Choice 2: Leviticus 16. The Day of Atonement

·         How and what did you do to complete the assignment?  I chose to put my assignment onto my blog at http://scottandkylieyeates.blogspot.com/. 

·         Why did you decide to do the assignment you did?  I thought  that choice 2 was the most interesting out of the choices given. 

·         What do you think is the best thing about your assignment, and how do you think it could it be improved?  Learning about the Atonement is always the best!  Nothing could be improved. 

a.          Leviticus 16 explains the details of what is referred to as the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 23:27-28). Write a definition for the primary purpose of this special day.

On the Day of Atonement we should have a holy meeting, and humble ourselves.  We should not work that day.  It is so we can atone before the Lord.

b.      Read Leviticus 16:1-28 as well as the Institute Student Manual commentary for Leviticus 16, “The Day of Atonement and Israel’s Forgiveness” (pgs. 176-77; see also Bible Dictionary, “Fasts,” 671, which describes the Day of Atonement). Then answer the following questions:

·         Why do you think Aaron needed to make atonement for himself before making atonement for the people?  Aaron had to be worthy to act the officiator for the house of Israel. 

·         Why did Aaron need two goats?  One goat was to be sacrificed to the Lord for the sins of Israel, and the other goat served as a scapegoat. 

·         How could both goats represent Jesus Christ and His Atonement?  The first goat represents Christ and how we died for our sins.  The second goat represents Christ in that both took all the sins upon themselves. 

·         What do Aaron’s responsibilities and the responsibilities of the man who led the scapegoat into the wilderness symbolize?  The scapegoat was brought to the high priest where he symbolically placed the sins of Israel to the goat.  Then it was released in the wilderness where it never would be seen again.  It represented the devil himself.  No evil spirit can be near Jesus, but only near Satan. 

·         Read the Institute Student Manual commentary by Elder James E. Talmage (1862-1933), a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (pg. 177). Define the word vicarious as it applied to the ancient Day of Atonement. Include in your statement the personal factor necessary for an individual’s sins to be forgiven. Explain in writing how the Savior’s work of the Atonement was a vicarious work.

Vicarious atonement is meant the Christ is stepping in to suffer for us.  We need to embrace Christ to be forgiven of our sins because he can take them away from us.  He willingly will take those sins from us.  It was a vicarious work because he had to take our sins and suffer for us.