"Through the power and example of the infinite atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind will be resurrected," (see 2 Nephi 9:7,12) Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve declared during the October 1987 general conference.
"Our mortal life came into being because of His creative act. Our immortal life has now been assured because the Resurrected Lord has redeemed us from death. According to the plan of the Father, the Son was 'the firstborn from the dead.' (Colossians 1:18.) 'As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' " (1 Corinthians 15:22.)Continuing, Elder Oaks explained: "Jesus Christ is also the life of the world because He has atoned for the sins of the world. By yielding to temptation, Adam and Eve were 'cut off from the presence of the Lord.' (Helaman 14:16.) In the scriptures this separation is called spiritual death. (See Helaman 14:16; Doctrine & Covenants 29:41.)
"The atonement of our Savior overcame this spiritual death. . . . In order to lay claim upon our Savior's life-giving triumph over the spiritual death we suffer because of our own sins, we must follow the conditions He has prescribed. As He has told us in modern revelation, 'I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I.' (Doctrine & Covenants 19:16-17.)
"In summary, the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, is the life of the world because His resurrection and His atonement save us from both physical and spiritual death. Jacob rejoiced in this gift of life: 'O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.' " (2 Nephi 9:10.)