, and fill us with his love. This is who he is. This is always available to us, regardless of where we are in our lives, or how far we have fallen. The more we love him, or even just exercise a desire to love him, the more his love fills us and makes us whole.

As we strive to change and become better we must remember that others are doing the same and are trying to let the Savior into their lives. As easy as it is to shame and bring up the previous mistakes of another, we should never deny any individual the opportunity to change and apply the Atonement of Christ into their lives. Neither us, nor they are perfect. The Atonement of Christ is available in its entirety just as much to them as it is to us. We should never shun, nor withhold our friendship, nor love from those who are trying to change and let the Savior in. The journey to change can be hard and difficult at times, and for us to shun or cut off our friendship with an individual who is trying to change only makes the path harder and more difficult for them. We do not know how far they have come, or what they have had to sacrifice or give up to be at the point they are at in their journey.

It is not easy to let another know that we are imperfect and have made mistakes, and so if a friend reaches out to us, or trusts us enough to confide in us what they are experiencing and going through we should open our hearts to them and show an increase in love and help them in their journey, and never the opposite. We should avoid judging, and hardening our heart when a friend opens their heart to us. When we are at our lowest, that is when we need the strength of another to help lift us to greater heights. And our friends need the same of us.

Repentance and change is a beautiful thing. As we invite the Savior into our own lives, let us do so fully by accepting and allowing others to change and invite him into their own lives. It seems at times we don't want others to change. We remember who they were, or what they have done and we don't allow them to change. We want them to stay the way we remember them. Or sometimes it is because one person's past actions remind us of another's actions, which immediately triggers pain and so we cut ourselves off from that individual entirely. But if that individual did not initially cause the pain and is diligently trying to come to the light, why must we categorize them with others and immediately shut them out? Why can't we give them a chance to prove themselves that they are different and are changing? Why don't we let go of our pain and grudges and allow that individual to change and become a new being. Let us dispel our grudges and let go of our pain. Let us let the Savior into our own lives and allow him to heal us. Let us be quick to show love and encouragement towards others and be willing to offer a hand to those in need. Let us become lights to those who sit in darkness. Let us put off the natural man and become saints through Christ the Lord. Let us become as he is.