"If the Atonement is the foundation of our faith (and it is), then no one should be content with a casual acquaintance of this doctrine. Instead, the Atonement should be paramount in our intellectual and spiritual pursuits" (11). This isn't the type of book you read in one sitting. It took me about two and 1/2 months to finish it, but the pace was purposeful, as I aimed to read only a chapter or a few pages a day. To say that I learned a lot about the Atonement would be a vast understatement. There are so many ideas to contemplate, so many truths to ponder, that I feel like I can't adequately sum up what I read. Despite the great scope of this book, I came away feeling an even greater desire to study and understand the Atonement. As Callister points out, "an attempt to master this doctrine requires an immersion of all our senses, all our feelings, and all our intellect. Given the opportunity, the Atonement will invade each of the human passions and faculties, and in so doing will invite an exhaustion of each in order to more fully grasp its meaning" (1-2).

This was a fantastic read full of great insights and thoughts. It isn't one that should be raced through quickly, but taken in and pondered. There is a lot of depth here, and a lot of love for our Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.

There was a bit of repetition, and while sometimes it served to drive a point home, and sometimes it served to show the same point from a different angle, other times it just seemed to be there.

Just reread this. This is one of my favorite religious works that centers on Christ's Atonement. Very inspiring and inspired, with a sound doctrinal (and legal) reasoning. The writing is sometimes difficult (verbose and very legal, with lots of adjectives and quotes), but if you can get past that, it really expands your understanding of the wonder of the atonement.

A wonderful, powerful, all-inclusive resource for learning more about the atonement. I can see myself reading this every year, further strengthening my testimony of Jesus Christ. An incredible resource for any lesson or talk on the atonement.

Very beautiful, albeit very dense, book about the Savior's Atonement. Feels more like an academic approach, but it still fits somewhere between the lines of Talmage's "Jesus the Christ" and more application based Atonement texts like Robinson's "Believing Christ." I'm lean more towards the latter, but this is worth anyone's time, as the thought, depth, and organization of this book are so logical and well planned.

A few favorite quotes:

"Commandments are no more restrictive to the spiritual man than street signs are to the motorist."

"Mormon knew that a casual request would not suffice. Speaking of the gift of charity, he said that we must 'pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that we may be filled with this love.' It reminds one of the student that graduated number one in his class from a leading university. There were others with hug here IQs, others with greater creative genius. Asked why he excelled them all, he replied, 'As for the others I cannot say, I only know that I cared like blazes.' Somewhere, sometime, that level of caring must surface. Pure obedience and silent endurance are not enough. There must be a burning desire, a reaching out, a seeking, in short, an exhaustive exercise of our combined spiritual, intellectual, and emotional energies, all focused on obtaining these divine gifts."

I decided to finally read this book because so many of my students have recommended it so highly. I am glad I read it, and I would highly recommend it. As with most books of this kind, I have concerns with some people accepting everything that Callister writes as being "the doctrine of the Church," especially given the positions he has held in the Church. I am totally OK with someone sharing their own thoughts and perspectives and ideas and so forth, which Callister appropriately acknowledges, as do all good LDS authors. But sometimes he may assert his interpretation of scripture using his own amalgamation of prophetic quotes a little too strongly. Again, I really don't mind people expressing their own views as long as they don't become too dogmatic about it. Aside from that, the author offers some wonderful insights about the Atonement of Jesus Christ that are well thought out and helpful for increasing our faith in the Savior. I really enjoyed listening to this book, and would highly recommend it.

A good factual review of the atonement, but doesn't have much in the way of application, of making the atonement part of your life....which is way more important than knowing the facts.....

Deepened my understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in the right way at the right time.

The is such a noteworthy book in helping me understand and appreciate the atonement of Christ. I appreciate his many quotations from the scriptures, the prophets and General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I must also add that his quote from other individuals, such as Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Robert Browning, C. S. Lewis, Cecil B. De Mille, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and others, was also very inspiring.

I have read it very slowly. A couple pages at a time over many years. But it has changed me. Changed me because it has shifted my focus to the Savior of the World ❤️ HEARTILY recommend. (Especially recommend the pocket gospel classics version! Made it not seem so big and intimidating! :))

This book by LDS author Tad R. Callister has touched my soul deeply. The author's understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ encourages the reader to study, ponder, and pray to come to realize more deeply why Christ needed to accomplish an Infinite Atonement in order for all of Heavenly Father's children to be able to return home to him. The doctrine of the Atonement is the central message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tad R. Callister guides the reader through the many aspects of the Atonement by using scriptural references from the Old and New Testaments, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price and especially the Book of Mormon. Modern day prophets and apostles messages on Christ's Atonement are also part of this marvelous book.

This marvelous book will be reread and re-listened to in my future as a continual reference to Jesus Christ's Infinite Atonement on my behalf and for all mankind.

Powerful and wonderfully profound analysis of the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ from every angle. This was a book that I had to keep my pen handy on almost every page, I was underlining so many great concepts that I want to refer back to again and again. It’s well documented and replete with scripture references. I really loved reading it and deepening my testimony of Christ and His love for me and all of Gods children on this earth. Highly recommend this book.