What do we remember at Eastertime?
- We remember the Savior’s extraordinary love for His Father and for us, as demonstrated by His willingness to suffer on our behalf.
- We remember how He has enabled us to surmount barriers we could not overcome on our own, including sin and death.
- We remember His empty tomb and the promise that we will all have perfect, resurrected bodies in the next life.
- We remember His postmortal ministry to the descendants of Lehi in the Book of Mormon and His visits to modern prophets, indicating that He is still actively involved in our lives and that His work of salvation continues.
Both the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants contain many passages which can help us remember these important truths. In the Holy Week section below, I have listed passages from both volumes of scripture for each day of the week. The blog posts referenced in the other sections incorporate Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants passages into discussions of Easter-related topics. I hope these posts and scriptures enhance your celebration of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ this week.
Happy Holy Week!
Holy Week
- Palm Sunday – 3 Nephi 11:17; Doctrine and Covenants 19:37
- Temple Monday – Alma 34:36; Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-17
- Preparation Tuesday – Alma 5:28-29; Doctrine and Covenants 33:17
- Wisdom Wednesday – Jacob 7:8; Doctrine and Covenants 11:7
- Passover Thursday – 3 Nephi 19:23, 29; Doctrine and Covenants 35:2
- Good Friday – 3 Nephi 27:14-15; Doctrine and Covenants 45:52
- Paradise Saturday – Alma 40:11-14; Doctrine and Covenants 138:29-30
- Easter Sunday – Mosiah 16:7-8; Doctrine and Covenants 18:12
Key Themes
- The incompleteness we will feel after experiencing death will end, because Jesus loosed the bands of death.
- After we die, we will all be resurrected. We will have bodies of flesh and bones, similar to the ones we have now, but glorified and perfected.
- Jesus organized His disciples in this world and in the Spirit World, to help all of God’s children receive His salvation.
- The wounds in the Savior’s resurrected body are important, because they symbolize His love for us.
- The Savior not only compensates for the effects of our sins but also helps us to become sinless. His atonement can both justify and sanctify each of us.
Book of Mormon Connections
- When Jesus visited the Nephites and the Lamanites at the temple in Bountiful, He announced, “I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me” (3 Nephi 11:11). In an 1829 revelation to Martin Harris, He described the intensity of the suffering represented by the bitter cup. (See Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19).
- The Book of Mormon teaches that the Savior overcame both physical and spiritual death for us. (See, for example, Alma 42:9-10, 23.) Doctrine and Covenants also teaches this doctrine, emphasizing that we access this salvation through repentance. (See Doctrine and Covenants 29:41-44.)
Applications
- Strive to emulate the Savior’s lovingkindness, serving others in a true spirit of hesed.
- Follow His example by not shrinking from your highest responsibilities and priorities, even when they are difficult.
- Work to increase unity and decrease divisions in the world.
- Recommit to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ in order to invite His power and His presence into your life.
Recommended Posts
- What Does It Mean for Jesus to Be Our “Redeemer?”
- What Is the Significance of the Savior Bleeding “from Every Pore?”
- He Who Liveth
Blog Posts: April 15-20
“Behold, I Am Jesus Christ”
On ten occasions in scripture, the Savior introduces Himself with “Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” His self-descriptions emphasize (1) His identity as the Son of God, (2) His role as Creator and source of life, (3) His rejection by His own, (4) His power to save all who receive Him, and (5) His promised return.
Soul: Spirit and Body
Five important Easter truths: 1. We are embodied spirits. 2. We need a body to be truly happy. 3. Physical death is the separation of our spirit from our body. 4. Jesus Christ was resurrected. 5. Because of Him, we will all be resurrected.
Easter: Peace, Becoming, and Belonging
Elder Gerrit W. Gong identified three gifts we remember at Easter— Atonement, Resurrection, and Restoration. 1. The Atonement of Jesus Christ brings us peace. 2. The Resurrection represents becoming: realizing our full potential. 3. The Restoration of the gospel strengthens relationships, enabling us to have a sense of eternal connection and belonging.
“The Robe of Righteousness: The Savior’s Gifts in Isaiah 61”
Isaiah 61 describes the Messiah’s mission to heal, liberate, and uplift. He replaces mourning with joy and “the spirit of heaviness” with “the garment of praise.” Nephi referenced this chapter when he prayed, “Wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!” The Savior can replace our sadness with a robe of righteousness.
The Joy of Our Redemption
Eve recognized that the Fall and the Savior’s Atonement enabled her and Adam to experience “the joy of our redemption.” This joy is not limited to a future event. As Sister Kristin M. Yee has testified, the Savior’s redemptive power can be active in our lives every day.
The Empty Tomb
On a Sunday morning, three women approached a tomb and found it empty. Today, we celebrate that moment. Because of the Savior’s resurrection, we will all be released from the bondage of death. Because of Him, death is temporary, and life is forever.
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