SilentOne

The closest theater to me has showings listed through next Thursday

Jesus was often misunderstood and rejected. But He felt most forsaken and alone on Calvary—just as the final act of the Atonement was enveloping mankind in His eternal love. Ironically, during the moments when in agony He was benefiting billions upon billions of mortals, He was attended by only a faithful few. His infinite atonement affected every age, every dispensation, and every person. Hence the appropriate symbolism of His bleeding at each and every pore—not just some—in order that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” - Neal A. Maxwell, "Answer Me" For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who is willing to have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth which is in Christ Jesus, who is the Only Begotten Son of God, and ordained to be a Mediator between God and man; who is one God, and hath power over all men. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. - 1 Timothy 2:3-6 (with JST in verse 4)

Jesus did suffer and die for us. Through him, and only through him, can we have life and the joy thereof, both in time and in eternity. I love the Savior. I feel that as he hung upon the cross and looked out over the dark scene, he saw more than mocking soldiers and cruel taunters. He saw more than crying women and fearful friends. He remembered and saw even more than women at wells or crowds on hills or throngs by seashores. He saw more, much more. He, who knows all and has all power, saw through the stream of time. His huge, magnanimous, loving soul encompassed all eternity and took in all people and all times and all sins and all forgiveness and all everything. Yes, he saw down to you and to me and provided us an all-encompassing opportunity to escape the terrible consequences of death and sin. And even as he suffered for all of us, he voiced that most beautiful of all requests, “Father, forgive them.” - John H. Groberg, The Beauty and Importance of the Sacrament Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. - 2 Nephi 2:7-8

And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. - Mark 11:8-10 May we today, on this Palm Sunday, spread out our robes of love and palm leaves of charity, walking in the footsteps of the Prince of Peace as we prepare to celebrate, this coming Sunday, the miracle of the empty tomb. As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us joyfully proclaim, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” - Ulisses Soares, Followers of the Prince of Peace

Because Jesus owed no debt to justice, He could pay our debt and meet the demands of justice for every soul. And that includes you and me. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins. All of them. On that most important day in history, Jesus the Christ opened the gates of death and cast aside the barriers that prevented us from passing into the holy and hallowed halls of everlasting life. Because of our Lord and Savior, you and I are granted a most precious and priceless gift—regardless of our past, we can repent and follow the path that leads to celestial light and glory, surrounded by the faithful children of Heavenly Father. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Behold the Man! Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Isaiah 1:18

Nothing done before or since has so affected mankind as the atonement wrought by Jesus of Nazareth, who died on Calvary’s cross, was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, and on the third day arose from the grave as the Living Son of the Living God—the Savior and Redeemer of the world. - Gordon B. Hinckley, The Greatest Miracle in Human History And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. - Alma 36:17-21

I bear my witness that the Savior’s Atonement is not only infinite in scope but also individual in reach—that it can not only return us to God’s presence but also enable us to become like Him—the crowning goal of Christ’s Atonement. Of that I bear my grateful and certain witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. - Tad R. Callister, The Atonement of Jesus Christ ...I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. - Alma 36:3

Didn't someone mention that in conference? Sister Johnson, maybe?

I testify that God loves us because He sent His Son to atone for our sins and for the sins of all humankind everywhere. This is the most powerful manifestation of all. I felt it first as I prepared for baptism and now each week as I prepare to receive the sacrament. The Atonement has been written about for centuries by prophets both ancient and modern, but is it written in our hearts? The Atonement is not an academic abstract that is learned like the multiplication tables. If we are prepared, like Nephi and Enos, the Atonement can sink deep in our hearts and fill us with wonder -Rollin H. Hotchkiss, God Loves You But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love. - 2 Nephi 1:15

I testify that the tomb is empty, and He is risen. His grace, love, and power to become are available to all if we follow Him and allow Him to change our hearts. - Valeri V. Cordón, Easter: The Most Important Religious Observance Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. - Moroni 10:32-33

In our mortal condition, no one is perfect. Even in our most diligent efforts to live the gospel, all of us will make mistakes, and all of us will sin. What a comforting assurance it is to know that through our Savior’s redeeming sacrifice, we can be forgiven and made clean again. This process of true repentance and forgiveness strengthens our testimony and our resolve to obey the Lord’s commandments and live our life according to gospel standards. - Ann M. Dibb, I Know It. I Live It. I Love It. I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name. - Alma 5:48

Does it have to symbolize something? If it does, I'd suggest just going about day to day life. In that story, at that point in the day, their usual business would be sleeping.

Quite a few new hymns. I was keeping mental count for a while, but lost track. Probably should have made tally marks.

Not quite always, but for a few generations now.

Let's have the new temple list in this thread, too. Reynosa, Mexico Chorrillos, Peru Rivera, Uruguay Campo Grande, Brazil Porto, Portugal Uyo, Nigeria San Jose del Monte, Philippines Nouméa, New Caledonia Liverpool, Australia Caldwell, Idaho Flagstaff, Arizona Rapid City, South Dakota Greenville, South Carolina Norfolk, Virginia Spanish Fork, Utah

@HaggisShuu Elder Stevenson's talk from last night focused a lot on bringing Christ into our Easter celebrations.

Let us consider the cost of God’s precious love. Jesus revealed that to atone for our sins and redeem us from death, both physical and spiritual, His suffering caused Himself, “even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that [He] might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink.” His agony in Gethsemane and on the cross was greater than any mortal could bear. Nevertheless, because of His love for His Father and for us, He endured, and as a consequence, He can offer us both immortality and eternal life. - D. Todd Christofferson, "Abide in My Love" Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! - Doctrine and Covenants 18:1-13

The only specifics I ever heard were about one particular stake that had at least some wards meeting for one hour as a temporary thing while a building was being renovated.

I'm getting the impression we should center our lives on Christ. Also, maybe we should go inside those temples that are being built every once in a while. Even after the tours and dedications.

I was pleased to hear God is Love. I've found that hymn to be terribly underperformed.

Nevertheless, despite the challenges we face in life, we can, like on that first Easter morning, awake to a new life in Christ, with new and marvelous possibilities and new realities as we turn to the Lord for hope and belonging. - M. Russell Ballard, Hope in Christ Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. - John 4:13-14

My thoughts for temples not in Utah Very likely in next few years: Tirana, Albania; western Ivory Coast - probably Yamoussoukro; Malawi - probably Lilongwe; Lomé, Togo; Little Rock, Arkansas Likely in next few years: Corrientes or Neuquén, Argentina; Tasmania (Hobart?), Australia; more island nations - Trinidad, Jamaica, and/or Marshall Islands? Having trouble evaluating likelihood: Cartagena, Spain; Flagstaff, Arizona; Biloxi, Mississippi; Sioux Falls or Rapid City, South Dakota; Pullman, Washington Unlikely but not shocking: Tierra del Fuego, Argentina; Warsaw, Poland I'll think I must be dreaming: Gaza, Vatican

Obviously, there is going to church on Easter. Putting out a resurrection scene set (like a nativity/creche, but with tomb instead of stable). I have heard of people putting Jesus in the tomb on Friday and then taking him out early Sunday morning for their kids to see him resurrected. I started building a list of atonement-themed music to play in the time leading up to Easter several years back. There are also a few movies I like to watch: Easter Dream, The Testaments, and a documentary on Handel's Messiah that BYUtv did around 2014. I just searched for all three on the BYUtv site and couldn't find them, unfortunately.

The Savior felt the weight of the anguish of all mankind—the anguish of sin and of sorrow. “Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” Through His Atonement, He heals not only the transgressor, but He also heals the innocent who suffer because of those transgressions. As the innocent exercise faith in the Savior and in His Atonement and forgive the transgressor, they too can be healed. There are times when each of us needs “relief from feelings of guilt that come from mistakes and sins.” As we repent, the Savior removes the guilt from our souls. - C. Scott Grow, The Miracle of the Atonement And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. - 2 Nephi 9:21-22

Today's post is maybe a little less obviously related to Easter than most I do, but to me, it feels connected with a little thought.