Easter

I was in charge of putting together an Easter program for our church and thought I would share it here. It was full of scripture and testimony from apostles along with music about our Savior, his atonement and resurrection. Obviously I can't include the same musical numbers performed in our ward (which were great!), but I can share the song which I hope at least conveys the message. I am grateful for the Easter season and the blessings that come and will continue to come, because He Lives.

Speaker 1: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, “Of the many magnificent purposes served in the life and
ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, one great aspect of that mission often goes uncelebrated. His followers did not understand it fully at the time, and many in modern Christianity do not grasp it now, but the Savior Himself spoke of it repeatedly and emphatically. It is the grand truth that in all that Jesus came to say and do, including and especially in His atoning suffering and sacrifice, He was showing us who and what God our Eternal Father is like, how completely devoted He is to His children in every age and nation. In word and in deed Jesus was trying to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”



Speaker 2: While Christ was on the earth he set for us the perfect example of obedience, sacrifice, love, patience, and service. Though sinless, he was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He went about doing good. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come. He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.



Speaker 3: Bruce R. McConkie related what happened in Christ’s final days when he said, “Two thousand years ago, outside Jerusalem’s walls, there was a pleasant garden spot, Gethsemane by name, where Jesus and his intimate friends were wont to retire for pondering and prayer. We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane. We know he sweat great gouts of blood from every pore as he drained the dregs of that bitter cup his Father had given him. We know he suffered, both body and spirit, more than it is possible for man to suffer, except it be unto death.

We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name. We know that he lay prostrate upon the ground as the pains and agonies of an infinite burden caused him to tremble and would that he might not drink the bitter cup. We know that an angel came from the courts of glory to strengthen him in his ordeal, and we suppose it was mighty Michael, who foremost fell that mortal man might be. As near as we can judge, these infinite agonies—this suffering beyond compare—continued for some three or four hours.



Speaker 4: Bruce R. McConkie continues, “After this—his body then wrenched and drained of strength—he confronted Judas and the other incarnate devils, some from the very Sanhedrin itself; and he was led away with a rope around his neck, as a common criminal, to be judged by the arch-criminals who as Jews sat in Aaron’s seat and who as Romans wielded Caesar’s power. They took him to Annas, to Caiaphas, to Pilate, to Herod, and back to Pilate. He was accused, cursed, and smitten. Their foul saliva ran down his face as vicious blows further weakened his pain-engulfed body. With reeds of wrath they rained blows upon his back. Blood ran down his face as a crown of thorns pierced his trembling brow. But above it all he was scourged, scourged with forty stripes save one, scourged with a multi-thonged whip into whose leather strands sharp bones and cutting metals were woven. Many died from scourging alone, but he rose from the sufferings of the scourge that he might die an ignominious death upon the cruel cross of Calvary.

Then he carried his own cross until he collapsed from the weight and pain and mounting agony of it all. Finally, on a hill called Calvary—again, it was outside Jerusalem’s walls—while helpless disciples looked on and felt the agonies of near death in their own bodies, the Roman soldiers laid him upon the cross. With great mallets they drove spikes of iron through his feet and hands and wrists. Truly he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.

Then the cross was raised that all might see and gape and curse and deride. This they did, with evil venom, for three hours from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Then the heavens grew black. Darkness covered the land for the space of three hours, as it did among the Nephites. There was a mighty storm, as though the very God of Nature was in agony. And truly he was, for while he was hanging on the cross for another three hours, from noon to 3:00 p.m., all the infinite agonies and merciless pains of Gethsemane recurred. And, finally, when the atoning agonies had taken their toll—when the victory had been won, when the Son of God had fulfilled the will of his Father in all things—then he said, “It is finished”, and he voluntarily gave up the ghost.



Speaker 5: In John, chapter 20 we read, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where to they have laid him.”

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must arise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

Speaker 6: But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She saith unto them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, “Rabboni”; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

Speaker 7: Joseph Smith notably declared, “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.”

Christ lives. “There shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” May we remember that and strive to be more like Him as we celebrate this Easter Sunday.

Speaker – We had someone share a short testimony about Christ- how His life, mission, and/or resurrection influenced his life

Our choir closed with this song, having a solo verse in the middle and the congregation joining in on the last verse with the choir doing a descant. It was beautiful and a perfect way to end the meeting.

Building

So this morning I was muttering in my mind how I hate giving my kids legos for birthdays/Christmas. They always request legos; they love legos; they love the sets where they can follow the instructions, build something and lose all the pieces the next day. I think I'm not alone in this... :)

My oldest just had a birthday, and he got 8 lego packs with different super heroes and vehicles for them. He was so excited to get them and began building right away. My son just younger had a birthday less than 2 months earlier and got 16 Star Wars minifigures with a few ships. Today, as I was cleaning them up off the floor again I was so discouraged the sets were all mixed together, with several previous sets, pieces missing, and what they worked so hard on, just destroyed. In my mind, it makes no sense-why do they like to get these things when they don't get to 'enjoy' them, they just get torn apart. Yet, when they get home from school, they will take those lego pieces and begin building all over again.

It just made me think about life and the way we 'build' things. Any mother knows what it is like to clean the house, and have it a complete mess an hour later and think, 'WHY did I JUST clean?!' We're building our home, we're building our family, but sometimes it feels like it just keeps getting broken down. Or at a different level, we work so hard teaching our children, trying to instill values and help them become great people, and yet, when they make a bad choice, we feel like everything we have done is a waste. They are not getting it. We failed. They failed. Ruined. Or, we are just going through our everyday lives ourselves. We are reading scriptures, we are praying, we are cooking, cleaning, family vacations, playing games, and going through life. And then... your husband loses a job, someone gets really sick, you fall into a pit of depression-destruction-and after the dust settles, you pick up all the pieces and feel like you need to start building all over, AGAIN.

We hear that 'again' and often put a negative turn on it. Ugh. Again. But our little children, that are working so hard to build something, following the instructions, doing everything right, when their little brother comes along, tearing apart piece by piece til they are left with a pile of pieces, they say, 'YEAH! I get to build it AGAIN!" It is not anything negative in their eyes. Building is the fun part. If they finish it, it's done, boring. They'll often tear it apart themselves just to build the exact same thing again. Think of puzzles. The fun is in the building.

Now, my oldest is 8, and I can start to see that 'human nature' of it being negative begin to come out. He will sometimes get frustrated when things get messed up, don't go according to plan, but his three year old brother just loves building and when his 2 year old sister messes something up it does not phase him in the least. Why do we become like that? Why can't we just enjoy the journey. Why does doing the same thing over and over again feel like a nuisance to us, when they find peace in it. 'I got this. I did it before, I can do it again. And this time, maybe even do it a little better, a little faster.'

Their building is never in vain. Even when things get destroyed, they had fun while doing it. AND they are learning. They are becoming better builders. They are able to understand instructions better the more they do. They become more creative learning what pieces can do what. I don't know, I feel like I've hit the rambling point on typing, but it was just something for me to think about. And just try harder to enjoy the building. Enjoy my day to day, sometimes monotonous things, or when things feel like they are thrown in a pit and ground into pieces, just start again without any whining or complaining. It's another opportunity for me to build and learn, yeah! ;)

Baptism / Holy Ghost

My oldest got baptized this last month and because it was for all of the children in the stake, we didn't know any of the speakers or musical numbers. I wanted Noah to have something personal to remember this day by so asked the grandparents to answer a few questions on video for me. Jack and I also answered the questions then I took bits and pieces of what everyone said to teach a little about baptism and the Holy Ghost.

It was a nice experience for me to listen to all of their words and pretty difficult deciding what to cut and what to leave in. My original video is almost 20 minutes long, which is long for an 8 year old boy, but I hope it is something he will love and cherish and be valuable as he gets older.

Here is a condensed version that teaches about baptism and holy ghost and why it is so important to us -

Is Heavenly Father Always Discouraged? Part 2

I made a video that included snippets from Noah's parents and grandparents about baptism and the holy ghost. For me, it was very special to put together. I felt the spirit testify the truth of what was said and the importance of baptism. My testimony was strengthened, and in awe, of the amazing blessings of the Holy Ghost. When you put that many people back to back talking about how the holy ghost helps them, you just can't deny it is an amazing gift from our Heavenly Father.

I was excited to show it to my son, my siblings, and our parents. But, what I realized as I watched it with them, they didn't appreciate it like I did. Noah just wanted to get more pizza and kept sneaking out the room, even my husband was in and out and I felt offended they didn't care about it.

This experience also led me to contemplate some things. When we have something so special to us, it is hard to have that rejected. And even if it isn't full-on rejected, when they don't appreciate it like you do, it is difficult to take in and a few things happen, for me at least.

The easiest way for me to describe it is to relate it to food. If there is a recipe I absolutely love, I get really excited when I can share it. In my head I think, "Oh you are going to love this!!" It's happiness to the core. And then when they eat it, sometimes they're like, 'eh, it's alright.' My heart sinks. "How come you don't like it?!" And I have gotten offended, like it is a personal attack on me, that they don't like something I like.

Or instead of a 'meh' reaction, I have had things just rejected. 'No. This is awful.' When I get that reaction, I handle it even worse. All of a sudden I question myself and everything. Something that I used to love I now think, '... maybe it isn't that great.' or I get negative thoughts, 'what is wrong with me?' When in reality, there is nothing wrong with me. And just because somebody doesn't like something I like, does not mean I should like it less. Their opinion of something should have no effect on what I think of it. I loved it. You can love it. Or you can hate it. But for me, I love it.

These thoughts are kind of random but when I was having all of these thoughts in my head saurkraut came into my head. I remember the first time I heard of saurkraut. I was at my friend Alise' house and her mother had it out on the bar, putting it on a sandwich. For one, it smelled terrible. Two, it looked terrible. And then her mom MADE me try it! She talked about how great it was and she talked it up enough I thought, maybe it won't be so bad. Oh. My. Goodness. That was the worst bite ever!!! How can ANYONE like that stuff?! I mean, I was probably 8 years old and I still clearly remember tasting it and thinking how terrible it was. Fastforward 15+ years and I had a reuben sandwich. Delicious!! I didn't quite realize it was saurkraut on that sandwich. When I learned it was saurkraut I was shocked. I remember trying that and hating it! Now... it's good. On this sandwich at least. But my goodness, as time has gone by it has become one of my favorite things! I love it. I put it on sandwiches, hot dogs, really, loads of stuff. And I think it is crazy how something I just did not get, I did not understand how anyone could like it, has become something I now love.

When I apply all of these thoughts to the gospel, which I'm sure you realized I was going to do :) I have learned some things -

The gospel is special to me. I feel the truth of it and it brings me great happiness. My testimony encompasses several things. Some of those things people have not come to appreciate or learn for themselves yet. Just because people don't feel and think the same way I do about everything does not mean they don't like me, it doesn't mean I'm stupid, and it doesn't make it any less important in my life. Perhaps they are not 'mature enough in the gospel.' Just because they don't accept it now doesn't mean they will never accept it. There may come a day when they love it just as much. We just need to hold fast to what we love, and not let go after we partake of the fruit like the people in Lehi's vision when it is met with mocking. We love it and we don't let other distractions pull us away. We hope and pray and be patient that others will come and join us.

I titled this 'Is Heavenly Father Always Discouraged, Part 2' because it all tied to my initial thoughts. And the same lesson applies. Heavenly Father doesn't give up when someone rejects the gospel. He doesn't think, 'All is lost. All the time, everything I did, was for nothing." (which is kind of how I felt after spending hours making a video 'nobody' appreciated) Of course he doesn't feel that way. And if I'm trying to become more like Him, then I can certainly learn a lot from Him and not feel that way either after any little piece of discouragement I encounter. :)

Is Heavenly Father Always Discouraged? Part 1

So February has been one of the busiest of my life, SOOO many things going on. But one of those things was my oldest son got baptized! Now I am normally someone that stresses about little things and my husband likes to call it being an 'idealist'. I like things to be perfect and want everyone to be happy all of the time. For my son getting baptized, I wanted him to be one of those little boys you look at and just think, 'wow, they have it together.' or 'they are so sweet.' or 'he must have great parents that teach him.' :) No, it wasn't all selfish reasons, but I feel like I (and my husband) have tried really hard to teach our children. We're smart people, diligent and dedicated to the gospel, we have family home evening every week and use daily opportunities to teach our children. Yet... they're still not perfect! Why?! Ha, now, you can laugh at it, but for me, it was a real struggle. For the last year it is a thought that constantly occupies my mind. "Noah is getting baptized next year! He shouldn't still ..." (lie about sneaking a cookie, or whatever it may be).

I have been stressed, and frustrated, disappointed a lot of the time and it has progressively gotten worse the closer to his baptism date it came. It bugs me so badly he refuses to sing the songs in sacrament meeting, or when I ask him to say a prayer he says no and will sit there for 15 minutes. I think, 'these things are not hard! If you can't do this you are going to fail in life!' But a couple things have helped me a little as I have been struggling with honestly, trying to be happy and looking forward to this day, and loving my son the way I want to.

One, my husband reminds me he is only eight years old. Eight years old. He's still young. Of course he isn't going to be perfect, and we still have another 10 years with him before he leaves the home-years full of teaching and learning. As I think about it, it makes me appreciate the gospel, that we don't have to be perfect to be baptized. That none of us are perfect and the gospel is a place for us to continually progress and learn. Let's be honest, some days I don't really feel like praying either. I can't stress about him not always choosing the right, when I don't either.

And it isn't until after we are baptized that we are really able to grow anyway. That is the FIRST step into following God's plan - it's the first ordinance we need to return to live with our Heavenly Father. And my kid made that choice. He made the decision to be baptized-we told him several times he didn't have to, so he's on the right path. Having the desire is a great beginning. It is after he receives the gift of the Holy Ghost that he can have it as a constant companion. The Holy Ghost is the agent that testifies of truth, activates the atonement and the ability to be cleansed from sin. He can now learn and understand what repentance is first-hand. He will learn and grow exponentially after he has this great gift from our Heavenly Father. And it made my heart happy that today, when we were in church, he opened the hymn book on his own, and sang all the words. It may sound small, but it meant a lot to me. It was a testimony to me that these thoughts and feelings I have are right - he really will learn and grow and I don't have to be so worried and think about his mishaps.

Along with that, if I look around at the world (which I don't condone comparing yourself to other people), but there is a lot of wickedness. There are a lot of people that do really not smart things. And those people, are Heavenly Father's children. Do I think he is up in heaven, always stressed and worried and frustrated about all the wrong things his children are doing? Yes I think it is disheartening and he wants the best for all of us, but I think he is also the happiest person. He does not let the discouraging choices of his children take over his mind and thoughts. He is still able to see the good and be happy with the small accomplishments they make. I have felt the need to be more like my Heavenly Father in just, being happy. Not focusing on what is wrong, but really loving my children and what they are doing right.

So focusing on our Heavenly Father's relationship with his children helps me learn about my relationship with my children. I can still be happy. I can still find joy. I can see their potential. And rejoice in every step forward. Noah is making forward steps.