I get the lovely opportunity to speak on Easter Sunday this year...I thought I would post my talk on here. Good things to ponder over during this time a year.
I have to say I am so grateful for the opportunity to study and prepare a talk for such a special occasion, it has really made this week very spiritual and my testimony of the Savior has definitely grown.There is so much symbolism to be found and so many lessons to be learned from our Savior’s final days on the earth. The lessons he taught, the things he did and said are all testaments to how much he loves us. He knew he only had a few days left and he didn't run off and try to fulfill some bucket list... I think if we were told we only had hours left on earth we would do as he did...set your house in order...make sure your loved ones, your children knew the most important lessons in life, to make sure they would be alright without you and to make sure they knew you loved them...and that is just what the Savior did for us in those final hours. I would like to touch upon a few of those final lessons. I will start with the last supper. The first principle He taught at the last supper was of humility. He did this by setting a perfect example by washing the apostles’ feet. John 3:16 &17, Verily, verily, I say unto you , The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. He is also teaching us about service here. As the night went on and the Savior was telling the apostles of the events to come and the apostles were growing more and more sorrowful, He promised them that he would not leave them comfortless but that he would send “the Comforter”, the Holy Ghost who would “bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, John 14:26 Elder Bruce R. McConkie said ,”The greatest gift known to and enjoyed by mortals is the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the right to the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead based on righteousness.” The savior also taught us about trusting in the Lord during this final supper. John 14:27 says Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. We may not always know the reason behind the trail or commandment but we can be confident in the Lord that he will help us through and following Him will always be to our benefit and blessing. He taught of love…as I have loved thee, love one another. Not just loving thy neighbor as thyself but now loving others as Christ loves us. He taught us about the sacrament as he broke and blessed that unleavened bread and poured that wine., asking us to remember Him as we partake of it. As the Savior told the apostles that this would be there last meeting together they were so upset and wept over him. The Savior then teaches us another lesson about the importance of scared music. He and his apostles, seeking spiritual strength, sang a hymn together. Like prayer, spiritual music can lift our souls. In Gethsemane the Savior suffered for our sins. It is written in many places that the pain and anguish felt by the savior as he knelt among those olive trees would be incomprehensible to man. He continues to teach us by example here. When he was at his lowest and in such horrible pain he prayed earnestly to his father in Heaven, teaching us that in our deepest and darkest times we too can pray and put our trust in the Lord. Alma 7:12 states And he will take up 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 to their infirmities. Jesus had to suffer all sins so that he would know all sin, grief, and pain so that he can have mercy and empathy and so that he will know how to help us through our own sin and grief. Jesus’ suffering in Gethsemane also teaches us about commitment…he had made a promise in the pre-mortal life to do this and he was sticking to his word. Elder Maxwell has written, “I thank him in every situation, for maintaining His grip on Himself, which was also mankind’s hold on the eternal future.”
During His arrest and trial Jesus once again leads us by example. He shows us true perservence and endurance…with 36 plus hours without sleep, extensive walking while bound, intense agony and great loss of blood, no food and physical abuse. Jesus never once lost control of himself or the situation. …I am going to save this little tid-bit for when I hear any complaining about the Trek.
The crucifixion of Christ carries with it many lessons as well. One that has always stood out to me is the principle of forgiveness. Jesus’ first words after being nailed to the cross were Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Talking about the Soldiers who had just caused him such physical pain and agony. Such depth of character it takes to forgive an enemy. The other lesson that I find mind-blowing here is the love that Heavely Father has for us. That he gave His only begotten Son and had to watch him suffer, could not help him and even had to remove his spirit from him. I couldn’t even manage to do the whole “cry it out” thing with my babies….I just cannot comprehend how difficult that must have been for our Heavenly Father…and yet he did it…he also was committed to the task at hand and I am so grateful that he was. And three days later at the site of that empty tomb where Christ’s body once laid the angels made the startling announcement to the women who had come to anoint the Saviors body: “We know that ye seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said.” Which teaches us to believe in all that is written in the scriptures and told to us by modern day prophets. Christ fulfilled every type and scriptural promise concerning his first coming and death. The same will be true of his second coming- every promise in the scriptures will be fulfilled. I would like to end with a quote by President David O. McKay from a general conference address:
“What think ye of Christ? To the church and to the world, I repeat this question as being the most vital, the most far-reaching query in this unsettled distracted world…What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be. No person can study this divine personality; can accept his teachings without becoming conscious of an uplifting and refining influence within himself…”
I am so thankful for this opportunity. I am so thankful to know my Savior. I am in awe of Him. I know that these stories are true…that this gospel is true and I am grateful for that knowledgeI say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
During His arrest and trial Jesus once again leads us by example. He shows us true perservence and endurance…with 36 plus hours without sleep, extensive walking while bound, intense agony and great loss of blood, no food and physical abuse. Jesus never once lost control of himself or the situation. …I am going to save this little tid-bit for when I hear any complaining about the Trek.
The crucifixion of Christ carries with it many lessons as well. One that has always stood out to me is the principle of forgiveness. Jesus’ first words after being nailed to the cross were Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Talking about the Soldiers who had just caused him such physical pain and agony. Such depth of character it takes to forgive an enemy. The other lesson that I find mind-blowing here is the love that Heavely Father has for us. That he gave His only begotten Son and had to watch him suffer, could not help him and even had to remove his spirit from him. I couldn’t even manage to do the whole “cry it out” thing with my babies….I just cannot comprehend how difficult that must have been for our Heavenly Father…and yet he did it…he also was committed to the task at hand and I am so grateful that he was. And three days later at the site of that empty tomb where Christ’s body once laid the angels made the startling announcement to the women who had come to anoint the Saviors body: “We know that ye seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, as he said.” Which teaches us to believe in all that is written in the scriptures and told to us by modern day prophets. Christ fulfilled every type and scriptural promise concerning his first coming and death. The same will be true of his second coming- every promise in the scriptures will be fulfilled. I would like to end with a quote by President David O. McKay from a general conference address:
“What think ye of Christ? To the church and to the world, I repeat this question as being the most vital, the most far-reaching query in this unsettled distracted world…What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be. No person can study this divine personality; can accept his teachings without becoming conscious of an uplifting and refining influence within himself…”
I am so thankful for this opportunity. I am so thankful to know my Savior. I am in awe of Him. I know that these stories are true…that this gospel is true and I am grateful for that knowledgeI say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
