Good morning brothers and sisters. For those of you who do not know me my name is Brittany Harmon. I have been asked to speak on the Atonement. This year around Christmas time is my favorite time of year. It’s a time with family and friends. A time where there is giving, hope and love. One of my favorite parts about this time of year is finding the perfect gift for a loved one, and to watch them open it and see the smile on their face. The Atonement is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. Elder Uchtdorf said in the Ensign earlier this year, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the gift of God to His children to correct and overcome the consequences of sin. God loves all of His children, and He will never cease to love and to hope for us.” (End quote) I would like to share a story that President Hinckley gave as a parable in The First Presidency message a couple years back:
“Years ago there was a little one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them. A young, inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked: ‘Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.’ “‘I will risk it,’ he replied. “The first day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom whispered: ‘I won’t need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.’ “The teacher said, ‘Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.’ They yelled and made fun at the top of their voices. ‘Now, I want a good school, but I confess that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.’
“One fellow yelled, ‘No stealing!’ Another yelled, ‘On time.’ Finally, ten rules appeared on the blackboard. “ ‘Now,’ said the teacher, ‘a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with one who...