What "Mormons" believe about being saved

What a fitting time to discuss the Third Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." As discussed last week about the Second Article of Faith, because of the fall of Adam, we were able to come to earth and have a body, but we were separated from our Heavenly Father, physically and spiritually. The Atonement saves us or brings us back into God's presence. The Atonement is "the great sacrifice [Jesus] made to pay for our sins and overcome death" (Gospel Principles, p. 59). Because of the Atonement we are all saved from physical death. We will all be resurrected. Our spirits and our bodies will be reunited. This is immortality. We will also all return to the presence of God to be judged. Our eternal status or ability to continue to live with God eternally is dependent on our obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. In addition to the first principles of faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, there are additional priesthood ordinances including those performed in temples.

While every being who has ever lived, who lives now, and who will yet live will experience the blessings of Christ's Atonement, not all will have eternal life or be saved eternally. At times I feel like it's unfair that not all people are saved or able to live with God eternally. I'm afraid that our church seems and is exclusive. What right do we have to say that only people who are baptized in our church and receive temple ordinances will live with God again? Well, it isn't me as a member who declared the way to receive eternal life. Jesus told Nicodemus, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). Jesus was baptized by one with priesthood authority, John the Baptist. We must also be baptized by one with authority, a priesthood holder with the Aaronic Priesthood which was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. As far as ordinances and covenants made in holy temples, God makes covenants or promises with His people, those who want to follow Him and keep His commandments. We agree to keep the commandments and God agrees to give us blessings. If you are not someone who wants to keep those commandments, then you won't want to make the sacred covenants and you won't want to live in God's presence. Because our Heavenly Father loves us, each person is allowed to choose and will be comfortable with their life after resurrection.

I do not understand the Atonement intellectually, but I have experienced the sweet workings of the Atonement in my life. When I've repented, when I've asked for a change of heart, when I've felt alone and misunderstood, when I've grieved. At each of these times, the Atonement worked to pay the price for my sins or to succor me in my need. The Atonement is for all of us. Jesus Christ lives. He suffered, died, and was resurrected. Because He lives we will live forever and if we choose, we will live with Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father again.