by Madison (12)

One of the most important tenets of our faith is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, resurrected from the dead after being crucified and buried in a tomb.  Easter celebrates the glorious truth that He lives again and so will we!

What is resurrection?  And why did Jesus live again?  58 children were asked these two questions. Some of the children didn’t how to define resurrection.  But most of the children responded to these two questions with matter-of-fact practicality and childlike faith.

What is Resurrection?

Bratcher (5) – When you die you get resurrected. You get born again.

Adam (4) – it is after crucified.

Emilia (5) – It’s where you live again.

Joshua (5) – it’s whenever someone is on a cross and they die on it.

Addy (7) – Your body is reunited with your spirit after death.

Lynlee (9) – It means you come alive again.

Akilah (8) – It is when you died and come alive.

Matthew (7) – When someone comes back alive from the dead.

Amelia (10) – Resurrection is when you keep the commandments and when we die our spirit leaves us but then our spirit comes back to the body and we rise from the dead and are perfect.

Kate (10) – Resurrection is when you die and your body and spirit separate and then they come back together again as a perfect body.

Ana Julia (10) – Resurrection is when Jesus Christ rose from the dead and saw all of his disciples and his earthly mother.

Ethan (7) –When you come alive.

Anela (5) – Resurrection is something different.

By Amelia (10)

Asher (7) – You die and then you come back to Earth.

Annie (9) – You come back alive.

Keahu (6) –Your mortal body dies and your immortal body comes and you can’t die anymore.

Bailey (10) – When you live again after you have died.

Ka’ihi (10) – Our spirits and our bodies can reunite and we will be immortal and we can live again and have a family again.

Beau (8) – Where you come back to life without your body. You’re just a spirit.

Hina (4) – It means you can talk to people.

Chase (10) – When you come back to life.

Dane (6) – Mary.

Elisabeth (9) – When you raise from the dead.

Emmett (3) – Candy night. That means it’s conference time!

McKean (8) – We live again.

Eva (5) – That means that Jesus came back alive.

Lila (8) – When someone dies, 3 days later they come back alive.

Evie (9) – When someone dies and then they come back alive after a period of time.

Kyla (11) – When body and spirit or soul reunite. Because we have a spirit and body and they reunite to make a complete body.

Gabby (6) – You die and live again.

Kobe (8) – He turned into an angel. He didn’t die all the way.

Ian (9) – Resurrection is having your body and spirit be reunited.

Kamila (5) – I don’t know. Can you show me a picture?

James (3) – Bulldozer.

Kalani (8) – Resurrection is when people live again in heaven.

Jaxon (5) – Means they resurrect your body.

Kailie (11) – He was risen from the dead.

Paenoa (8) – When Jesus comes out of his tomb or his cave. You know what I mean.

William (5) – If a person has COVID-19, they will die in a few weeks and they go up to heaven, then they come down and they will live again.

Shelby (7) – Risen.

Rachel (8) – Resurrection is when our spirit and our body are together again.

Tyler (7) – WHen you come back to life in heaven.

Rory (4) – The help.

Tayj (7) – It’s when you come back alive.

Samuel (6) – When someone is dead, they can come back alive, like Jesus. He died for us and he came back alive.

Sydney (7) – Second coming when you come back to life.

Shailym (10) – When you come back from the dead.

Shen (10) – Being alive again.

By Bailey (10)

Why Did Jesus Live Again?

Nizana (5) – He wanted to see us.

Rachel (8) – So that we can live again. We are following in his footsteps. We can live again, too.

Sydney (7) – To show that we will live again, too.

Anela (5) – Jesus love us. So he can die so we can live.

Ana Julia (10) – The reason why Jesus lived again is because he rose from the dead.

Sophia (6) – So when we die, we get to live with him.

Chase (10) – So we could all return to heaven with him.

Kyla (11) – So we can. We won’t be in the world forever, so when he comes the second time, there will be 1,000 years of peace. He came down so he can help us with our faith.  Some people believe but they have doubts.  Why did he come then and not now?  So he can come teach us now.

Dezi (12) – Se we can live again.

Annie (9) – So we can do it again.

Samuel (6) – So then we could get taught what was true again.

Kailie (11) – So that we could live again.

Beau (8) – So he could make us live, I’m pretty sure.

Ian (9) – He was resurrected.

Shen (10) – He resurrected.

Alise (12) – He lived again so we could live again, too.

Amelia (10) – He lived again so that he could return to Heavenly Father and so that all of our sins could be forgiven.

Aubrey (4) – Because Santa lived. Santa and Jesus are the best. Yesterday, Santa was at church.

Kamila (5) – He lived again because he came alive on the third day.

Jaxon (5) – He had faith.

Adam (4) – He got resurrected. He helped us.

Zachary (4) – He died.

Kobe (8) – He can’t die or it will be a bad world.

Elisabeth (9) – Cause he was resurrected.

By Matthew (7)

Paenoa (8) – Cause his second coming.

Kilikina (4) – Cause he’s Jesus.

James (3) – Cause he got scared.

Evie (9) – Cause he got resurrected.

Emmett (3) – Because the turtle wanted to walk on the side and live with Jesus.

Akilha (8) – Because if we didn’t have him, we wouldn’t have day or night.

Tyler (7) – Because he’s supposed to.

Shailym (10) – Because he was resurrected. And because he wanted to tell us that we will all be resurrected, good or bad, we will still be resurrected.

Dane (6) – Because he was resurrected.

Rory (4) – Because he wanted to die for us and then he was under something and then he came back alive.

Kalani (8) – Because he resurrected.

WIlliam (8) – Because he resurrected.

McKean (8) – Because he prayed in the garden.

Addy (7) – Because he is the Son of God and he is doing a very good thing.

Lila (8) – Because he is the Son of God and because he loves us and it was a sign that we can all do it, too.

Eva (5) – Because he had the power of Heavenly Father and he was our savior and so he died for us so that we will be resurrected, too.

Gabby (6) – Because he had extra power and he loved us.

Tayj (7) – Because he got resurrected.

Ava (8) – Because he came to life in 3 days and showed other people.

Bratcher (5) – Because he could and he’s a great man.

Emilia (5) – Because he got resurrected.

Joshua (5) – Because Heavenly Father gave power.

Lynlee (9) – So that we could be resurrected and so that we could have a perfect body just like him.

Matthew (7) -So that we can be resurrected.

Kate (10) – He lived again to make it possible so we could live again.

Shelby (7) – To heal more people.

Ethan (7) – So we can see Him again.

Keahu (6) – Because he had faith.

Ka’ihi (10) –Because he had to be resurrected so that we could all be resurrected and then they would believe they would be resurrected.

Hina (4) – So he could live forever and help.

Jesus and Mary at the Empty Tomb by Kate (10)

The children described the resurrection of Jesus so simple and beautifully.  And they know why Jesus needed to live again.  Some of the way they phrased their answers inspired me to expand the way I see the resurrection in different ways.  I love how all of our testimonies grow line upon line.  I’m grateful to the children for sharing theirs.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

As I got older, my vision cleared. My parents were doing their best to guide me, and my siblings were simply living their lives. They weren’t trying to be irritating. It wasn’t their fault that I was a hormone-riddled hot mess. Now that I’ve grown up, I really enjoy my family. We sit around and talk and laugh together. My siblings are some of my favorite people.

Childlike Joy

I especially enjoy the holidays. I love seeing things through my child’s eyes. Everything is fresh and new and full of delight — and his delight brings the best parts of my childhood memories back to me.

At Easter, he tries to catch the Easter Bunny on his rounds. At Christmas, he is ready at dawn to see what Santa brought. I know that will fade as he gets older, but for now, it really makes everything that much more magical. As a parent, my little family is the most important thing in my world.

For most of us, the holidays mean gathering with family. Unfortunately, for many, that causes a lot of stress. We remember past offenses, worry that our families will be judgmental, or that they will not live up to our hopes and expectations.

Simplify

I have had many times when a gathering has stressed me out, so I sympathize with those in similar situations — but I’ve learned something recently that I’d love to share with you. Hopefully it will help. It’s a small thing: simplify.

Looking back at the gatherings that left me feeling like my head would explode, they all had something in common: I was making too big a deal of things. I was trying to plan that elaborate Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people, complete with pre-dinner games and place settings that would wow everyone.

I was reading magazines or on Pinterest, expecting my life to measure up to those glossy and perfected images. But those images never held the most important ingredient: my family. In letting go of some of my over-the-top plans, I am free to enjoy the time with company. They likely enjoy being around me too since I am far less stressed.

Forgive

Another reason we feel stress at the holidays are because we are harboring hard feelings from years past. Many families have history that make gatherings stressful. For those in that situation, forgiveness is vital to getting your peace of mind back.

It’s not fair to yourself to let every gathering make you sick to your stomach — and chances are that the person who hurt you will never do enough to make it up to you. Often, the offense requires caution in dealing with that person in the future. But you don’t have to let it eat at you.

Holding grudges will make those inevitable gatherings that much more stressful. I’m not suggesting that you torture yourself, but remember your children are making memories and deserve to interact with their relatives, despite how you may feel about them — assuming they aren’t dangerous.

Strength

To read more of Patty’s articles, click here.

Family is a strengthening force. When relationships are good, they are an unequaled source of support and guidance. It’s not healthy to hold onto grudges and past injuries, and since the next generation is looking to us for an example of how to behave, let’s give them a good one. Past hurts need to heal, and we are the ones in the driver’s seat.

Bitterness is the poison we swallow, hoping to kill another. But if we can rid our hearts of that poison by forgiving freely, it will strengthen our family relationships and we will all be blessed. Then, our newly strengthened family will bless every member of it.

Patty Sampson

Patty thrives on all things creative. You’ll often find her in the garden pretending she is a suburban farmer. She loves meeting new people, and is devoted to her friends and family. In her heart she is a Midwesterner even though life has moved her all over the country. She believes in “blooming where you’re planted” and has found purpose in every place she has been. She has a deep and abiding love for the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loves editing LDS Blogs because it is a constant spiritual uplift. Not many people can say their job builds their witness of the Savior.

Sick

I’ve been feeling increasingly tired and sick over the last few years. I figured it was just stress. But recently, doctors finally gave me answers. I have celiac disease. It’s an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself when it sees gluten. I laugh thinking of a tiny cell freaking out and jumping on a chair like I do when I see a spider, but it’s for gluten.

Gluten is found in wheat and in several other grains, so avoiding it has been really hard for me. I’ve found it in a lot of foods, but also in my lip balm, hair spray, and shampoo. I’m lucky though because they caught mine early. The doctor thinks I’ve only had it for 5-10 years or so. Can you imagine? This disease is so hard to pinpoint that some people have it all their lives, only to figure out in their 50’s why they are ever-increasingly sick.

Grief

Last night it finally hit me all the changes I’ve been through. I was setting out an Easter egg hunt for my family and realized the Milky Way candies I love are no longer an option. (They have gluten.) And the Honey Baked Ham we serve for Easter dinner is off the list too. (There is gluten in the honey glaze that makes it so good.) I have been working with this for about a month and have found a lot of alternatives for things I love. But those two seemed to be the last straw. I started grieving.

It didn’t help that the day before I found out that my favorite restaurant was largely off limits now too. And thanks to an accidental ingestion, I was feeling awful. As I laid down to rest, a beautiful feeling came over me. I was reminded that this isn’t my new forever, this is just my new ‘right now’—that one day my body will be well and whole because my Savior sacrificed for me.

We Are Healed

The resurrected Jesus Christ finds Mary at the tomb.

When I was a teenager, I went to an unforgettable youth conference. The theme was the Savior’s life, and we spent the three or so days there learning about Him. We were divided into groups called “families,” like youth conference often is. But we were also assigned an ailment. Then, the rest of the group was responsible for helping those too infirm to get around. I think my ailment was blindness, so I wore a blindfold. It made eating and getting around difficult. But another girl in our group couldn’t walk, so she had to be carried. I was grateful that wasn’t me.

At one point in the experience, we were told that Jesus had come, and that He had healed our sicknesses. We were all allowed to take off our blindfolds, oven mitts, etc., and to stop being carried around. It was wonderful! Everything looked so beautiful after being stuck a day or so in darkness. Then they led us through the final days of the Savior’s life, His suffering in the Garden, and Crucifixion on the cross.

He Suffered to Free Us

To read more of Abby’s work, click here.

Nobody has ever suffered as much as the Savior. The scriptures say that He suffered so much that blood came out of every pore, and that He suffered more than man could suffer. I looked it up, and bleeding from your pores is called Hematidrosis. Wikipedia tells us that it’s “a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress” (emphasis added).  There have been few cases of people going through this in history, but none live long afterward. Our Savior suffered that and more. He suffered both physical and emotional agony.

In direct contrast, we are told of the glory of our Risen Lord. After the darkness, pain, and living hell that must have been Gethsemane and Golgotha, our Savior rose from the dead. He overcame everything for everyone who has and will ever live. Because of Him, I know that we will all live again, perfect and whole. It’s that comfort that is getting me through this Easter.

As I search for a way to live a healthy life without so much of what I grew up with, I know that it’s not going to last forever. Because of Him, this trial will end someday—and He will support me every step of the way. I’m so grateful for Him and for all He has done for me.

Abby Christianson

Abby is capable and caring. She is learning more about Autism and parenthood every day. Having completed training to be an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) for ABA therapy she is beginning to understand her son. And even though she is the first to admit she makes a lot of mistakes, she is so grateful to be on this journey. She comes from a family with many autistic members. She invites us to join her, as she shares her adventures. She wishes to emphasize that Autism is a difference not a defect. If you or a family member have autism, Abby wants you to know that the challenges can be overcome, and there are blessings in autism. You or your loved one are not sick or broken. Together we will teach the world this new language.

Part of the experience is retelling the story of Israel in Egypt. Not only should the story be retold, but it should be retold from our present tense perspective! First person, in the now.

Basic Rules of telling the story:

 

Tell it in first person, in the now. Don’t say, “Long ago, the ancient Hebrews…” Say, “When we were slaves in Egypt, the perverse socio-bureaucratic system thoroughly crushed every individual’s sense of self-worth!” Everything that happened there parallels something in each of our lives. We are truly living it now. We are simply examining our own lives in the dress of ancient Egypt.

 

It’s all about miracles. Moses and his signs and wonders. The Ten Plagues. The splitting of the sea. All those miracles happened so that we would look at the events of our daily life and recognize that these too are miracles. Tell it like it is: We are a people born of miracles. We endured by miracles. The very fact that we are here now telling this same story to our children in an unbroken chain of 3,316 years is an abrogation of natural law.

 

The exodus was not simply an event that happened to us. It is an event that we became. It is who we are. It is the life of each one of us, occurring again and again, in our wrestling match with the world, in our struggle with our own selves. We embody freedom in a constant mode of escape. Perhaps that is why Jews have always been the rebels of society, the ones who think out of the box. The experience of leaving Egypt left such an indelible mark on our souls, we never stopped doing it. A Jew who has stopped exiting Egypt has ceased to allow his soul to breathe.

 

To tell the story is to bring that essential self into the open, to come face to face with who we really are and resuscitate it back to life.

This went beyond likening the scriptures to myself and catapulted me into the realm of remembering and experiencing.

So we tried it with our class. Because of time constraints, I asked everyone to share one statement about the Exodus in the first-person present tense. It took a few moments to get going but then we had awesome responses.  “I am scared because of people dying around me.” “I think the locust plague is excessive.” “I’m amazed that the water is standing up around us and we’re running on dry land.” “I am tired of plagues.” “I am happy that we’re free!”

The whole story took on a new meaning. And even though we laughed about everyone’s comments, I felt amazed, too. We hadn’t really reviewed the Exodus. I just asked them to participate on the fly with a general overview. I really liked the results.

Present Tense Easter

The Savior’s last Passover lingered in my mind as I continued my day. I’d never really put myself in the first-person present tense at the Last Supper.

What would be my present tense tale?

I hear Him speaking amazing things, but I don’t quite understand what He means. I’ll ask Him tomorrow. I wonder why Judas left right now! I love spring nights in Jerusalem. I am so tired. I’ll rest my eyes for just a minute.

Or…. As Jesus talks about love, I feel His love surrounding me! He said He was the Bread of LIfe. Now I’m eating bread that He said represents His flesh. I watch His face. I see sorrow in His eyes. I hear Him speak of peace—that He will give me peace—but He must overcome. I can’t quite comprehend what that means. As we walk to Gethsemane, I see the stars and feel the dust envelope freshly-washed feet. I watch Jesus, Peter, James, and John walk further into the garden. I see Jesus is troubled. Tired from the stresses of the day, I fall asleep.

I felt such emotion as I wrote that I watched His face. That is divine remembering.

What would you say in your first-person present tense account of that momentous Easter weekend?

Elder Orson F. Whitney’s Present Tense Dream, Told in the Past Tense

As I thought about first-person accounts of Gethsemane, another memory stirred. As a young missionary, Elder Orson F. Whitney experienced a first-person Gethsemane moment.

Here are Elder Whitney’s words as he addressed a Mutual Improvement Association Conference in 1925 in a talk called “The Divinity of Jesus Christ.”

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

All of us have sinned at least once in our lives, even if we did it in ignorance. Many children are taught incorrect truths as they grow up: swearing, hatred, intolerance, etc. I have known such sweet and innocent children, and even teens and adults, who have come to think evil things to be good, because that’s what they have been taught. Christ took every one of those sins upon Himself. But this is not all.

There are those out in the world who know what the laws of God are, and knowingly break those laws. At some point in their lives, they have been taught what is right or have felt the promptings of the Holy Spirit telling them what they are doing is wrong and have ignored those feelings. Even to the most vile sinners has the Lord offered the chance to be cleansed, by taking upon Him those sins, fully experiencing what they experienced and knowing why they did what they did. But this is not all.

“In Gethsemane Jesus took the full force of God’s overwhelming and retributory punishment. Justice demanded it, and we, who are sinners, deserve it. According to the rules framing the universe, the full consequences of transgressed laws cannot be dismissed or overlooked. They must be borne by someone – the sinner or the substitute. Jesus was that substitute for all of us who will allow him to be so” (Andrew C. Skinner, Gethsemane, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002, p.51).

In other words, when we sin, justice demands a punishment. If we do not repent, we must face the punishment ourselves. However, if we become remorseful, and truly repent of the sin(s) committed, Christ’s suffering in the Garden will be enough to erase the sin. He has already endured the punishment for us. But this is not all.

In the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Christ, we are taught a new truth concerning what the Savior took upon Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. These words come from a prophet by the name of Alma, who lived in the Americas around 80 BC.

“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind’ and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 

“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11-12).

Christ took upon Himself our infirmities. What does this tell us? It means that He knows what it’s like to have cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis, autism, depression, and myriads of other illnesses and diseases we are sometimes asked to endure to bring us a little closer to Him. Not only this, but He understands our pains. He knows what it’s like when we lose a loved one to death, to watch someone suffer needlessly and feel unable to help, to be tempted to the point of aching to give in. He knows and understands everything we will ever go through, whether it’s what God the Father places on our shoulders to endure, what we will bring upon ourselves through incorrect choices, or simply just the trials associated with mortality. He knows. Surely all of this should be enough for us to be spiritually saved, but even this is not all.

There came a point in those awful hours, when He had gone through so much already even to the point of having an angel there to strengthen Him (Luke 22:43), when one more thing had to happen for the Atonement to truly be complete. The Spirit of God was removed from Him. Think for a moment about how terrifying and horrible this must have been to someone who had never been without the light of God the Father in His entire life. In that moment of spiritual darkness, He became subject to the fullness of Satan’s wrath.

Boyd K. Packer, a late apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said:

“He, by choice, accepted the penalty for all mankind for the sum total of all wickedness and depravity….In choosing, He faced all the awesome power of the evil one who was not confined to the flesh, nor subject to mortal pain. That was Gethsemane” (Boyd K. Packer, “Atonement, Agency, Accountability“, Ensign, May 1988).

It was then, divided from the light of His Father, enduring everything we choose and are asked to go through, subject to the worst Satan could inflict, that Christ began to bleed from every pore (Luke 22:44). What did Christ do in this awful moment? He began to pray more earnestly. This man, who knew more about prayer than anyone on Earth could ever hope to understand, prayed even harder.

At last it was done. Can there have been a more achingly glorious sight, unless it be the Resurrected Christ, than the picture of Him rising to His feet. Shaking, drenched in sweat and blood, He arose victorious! How the angels in Heaven must have cried out in joy! I would imagine the most comforting words to Jesus must have come from His Father. “Soon,” He might have said, “you will have rest. Just a little while longer, and we will be together again.”

Christ did all of this for us and for His Father. In taking upon Himself everything, justice has been satisfied. We can repent and become clean again. The light of God can be a constant in our lives. All of these blessing and more, because our Elder Brother descended far below us all.

All of this because He loves us.

This post was originally published in 2013. Minor changes have been made.

Laurie W

I love Easter and all that it represents.

When you consider what the Savior went through and what the Atonement required, the depth of His humility is truly astonishing. He gives His Father all the glory and simply says, “I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.” In other words, “I did what I said I would do, and I did it for mankind.” Could there ever be a greater understatement than this?

Rightfully so, we are amazed at the love Jesus offers us, confused not just by the grace He proffers us, but also by the astonishing array of Godly attributes He exemplifies.

We know human nature has it shortcomings. We are forgetful, easily distracted, and things that are repetitious or commonplace are soon taken for granted. It is when we are deprived of something that it jars our memory and reminds us, “Oh yes, I really do appreciate this thing.”

And so it is with all the blessings and opportunities that come to us because of the Savior. When was the last time you took a breath and thought, “I’m so grateful for air”?

My son Ryan worked as a river guide. On one trip down Westwater Canyon, he was ejected from the boat into one of the large rapids. A strong undercurrent held him under the water and churned him around for a while before releasing him. As he struggled to get to the surface, he bumped up against the bottom of the raft. Just as he was about to clear the edge of the boat where he could draw a much-needed breath, the current grabbed him once again and pulled him down. It grew darker, and in the tumbling, he couldn’t tell which direction was up. Just as he was thinking he was finished, he popped up to the surface quite a distance from where he started. On that day, Ryan had a new appreciation for air (and life).

When is a drink of cool water most satisfying? When does food taste most delicious to you? When are you most grateful for good health?

After these things have been denied for a time.

But try as we might, it is difficult to keep that heightened level of appreciation once the need is met and the pressure is relieved. In my lifespan, I figure I have partaken of the sacrament somewhere in the range of 2600 times.

The sacrament embodies the fulfillment of the Atonement—a series of events that permeate, transform, and holds together all things. It serves as a weekly reminder of what Christ did for us. Those small emblems are the symbols of Christ’s victory over sin and death.

But it pains me to admit that during many of those sacrament services, my mind was not on the task at hand—it wandered off onto lesser things. At times, I was merely going through the motions and not appreciating this precious gift that was given at such a staggering cost.

I remember a talk about a woman that was unable to partake of the sacrament for quite some time due to a serious transgression. Eventually her heart softened and, with great effort, she fully repented and made her way back to full fellowship. Imagine what it would be like to partake of the sacrament after years of not having that privilege? How sweet and meaningful the words of the sacrament hymn would be, and how significant the words of the sacrament prayers! Your heart would beat faster as the tray made its way down the row toward you, and then, to place that small piece of bread to your lips…! You wouldn’t be taking the sacrament for granted on that day.

But all too soon, human nature kicks in and the struggle begins anew to remember and to appreciate. That’s why we do this each week—to bring these things to our remembrance.

That is why we celebrate Easter—to remind us of what Christ did, and then to feel gratitude. The sacrament will be meaningful to us only to the degree we are taking advantage of it.

If we come to church with little or no offering (feeling no need to repent), the sacrament will have little to no significance to us. So one way to increase our appreciation for the sacrament is to bring something we can figuratively “lay on the alter”—some burden, sin, bad habit, or other fault we bring with us. Then, we thankfully allow the Lord to lift it from our heavily-laden backpack.

Just taking the sacrament does not automatically wipe the slate clean each week—we still have to complete the terms of repentance. But when we do this, the sacrament can cleanse us as if we had just been baptized.

We don’t need to lose our membership or go without the sacrament for a year in order to relish its cleansing and healing power. All we need to do is identify some aspect of our life where we have fallen short, take corrective action, and come to the sacrament service with an offering to the Lord. The sacrament will take on greater meaning and we will be less distracted as we come to see it as a time to unload our burdens at the feet of the Savior.

The Church has produced some excellent Easter videos. One of my favorites is entitled “Hallelujah—An Easter Message about Jesus Christ.” After reciting meaningful verses of scripture, each participant holds up a picture of a dear family member that has passed away—someone they long to be reunited with.

The first time I saw this video, it impacted me deeply. It made me think of my father. My heart suddenly longed to see him again, to feel his hand on my shoulder and look into his smiling eyes. I miss his wisdom, his gentleness, his loving guidance, and inspiring example.

Whose picture would you hold up? Perhaps a parent, sibling, grandparent, child, or spouse? When I think about that future day of reunion, it deepens my appreciation for this astonishing gift.

Another video entitled “Because of Him” has stirred my thoughts this past week. I’ve found myself pondering blessings that come to us because of Him. In fulfilling the requirements of the Atonement, Christ has unlocked countless blessings, gifts, and opportunities that impact us in past, present, and future ways.

Compiling a list has helped me recognize things I sometimes take for granted—things we would not have if it were not for Christ.

Because of Him, there are angels, heavenly visitations, scriptures, apostles, prophets, and revelation.

Because of Him, death has no permanent sting, the grave has no victory, and we have agency, accountability, salvation, and exaltation.

Because of Him, we have priesthood, patriarchal, and father’s blessings that provide healing, comfort, strength, guidance, and meaning in our lives.

Because of Him, there are stars in the sky, rain drops, rainbows, snowcapped mountains, and flowing rivers and oceans teeming with life. There is order, design, and rhythm in the universe. The Savior declared, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.”

Because of Him, our prayers instantly transcend vast distances of space and our words reach all the way to the throne of God, no matter who we are, where we are, or how quietly they are uttered.

Because of Him, there is a grove called sacred, and places like Eden, Gethsemane, Golgotha, the Garden Tomb, the Hill Cumorah, and Adam-Ondi-Ahman that hold special significance for us.

Because of Him, guilt can be replaced with peace, regret can change to relief, and despair can give way to hope.

Because of Him, seeds sprout, flowers and plants grow, and there is light, warmth, and life on the earth. His own voice declared, “I am the light and the life of the world…”

Because of Him, we have temples, sacred covenants, and holy alters where individuals are bound together forever into family units.

Because of Him, we have scripture, sealing, and priesthood powers, miracles, scripture heroes, and pioneer stories of faith and sacrifice.

Because of Him, there is beautiful music, heavenly choirs, sacred hymns, inspiring lyrics, and a “still small voice.”

Because of Him, there is always hope, no matter how overwhelming the odds appear to be against us. “Therefore, fear not little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.”

Because of Him, a small piece of bread and a tiny cup of water can renew, cleanse, and make us whole. There is nothing so dirty that He can’t make it worthy, nothing so broken that He can’t mend it, and nothing so lost that He can’t find it.

Because of Him, we have the strength to overcome weaknesses, shortcomings, mistakes, inadequacies, addictions, disasters, and tragedy; and the adversary’s fiery darts are quenched and deflected, and his temptations rejected. “Because of the spirit of the Lord… which has wrought a mighty change in . . . our hearts, we have no more disposition to do evil.”

To read more of Walter’s articles, click here.

Because of Him, we have forgiveness, second chances, clean slates, and new beginnings. There is no such thing as a lost cause, and what we often perceive as the end is just another door.

In fact, because of Him, there is no end.

May we strive to find ways to show greater appreciation for, and not take for granted, the blessings and precious gifts the Savior has provided us. May we show our gratitude by the way we live our lives and the way we treat others, acting as disciples of Jesus Christ.

On this Easter morn, the messages from a thousand sermons can be summed up in just two words: “He lives!” There is so much meaning packed into those words.

Christ lives and He loves you. Hallelujah!

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

Game Night

There were a lot of booths for game night.  Each ward got to choose their game and there were some really fun games like pie eating, trash bag races, basketball hoop games, and Minute-to-Win-It interspersed with games like Meet the Prophets, Book of Mormon Scriptures Chase, Name that Hymn, Family History, and Missionary Prep.

Just before game night started, the stake leaders collected us leaders together and told us the rules. They said youth could do as many games as they wanted and stay at each game for as long as they wanted to. Each youth would be given a form with boxes. As the youth came to our games, we needed to mark a box with our specific colored pen. There were three different colored pens.

I got neon pink. So did the Elders right next to me doing the scripture chase game.

I was parked in the hallway by our ward’s game room—gaming.  They had TVs and projectors set up with video games. Brother Jim Aronica’s marker was orange. It didn’t take me and Jim long to figure out what was going on. Hordes of kids went into the gaming room.  I could hear him saying, you’re welcome to stay as long as you’d like, but there’s a lot of games available if you’d like to try some other things.

My game became the perfect analogy and personal reminder.  With the stake’s permission, I had multiple options for checking boxes. If they took a picture and posted with the stake hashtag, I could check a box. If they completed my scavenger hunt they could check a box.

Since kids could do games as often as they wanted, several posted several pics on different social media platforms and got checks for each one.  But they hadn’t been told that the number of checked boxes mattered, so most of them didn’t care that much about checking their boxes.

My scavenger hunt required some commitment.  They had to find the four pages (not hard) and return and report.  None of the kids had QR code readers, so luckily I’d followed the prompting to make an extra set of the pages. After they found the four pages around the room, I showed them the clues at my booth. It took commitment but was super fast really.However, most of the kids I explained the game to never came back.

Judgment

About an hour and a half into a three hour game night, the lights went out and thunder roared. A loud voice on the microphone said we were all dead (a little more eloquently than that.)  Everyone moved to a single file line and were filed into a room. Leaders on the side watched as youth handed their form to kind bishopric and stake leaders in suits who judged and graded their forms.  They assigned the form a letter, B, R, or G and the youth took their form to a stake young woman leader who stamped their form with Good, Better, or Best.  Then the youth formed a single line again and exited the judgment hall.

Their reactions during judgment were diverse and interesting.  Kids who had been in the same group were getting different stamps and wanting to know what the other stamp was.  But the atmosphere was extraordinarily quiet with just curious whispers and communicative glances.

The Spirit World

Leaders joined the line of youth periodically and we walked through a contrived “hallway” of white sheets and white Christmas lights into the chapel overflow area.  We walked past “Welcome, Home…”   “my child” and saw our reflection in the mirror.  We turned a little corner and walked into the arms of stake presidency, the patriarch, and other leaders right before a life-sized and gorgeous image of Jesus Christ.

The leaders in the chapel, all dressed in white, hugged us as we passed them towards chapel seats. While seated and waiting, we listened to members of the talented stake choir singing hymns. Glorious.

When everyone arrived from judgment, a speaker explained what happened and particulars of the plan of salvation’s death and judgment.  She kept saying “Choices matter.  Your choices matter.” We don’t know how long we have on this earth and every choice matters. We watched several impactful videos about choices and the Savior.

After a wonderful fireside, we exited the chapel released to return home.  The life-sized Savior had been moved to our exit route.  He was so beautiful there.

What an awesome opportunity to participate in that special moment.  I’m glad I made the choice to stay when they asked for leaders to help instead of heading out immediately so I could finish a work project. I finished the work project at 11:57 pm, just in time.  So it all worked out.

I loved having this experience right before Palm Sunday.  I felt like my heart shifted a little to appreciate the Savior’s sacrifice a little more.

I thought about all of the people who died without hearing the name of Jesus Christ or the promise of His resurrection.  I imagined some of their reactions were similar to the youth screaming when the lights when out. I felt so much appreciation for the Father’s plan of salvation that prepared a way for all of His children to hear the gospel message.

I also compared how I felt to the visible shake-up of some of the kids.  I didn’t know exactly what would happen, but I knew something would happen and had a basic strategic assumption of what that would be so I actually looked forward to the revelation of that experience. Instead of fear or dread, I felt anticipation.

I thought of President Joseph F. Smith’s vision of the faithful awaiting the Savior’s arrival to the Spirit world after His crucifixion. I can’t even comprehend how they felt, how that anticipation felt.

As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.

 

And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;

 

And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer’s name.

 

All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

 

I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.

 

They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.

 

Their sleeping dust was to be restored unto its perfect frame, bone to his bone, and the sinews and the flesh upon them, the spirit and the body to be united never again to be divided, that they might receive a fullness of joy.

 

While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;

 

And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance….

 

And the saints rejoiced in their redemption, and bowed the knee and acknowledged the Son of God as their Redeemer and Deliverer from death and the chains of hell.

 

Their countenances shone, and the radiance from the presence of the Lord rested upon them, and they sang praises unto his holy name.

I know the Savior lives again and His atoning sacrifice enables me and you to live again!

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

On Palm Sunday, multitudes praised Jesus as He entered Jerusalem’s gates.

And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

Most of those people turned from Him in the coming week. But as I apply this to myself and my worship, I read this as the multitude of believers that went before His birth, crucifixion and resurrection. I am one that followed those glorious events.  I stand with those before, after, and during who proclaim, “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb. Amen, Amen, and Amen,”

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

For some, Christmas and Easter church attendance are traditions and little more, something they do twice a year and that’s all. For others, church attendance is a weekly event, but once that hour or so is over, so is their Christian lifestyle. And yet, Christianity was meant to be carried out all year long. The messages of Christmas and Easter weren’t designed to make us feel good for an hour—they were meant to change our lives, every year, every day, every hour.

It’s the day after Easter. Now what?

As the editor for the articles on this website, I have had the opportunity to read every Easter article submitted very carefully, usually more than once. I read them when I receive them, when I place them here, when they are released, and sometimes I go back and read them again just because of what they are teaching me.

I’ve wept over some, stopped and outlined plans for change because of others, and realized, once again that Easter will take all year to carry out. I’ve been making a list of the challenges our writers have offered us for the coming year—and forever.

Nanette noted last week that for Mormons, it’s Holy Week all year. “Holy Week happens every Sunday for the Latter-day Saint—even every day when a Latter-day Saint is serving her fellow man.” In her first Easter article, she outlined the things we can do all year to keep the holiness we sense during Holy Week all year long:

• Follow the Savior, even when it’s hard.
• Find strength in the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Put aside the desire to judge others.
• Become your brother’s keeper.
• Become a true disciple.
• Increase our love for the Savior.
• Improve our ability and longing to follow Jesus Christ.

Forgiving: Not Just for Easter

Patty asked us to take the time to forgive our family members who have hurt us so that our Easter gathering can be more meaningful and filled with love. She noted that it isn’t always easy, but that our children deserve these special memories. She suggested we lighten up on the elaborate festivities and keep things simple so we can focus more on the things that matter.

Family is a strengthening force. When relationships are good, they are an unequaled source of support and guidance. And with Easter approaching this is a great time to try to better our relationships with our families. It’s not healthy to hold onto grudges and past injuries. And the next generation is looking to us for an example of how to behave. Our kindness will not go unnoticed. And the strengthened family will bless every member of it.

Don’t Forget Jesus When Planning Your Easter Celebration

Then I read Krystal’s article. She caught herself getting so wound up about the secular part of Easter she nearly got carried away. She wrote about how she slowed down and realized she needed to teach her little daughter the real meaning of Easter by starting some spiritual Easter traditions. She suggested a wonderful list of things we can do to put Christ back into our Easter—on Easter and all year long.

“I use the [resurrection] eggs as décor around the house so amidst the egg hunts and visits to see the Easter bunny we can remember the true meaning of Easter because the resurrection eggs are all around us. I am not against egg hunts or anything like that. It’s important to do those fun things also. We love dyeing eggs at our house, and I have an embarrassing weakness to Reese’s Peanut butter eggs…but I will try a little harder to make a point to really focus on the Savior and all he did for us. I also hope to carry that spirit of Easter all year long.

Finding Christ in this Year’s Easter Egg Hunt

The Atonement Helps Us Forgive the Very Worst Things

I had known Valerie’s article was coming months ago, and when I read it, I was so moved I completely forgot to format it. It took me three reads before I remembered I was supposed to be the editor, not just a reader. Valerie is a convert to Christianity and she wrote that one-fourth of her family was lost to Hitler’s vicious attack on the Jewish people.

At first, that was so painful to her she couldn’t talk about it or face it. When she learned about the atonement of Jesus Christ, however, she found what she needed to forgive—and even to forgive Hitler.

Letting Go of Tragedy: Forgiveness and the Atonement from Jesus Christ

Forgive Ourselves on Easter

To read more of Terrie’s articles, click the picture.

Finally, like bookends on our favorite shelf, we return to Nanette, who wrapped up our Easter celebration with the reminder that we can be forgiven by Jesus, no matter how many mistakes we’ve made. The atonement is for us, too.

Peter denied Christ three times during the night before His crucifixion. He wept bitterly because of it. But after His resurrection, Christ sat with Peter and entrusted his church to him. If Peter can be forgiven, so can we.

Forgiving others, forgiving ourselves, strengthening the role of our Savior in our lives…Easter at LDSBlogs.com has reminded us that, as Nanette said, it’s Holy Week every week. Let’s remember as we move forward into the spring.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

I have a strong testimony of my Savior and the love He has for me and for everyone who has ever lived. My testimony has deepened over the years as I have learned of my personal worth to Him. I used to doubt, but I’ve witnessed too many personal miracles to deny His love for me. But it wasn’t always this way.

We can overcome rebellion through repentance

Like Judas, I too had lived through times of rebellion against my Savior. Who hasn’t at one time or another in their lives? As we negotiate this life we have a daunting mission. We are expected to balance the freedom to choose with the available choices in life. We must temper our emotions with common sense and civility. And we should do all this with a positive and good-hearted nature.

This can be a frustrating task. Frustration can lead to rebellion. Open rebellion against the Savior can happen to anyone in any family if we fail to keep our eye single to the glory of God. But the atonement can make up for this failure as well. Judas did not repent of his rebellion in this life, but we do not know what miracles are working in his heart in the spirit world. For us, we can overcome rebellion through repentance.

When I’ve carried anger and pride for too long, when I’m too weak to keep doing things “my way” which is always the harder way, when I’ve ignored the sweet peace of the gospel for too long, I find myself on my knees, asking God for forgiveness. And when I do, my sins are forgiven and I am clean again.

If Peter can be forgiven, so can we

Like Peter, there are times in my life where I deny my Savior. I feel the pressures of the world around me and give in. Perhaps you have felt that way too—during trials in your life when you felt alone. You may have been embarrassed to side with Christ, especially when the world is moving further and further away from him.

Peter denied Christ three times during the night before His crucifixion. He wept bitterly because of it. But after His resurrection, Christ sat with Peter and entrusted his church to him. If Peter can be forgiven, so can we.

If Mary who was a sinner could see the Savior, then so will we

Like Mary Magdalene, there are times in my life when I sin. No one lives a perfect life, not the scholarly or those that appear more pious than others. Some sins are bigger than others, but no sin can go unaccounted for.

The Savior paid the price for all sins, past, present and future; mine, yours and Mary’s. She was the first to see the resurrected Christ. On the Sunday after His death, Mary went to tend to his body in the tomb, to apply oils and new dressings. When she saw the stone had been rolled away, she wept for Him, fearing the guards had taken His body. As she cried, the Savior came from behind her and called to her. She did not recognize his voice at first.

When He called her by name, she knew it was Him. Hearing her own name being spoken by her Savior was familiar enough to her. She turned to see Him in his resurrected form. She wanted to hug him, but he bade her not, for He had not yet returned to His father. But she saw Him—she was the first to see him, even before his apostles and other disciples. If Mary who was a sinner could see the Savior, then so will we.

If Thomas can have doubts and still have eyes to see, so can I

Morning Devotional
To read more of Nanette’s devotionals, click the picture.

Like Thomas, I have doubted. Thomas was not there when Christ showed himself to the other apostles. He heard about it later when they came to him and testified of what they had seen. He didn’t believe.

I think his heart ached to believe, but he needed more of a witness. So happily, Thomas got his wish. The Savior appeared to the apostles again, this time with Thomas in the room.

He felt the wounds in His hands and feet. He knew of a surety that this was the Christ. If Thomas can have doubts and still have eyes to see, so can I. Christ shows me through personal revelation, through Priesthood authority on the earth, through loving kindness of others.

Easter is a time when I stand in awe of my Savior for his infinite atonement. I realize that first Easter morning signifies a rebirth for all of mankind. No matter how many times we rebel, deny, sin, or doubt, we can be forgiven. We will live again because Jesus overcame death. We will be made clean and pure again because Jesus overcame the effects of sin.

Nanette ONeal

Nanette O’Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.

The abject sorrow that comes with death, the bereavement that follows the passing of a loved one are mitigated only by the certainty of the Resurrection of the Son of God that first Easter morning (Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1995-2008), This Glorious Easter Morn, Apr. 1996 General Conference).

All of us will grieve the loss of loved ones. It is part of our mortal experience. I’m old enough to have mourned the loss of a number of loved ones, young and old. My grandparents, parents, my husband’s parents, my stepson, my husband’s nephew, and aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides have all passed away.

As a matter of fact, today marks the 33rd anniversary of the baby I lost by miscarriage. While the experience is not always the same, President Hinckley was right; the only thing that eventually eases the pain is that perfect faith in the resurrection.

Each Easter as I study about and ponder that first Easter morning and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I’m filled with joy and wonder. The knowledge of resurrection is both comforting and empowering. I take comfort in knowing that we will all be resurrected and made whole. There will be no pain, nor suffering. Our imperfect bodies will be perfected. Empowerment comes with knowing that if my family is obedient to our Heavenly Father’s commandments, we will live together once more.

Empowerment comes with action to make that happen. I don’t have to sit idly by and wonder what may or may not happen after death—I can participate in making a loving eternal home for my family.

I am humbled and awe struck by the sacrifice of my Savior, Jesus Christ. The love that He has for us is incomprehensible. As a writer, it is frustrating there are no words in my vocabulary to describe how His love makes me feel—or how it affects my life.

The older I get, the more understanding I gain. The more understanding I gain, the more the Savior’s sacrifice affects the everyday decisions I make. That first Easter morning is both a comfort and a constant reminder to me that I need to keep my focus on Jesus Christ and follow Him.

Death is a part of living, as is birth. None of us escapes either. Grief is a part of losing loved ones, and does not mean a lack of faith. Grief is a natural part of love. In that grief, however, we can feel comfort in knowing that Jesus knows our pain. He suffered all pain so that He could have the necessary compassion for us. The comfort He gives is a direct result of the suffering He endured for us.

Heavenly Father has provided a way for us to overcome death through the atonement and sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can be comforted through the same process. We can be healed of our grief.

Easter gives us something else—hope.

The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice. But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice. —Henry Knox Sherrill

The spiritual power that Mr. Sherrill refers to is hope. We have the power to hope for something better than we have here. We have hope that we will live with our Heavenly Parents, and we have hope that we will be with our families forever. We have hope that our pain is washed away and our bodies renewed and perfected.

It is that hope that gives us the willingness to do the work. Mr. Sherrill refers to work, discipline, and sacrifice. I love that he puts the burden of eternal happiness right where it should be—on us. We must do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice.

All those verbs belong to us; not the Lord. He has done his part. He has atoned for our sins and suffered the cruelty and agony of the cross at Calvary. It is our responsibility to meet Him the rest of the way. If we aren’t willing to do our part, we can’t very well complain about the end result.

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances. —Robert Flatt

To read more of Tudie’s articles, click here.

As an imperfect mortal being, I make a lot of mistakes—just ask my children. Sometimes I feel like I’m 60 years old going on 15. I want to be so much further along in my spiritual development than is the reality. Easter gives me hope. The atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ is something that I think about daily, because I make mistakes daily.

I know that if I just have faith, I will also have power to pick up and start again. The resurrection does give my life meaning and direction. Heaven knows my need to start over constantly. That’s the beauty of Easter morning. It brings hope. We hope not only to be reunited with loved ones, but for comfort in our grief, guidance in our lives, endurance in our pain and suffering, and determination to keep trying.

Tudie Rose

Tudie Rose is a mother of four and grandmother of ten in Sacramento, California. You can find her on Twitter as @TudieRose. She blogs as Tudie Rose at http://potrackrose.wordpress.com. She has written articles for Familius. You will find a Tudie Rose essay in Lessons from My Parents, Michele Robbins, Familius 2013, at http://www.familius.com/lessons-from-my-parents.