An adhesive is something that, when used properly, causes one thing to adhere, or stick, to another. Today at work, my boss was talking about the adhesive that's on the stickers we put on the boxes that our product goes in. She was saying that the adhesive is really strong, and it has to be to be able to ensure that the box stays sealed shut. But sometimes, on certain boxes, if we have to peel a sticker off, it pulls part of the box off with it because of how sticky it is.
Our Heavenly Father has given us the most powerful adhesive in existence. The Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. When we apply the Atonement in our lives,it works as the binding agent that seals us to Him for Eternity, or allows us to return to His presence. When we use the Atonement incorrectly, or try to remove its effect from our lives by ignoring its importance, minimizing its necessity, or even justifying ourselves by thinking that the Atonement takes away all responsibility from us, it becomes insufficient for us, and does not cover those sins we do not repent of. Jesus has said "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)
With the stickers at work, I can pull them off the box easily if I want, but the box won't stay sealed shut. In the same way, we can choose not to adhere to, or keep God's commandments, but the Atonement won't have any effect on us. We have the ability to choose to follow or not to follow God, because of agency. But the only way to ensure that the power and mercy of the Atonement has full effect in our lives is to follow Him who made the Atoning sacrifice for us.
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