Some two thousand years ago, the Savior of the world suffered in Gethsemane, died on the cross, and rose from the tomb. The Lord referred to these wonderful events by saying that He had “…finished my [his] preparations unto the children of men.” (D&C 19:19)

Now that word intrigues me, ‘Preparations.’ What did He mean – ‘Preparations?’ It makes it sound like something is yet to follow, but what? Well, maybe this story that I recently read will illustrate part of what He meant.

For several weeks, Karen had been praying for a better understanding of the atonement. Then, one day while helping her young son Kyle get ready for school, she became frustrated because Kyle was moving so slow [slowly]. You’ve been there; you know how this works. A neighbor girl stopped by to walk with Kyle to the bus stop, but fearing that she might miss the bus, Karen sent her on ahead. Well at that point, Kyle began to complain because now he would have to walk to school alone.

Oh, that made Mom angry. She knelt down in front of him, and roughly scolded him for taking so long to get ready, and then for complaining to her about having to walk alone.

Well, little Kyle’s eyes filled up with tears. He pulled his hat down over his eyes so he wouldn’t have to look into his mother’s angry face. Oh, Mom caught herself and stopped her tirade. It occurred to her at that point how tender and vulnerable children can be, and how rough she had been. She attempted to apologize while helping Kyle get his boots on and out the door, but …

As he scampered off to catch the bus, Karen stood watching him go. “Of all places,” she said, “and all people in this world, home and Mother should be a refuge – a place of peace and love.”

Oh, she felt terrible, racked with guilt, and feeling like a failure as a mother, when all of a sudden a gentle loving thought swept into her mind.

It whispered, “This is what the atonement is for.”

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As understanding dawned, tears welled up in her eyes. She prayed for forgiveness and blessings upon her son. She still felt badly about what had happened, but more importantly – most importantly, she knew that through the atonement, things could be made right again, as though they had never happened.

The Lord’s redemptive sacrifice was the preparation of His work for you and me. And what is it’s finishing? Well, He’s not done yet – not until each of us, with His help, apply [applies] the power of His atonement in our lives until we have put off the mistakes of our past, and are worthy to receive every eternal reward we are willing to enjoy. I tell you – He is not done until we are!