Galatians 3:13:  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

This Gem captures the essence of what is removed from us when we receive the gift of Eternal Life.  A curse is removed, in particular the “curse of the law”.  The curse of the law is Eternal Death.  Every person whose Eternal Life is dependent on obedience to any set of laws and/or ordinances lives under this curse:

Galatians 3:10: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

The curse of Eternal Death hangs over man because it is not possible for man to do everything that is commanded by God.   This is a universal truth, that is; it is not dependent on “Which Law?”.   Every set of rules or ordinances which are impossible for man to keep perfectly enacts this same curse.   The curse is simply this:  If Heavenly Father commands you to obey him perfectly or suffer Eternal Death, then imperfect obedience curses you with Eternal Death!   In the Drawer of Gems "The Demand of God's Commands" it is shown that Christ does command us to be as perfect as Heavenly Father.  In the Drawer of Gems "The Significance of God's Commands" it is shown that the “wages” of imperfect obedience is Eternal Death.  This places everyone who cannot be perfect under the “curse of the law”.

But this Gem also captures the miracle that dispels this curse!  Christ took on this curse; actually becoming a curse himself!  In this way he redeemed God’s children from the curse of Eternal Death, the eternal destiny of everyone who fails to follow God’s commands perfectly.

Redeem is a word with a very particular connotation.  We use this word in reference to coupons, rebates, gift certificates etc.  In every case we receive something which has value but which we have not earned (that is, it is not a paycheck).  Then we take this thing to a business and “redeem” it for goods or money.

Take the example of a coupon that grants a person a free loaf of bread.  We receive the coupon as a gift in the mail or clip it from a newspaper.  Then we take the coupon to the store, pick out the loaf of bread and go to the checkout stand.  There we “redeem” the coupon by handing it to the cashier.  He or she then accepts the coupon instead of requiring us to pay the price of the bread.  The key concept of “redeem” is that we do not pay the price of the loaf of bread our self.  The business that created the coupon pays the store the price of the loaf of bread in our place.

This is what Christ did for us.  He “redeemed” us from the curse of the law (Eternal Death).  He used his perfect life and the sacrifice of that life as the coupon that grants us Eternal Life instead of Eternal Death.  He can give each of God’s children this coupon because he has already paid his Father the price due.  The key concept of the Holy Spirit’s use of “redeem” in this Gem is that we do not pay Heavenly Father the price of our Eternal Life our self.  The life and death of Jesus Christ pays Heavenly Father the price in our place.

Imagine if when you get home from the store with the loaf of bread purchased with your coupon and you receive a phone call.  On the phone is the company that created the coupon.  They say “We have paid the store the price of the loaf of bread. Now you must pay us.  We will give you plenty of time, but we require you to pay us the price of the loaf of bread.”  This ‘contract’ would hardly qualify as a ‘coupon’.  Actually this is how a credit card works.  If you agreed to these terms, this company would now become your ‘creditor’.  But one does not use the word ‘redeem’ in connection with a credit card or a contract with a creditor.

But this is the way LDS doctrine attempts to use ‘redeem’.   LDS doctrine states that while Christ did ‘redeem’ you from the curse of the law by paying the price of your sin; this does not free you from the obligation of making payment yourself.   Instead Christ becomes your creditor and you are required to pay him back for the "loaf of bread".   (See Gospel Principles Chapter 12 “The Atonement”). Click here to see an excerpt