Easter

I want somehow, to express my gratitude for this holiday and what it represents to all of Christianity. I have, however, never been gifted in matters of writing. So, please excuse my simple testimony of this event.

I do not fully understand how the Atonement of Jesus Christ took place, nor can I comprehend it's ability to cleanse me from wrong and imperfection. I do, however, have an unfailing knowledge that it does work and that a sinless and perfect Christ gave his life for all mankind.

I serve with the primary children (ages 4-11) in our church and today's lesson was on the events surrounding Christ's death and resurrection. We listed on the board things that the Savior endured during the final days of his life; he was betrayed, spit upon, reviled, denied, whipped, mocked, and crucified. And yet He responded by healing, forgiving, submitting to the will of the Father, giving His life and ultimately conquering death. Elder Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the following:

“Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].

My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ’s lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosa in our present day. [...]—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone.”

I am incalculably grateful for my Savior, for the Atonement He willingly performed on my behalf and for the knowledge I have been given; that He conquered death and that the tomb stands empty.

"He is not here; for he is risen" Matthew 28:6

And on a side note, here are our 3 bedlamites (as termed by Elder Holland), dressed in their Easter best. :)