Thursday, June 9, 2022

Truman G. Madsen on the Atonement being Propitiatory

  

To Pacify or Make Propitiation

 

In verb form, kippur—“atonement”—means to pacify or make propitiation. Anciently, one meaning was to diminish the wrath of the king, as if he would now turn away or hide his face from the known transgressor. The word sacrament carries a related idea of saluting or paying tribute to a monarch. So we are commanded to bring to the table of the Lord an offering, that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, in response to his propitiation, and thus avail ourselves of the Spirit of Christ. (Truman G. Madsen, “The Suffering Servant,” in The Redeemer: Reflections on the Life and Teachings of Jesus the Christ [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2000]. 233)

 

Further Reading:

 

Critique of “The Christ Who Heals”

Blog Archive