Today I have been asked to speak on the atonement. I think this time of year is so much fun as we set goals and think about how we want to improve ourselves. It is so fitting that we celebrate the birth of Christ in December at the end of the year and then right following we celebrate a new year in January. That is exactly what Christ’s life is all about, that we are able to become new as we strive to be like him. As I talk about the atonement today, I would like to answer four simple questions about the atonement. The first question is: Why do we need the atonement? The answer to this question starts at the very beginning when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden Fruit in the garden of Eden. Because they took of the fruit they became mortal and had to experience all that comes with mortality such as death, sin, and tribulation. This was all part of the great plan of Happiness and because of the fall we were all able to come to earth to experience these things as w