Happy Easter! I must confess that Easter isn't quite the same this year without my family and friends nearby, but there is something in that statement which gives me pause to consider the full meaning and impact of the Savior's atonement. Indeed, Easter has its greatest meaning not only because it is the commemoration of the fact that the Lord rose from the tomb, but also because of what that event means for each and every one of us and for the relationships that we hold dear. Indeed, today, my thoughts are not merely of loved ones in Utah and Georgia, but also of "those angel faces...which I have loved long since, and lost awhile." Because of the Savior's suffering, death, and resurrection, we have a hope that transcends the gloom of mortal loneliness as well as the dread that of grave and the painful separation that death brings.
Although today I am spending Easter away from my family and loved ones, I am blessed to know that the profound significance of this holiday means that separation is temporary. I take great comfort in the statement of the Prophet Joseph that "All [our] losses will be made up to [us] in the resurrection, provided [we] continue faithful" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 296). What a comfort it is to know that He comprehends our struggles and sufferings and the frequent unfairness of mortality and has created a plan whereby such inequities will one day be made right! What a blessing it is to have a sure witness of the Savior's resurrection and of its meaning in our lives!
And so today, I am filled with gratitude for our Divine Redeemer and His "supreme act of goodness and grace that only a God could perform" (Bruce R. McConkie, "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane"). I felt that perhaps I might share a couple of my favorite testimonies from Prophets and Apostles of former years.
In his first discourse as a newly called member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Neal A. Maxwell gave a beautiful testimony of the Savior. He described our Divine Redeemer thusly: "I testify that He is utterly incomparable in what He is, what He knows, what He has accomplished, and what He has experienced. Yet movingly, He calls us friends. We can trust, worship, and even adore Him without any reservation! As the only Perfect Person to sojourn on this planet, there is none like Him! In intelligence and performance, He far surpasses the individual and the composite capacities and achievements of all who have lived, live now, and will yet live! He rejoices in our genuine goodness and achievement, but any assessment of where we stand in relation to Him tells us that we do not stand at all! We kneel! Can we, even in the depths of disease, tell Him anything at all about suffering? In ways we cannot comprehend, our sicknesses and infirmities were borne by Him even before these were borne by us. The very weight of our combined sins caused Him to descend below all. We have never been, nor will we be, in depths such as He has known. . . . Indeed, we cannot teach Him anything! But we can listen to Him. We can love Him, we can honor Him, we can worship Him! Yes, we who are so forgetful and even rebellious are never forgotten by Him! We are His "work" and His "glory" and He is never distracted!"
Four years later, Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave this stirring discourse as his final special witness in mortality of the Savior's reality, goodness, and grace:
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are blessed to have living witnesses to the reality of the resurrection of the Son of God. Indeed, as the Prophet Joseph and Sidney Rigdon testified, "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, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father--That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:22-24).
He is indeed risen, and He is our Glorious and Divine Redeemer! What more important message could we possibly declare?
Brett
Out here in good ol' Georgia, I was blessed to teach Relief Society yesterday. Not really thinking about the actual day I'd be teaching, I'd picked my topic a couple of months ago . . . JOY. How perfect is that for an Easter Sunday lesson?
ReplyDeleteMy RS lesson focus a lot on President Monson's topic "Finding Joy in the Journey." I also got suggestions from a few friends on what Joy means to them. One person suggested that Joy and Happiness are different. She said that "Joy = eternal, while Happiness = momentary." I thought that was pretty interesting. Also, my friend Mel in Michigan sent me this interesting definition:
J = Jesus
O = Others
Y - Yourself
What a great way to define this word. If we focus on the Saviour and service to others (such a central part of the Gospel plan!), then it's a lot easier not to get wrapped up in the minutiae of our own "stuff." This isn't to say we shouldn't consider ourselves -- I think this is vital to life! But, I know it's often easy to host a "pity party, table of 1" and forget that others might have problems too.
I am trying to be better a bout focusing on my Saviour -- putting Him first. It's tough sometimes to be grateful for the here and now when there are goals we want to attain that seem far out of reach, but as President Monson said in his talk, "Finding Joy in the journey":
“This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.”
This is echoed in President Uchdorf's talk from the October 2011 General RS Meting:
"[I]f we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.
This is not to say that we should abandon hope or temper our goals. Never stop striving for the best that is within you. Never stop hoping for all of the righteous desires of your heart. But don’t close your eyes and hearts to the simple and elegant beauties of each day’s ordinary moments that make up a rich, well-lived life."
Our Father in Heaven and our Saviour want us to be happy; they want us to find joy. Why else would this mortal sojourn we are on be called the "Great Plan of Happiness"?
How grateful I am for a loving Father in Heaven who loves me, no matter what. How blessed I am to have a Saviour who was willing to take upon Himself unspeakable pain and suffering so that I might have an opportunity to learn and grow and some day be perfected.
I am grateful for the testimonies of the prophets -- past and present -- and for the testimonies of my family and friends that help to remind me of the Saviour's great gifts.
Truly, He lives!
P.S. Please to pardon my typos! Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Brett for this beautiful post, and thanks Steph for your equally beautiful added insights. I wish I could express myself in words like the two of you! What a beautiful reminder of our Savior's love. I am eternally grateful for a knowledge of the Savior's sacrifice and the hope it brings into my life. The gospel truly holds ALL the answers to every question, struggle, and experience of mortality.
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