SodySpokes

Easter

Acts 12:4 is the only place in the Bible that the word “Easter” is used. In the foot notes it is mentioned that it could be changed to “Passover”. My husband and I had quite a discussion about this term. This feast of Easter came in the Spring Equinox / or about the time of Passover.

There was an interesting news segment about a Jewish family that was observing the Passover. Each item on the plate was symbolic and there was a prayer or song after each type of food that was to be eaten. The Jews, because of their traditions of their fathers, even those according to their faith, are still waiting. One of these traditions is to have an extra plate at the table and the door open, incase Elijah happens to stop in and want to share the Passover with the family.

What are these people waiting for?

For The Messiah? We know He has come and fulfilled all the scriptures pertaining to his live. death and resurrection.

For Elijah? We know he came at the time of Passover and gave his keys of the sealing power and turning hearts to Joseph Smith in the Temple.

For Salvation? They claim the Passover is to represent the Jews as being freed - the Passover stands for Freedom from Egypt and from the angel of death for the first born sons.

In the Book of Mormon – 1 Nephi 12: 4 - 6 – the prophesy about Christ visiting the Americas.

– 3 Nephi 8: 5 - 7 - they are waiting for the signs

– 3 Nephi 11: 2 - 12 - they remember the Christ said he would show Himself to them after his death, resurrection and ascension.

Elder Franklin D. Richards gave a talk in Conference in April of 1975, he

said this:

“Easter time is indeed a forceful reminder that the human spirit cannot be confined. It does not deny the reality of death, but is offers us an assurance that God has preserved life beyond the grave.

It is interesting to note, however, that the restored gospel as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints encompasses the belief of a literal resurrection, which is radically different from the concept taught by most Christian churches and other faiths.

President Grant often told how several hundred ministers were asked, “Do you believe that after you die you will live again as a conscious entity, knowing and being known as you are?” No doubt all of these ministers had conducted Easter services, but in answering, none actually believed in a literal resurrection as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches.”

***One of my co-workers told me that for her, the resurrection did not hit her or really register with her until she lost a child. After that event in her life, she came to have a better hope and understanding of the resurrection.

President Gordon B Hinckley had this to say at Easter Conference in 1996:

“This is Easter morning. This s the Lord’s day, when we celebrate the greatest victory of all time, the victory over death.

Those who hated Jesus thought they had put an end to Him forever when the cruel spikes pierced His quivering flesh and the cross was raised on Calvary. But this was the Son of God, with whose power they did not reckon. Through His death came the Resurrection and the assurance of eternal life. None of us can fully understand the pain He bore as He prayed in Gethsemane and subsequently hung in ignominy between two thieves while those who looked at Him taunted Him and said, “He saved others, himself he cannot save”.

With sorrow unspeakable those who loved Him placed His wounded, lifeless body in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Gone was hope from the lives of His Apostles, whom He had loved and taught. He to whom they had looked as Lord and Master had been crucified and His body laid in a sealed tomb. He had taught them of His eventual death and Resurrection, but they had not understood. Now they were forlorn and dejected. They must have wept and wondered as the great stone was rolled to seal the burial place.

*** I have a friend who’s son was saved from certain death when he was in a truck accident. Saved only by Divine Intervention - this friend and her family are grateful for the Atonement and the chance that this child has to repent and change his life back toward Christ and His church. This son claims to be grateful for this Second Chance of Life to change and be a better follower of Christ.

Picking up the story - this is from President Ezra Taft Benson in April of 1992 -

“The scriptural record tells us that on the third day following Jesus’s crucifixion, there was a great earthquake. The stone was rolled back from the door of the tomb. Some of the women, among the most devoted of His followers, came to the place with spices “and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Angels appeared and said simply, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” Nothing in history equals that dramatic announcement. “He is not here, but is risen.” (Luke 24: 3-6)

The fact of our Lord’s resurrection is based on the testimonies of many credible witnesses. The risen Lord appeared to several women, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to Peter, to the Apostles, and “after that” as Paul reported, “he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once…And last of all he was seen of {Paul} also.” (1 Cor. 15: 6,

–Back to President Hinckley : he asks, “Can anyone doubt the veracity of that account? No event of history has been more certainly confirmed. There is the testimony of all who saw and felt and spoke with the risen lord. He appeared on two continents in two hemispheres and taught the people before His final ascension. Two sacred volumes, two testaments speak of this most glorious of all events in all the human history. But these are only accounts, the faithless critic says. To which we reply that beyond these is the witness and the testimony borne by the power of the Holy Ghost, of the truth and validity of this most remarkable event.

President Benson:

Worshipfully and with great joy, the Apostles returned to Jerusalem. The Lord’s ascension was accomplished. Now the disciples began to comprehend more fully some of His last words. “Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (John 15:33) Because of Christ, the grave had no permanent victory. Death was overcome.”

*** that is the testimony of the New Testament ***

PB: “Following His ascension, He appeared to the inhabitants of America as chronicled in the Book of Mormon.” ** this is the testimony of the BoM** “Then in modern times the Prophet Joseph Smith testified of the appearance of the Redeemer of the world in these words: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That He lives!! For we saw him.” (D&C 76: 22-23) **the testimony of the first Prophet in this Fullness of Times Dispensation

then President Benson says:

“As one of His latter-day witnesses, I testify that He lives today. He is a resurrected Being. He is our Savior, our Lord, the very Son of God. I testify that he will come again as our glorified, resurrected Lord. That day is not far distant. To all who accept Him as Savior and Lord. His literal resurrection means that life does not end at death, for He promised: “Because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14:19)

President Hinckley says:

“He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! His lives, resplendent and wonderful, the living Son of the living God. Of this we bear solemn testimony this day of rejoicing, this Easter morning, when we commemorate the miracle of the empty tomb, in the name of Him who rose from the dead, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.”

“No Candy for Easter” / Or turn the time over for the sisters to bear their own testimonies.

I wish to tell you that I know that President Hinckely is the current Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ and that I know that God lives and loves all of us.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

President Gordon B Hinckley: Through the centuries untold numbers have paid with the sacrifice of their comforts, their fortunes, their very lives for the convictions they carried in their hearts of the reality of the risen, living Lord.

Tags: Church, Death, Easter, Jesus Christ, Life |