Easter Thoughts Etc 2025

[SilentOne]

Yes, this is he whom we worship. He is the Son of God; the Great Creator. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He is our advocate with the Father. It was he who made possible and brought about the universal resurrection. It was he, with his Father, who appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove.
-Eldred G. Smith, Who Is Jesus?

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
-John 17:3

[SilentOne]

There is one, above all others, whose personal influence covers the continents, spans the oceans, and penetrates the hearts of true believers. He atoned for the sins of mankind.

I testify that He is a teacher of truth—but He is more than a teacher. He is the Exemplar of the perfect life—but He is more than an exemplar. He is the Great Physician—but He is more than a physician. He is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel, even the risen Lord, who declared:

“I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. … I am the light and the life of the world.”

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.”
- Thomas S. Monson, Your Personal Influence

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
- Matthew 16:15-17

[SilentOne]

Jesus is the head of his church, the Creator of the universe, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind, and the Judge of the souls of men. Who he is and what he does affected each of us before we were born and will affect us each day of our mortal lives and throughout the eternities. Much of what he is and does is beyond finite human ability to comprehend, but the Holy Ghost has borne witness to my soul of their reality.
- Joseph B. Wirthlin, Our Lord and Savior

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
- Hebrews 1:1-4

[SilentOne]

Why did Jesus, the Lord God Omnipotent who sits at the right hand of the Father, creator of worlds without number, lawgiver and judge, condescend to come to earth to be born in a manger, live out most of His mortal existence in obscurity, trudge the dusty roads of Judea proclaiming a message which was violently opposed by many, and finally, betrayed by one of His closest associates, die between two malefactors on Golgotha’s somber hill? Nephi, who gloried “in … Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell,” understood Christ’s motivation: “He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him.” It was love for all of God’s children that led Jesus, unique in His sinless perfection, to offer Himself as ransom for the sins of others.
- Alexander B. Morrison, For This Cause

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.
- John 3:16-17

[HaggisShuu]

One concept I've always struggled to grasp, is how does Christs resurrection mean we can all be resurrected? 
How does the victory over death work? 

I understand other aspects of the atonement, how his experience in Gethsemane and death on the cross enables us to be forgiven. But I really struggle to understand how his resurrection enables our resurrection. 
 

Is this a bit nit picky? Maybe. I just like to understand. 

[HaggisShuu]

I am looking for some inspiration also as to how people add a spiritual twist to their Easters. 
I don't want it to be a day about chocolate eggs and lamb legs this year. 

[zil2]

26 minutes ago, HaggisShuu said:

One concept I've always struggled to grasp, is how does Christs resurrection mean we can all be resurrected? 
How does the victory over death work? 

This is an interesting question.

1) We could go the "easy" route and say that the resurrection is simply a gift from God given to all who kept their first estate.  That it has no mechanical connection to the resurrection of Christ, but that there was a rule or order set saying that Christ would be the first resurrected and all others would have to wait for that event.  Or it could be that the sequencing of resurrection is because the Atonement had to be completed before any could enjoy the blessings that would allow them to inherit a kingdom of glory, and thus their resurrection had to wait until that was completed since the resurrection would raise them to a particular glory.  But other than this sequencing requirement, it's a pure gift from God and there isn't anything mechanical tying it to Christ's resurrection.

2) Another possibility is that there's something we don't understand in Christ's resurrection.  That just as the Atonement gave Christ the authority/right (Moroni 7:27) to save us from spiritual death, His resurrection gives Him authority/right to save us from physical death.

3) The final is that there is some "mechanical" relationship.  Christ's Atonement satisfied the law of justice, paid the price of sin, and allows us to be forgiven of a debt we cannot pay.  We don't fully understand how that works, but we have these vague analogies.  Perhaps the resurrection, like the Atonement, satisfied a law, or paid a price, and because of that, we can receive the resurrection...

I tend to think it's a combination of the first two: 1a) It's a pure gift; 1b) the gift must be delayed because resurrection involves receiving glory, and that can't happen until after the Atonement is complete; 2) by successfully completing His Atonement and resurrection, Christ has gained the right to extend the benefits to us - benefits we would have no other way to receive.

If there's some mechanical connection, I'm having a hard time imagining it.

[mikbone]

1 hour ago, HaggisShuu said:

One concept I've always struggled to grasp, is how does Christs resurrection mean we can all be resurrected? 
How does the victory over death work? 

 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1977/04/our-great-potential?lang=eng

You may find this conference talk enlightening.  It discusses the Keys of Resurrection.

[SilentOne]

6 hours ago, HaggisShuu said:

I am looking for some inspiration also as to how people add a spiritual twist to their Easters. 
I don't want it to be a day about chocolate eggs and lamb legs this year. 

Am I correct in thinking you do not yet have children? So you're just looking for ideas for adults?

[HaggisShuu]

5 hours ago, SilentOne said:

Am I correct in thinking you do not yet have children? So you're just looking for ideas for adults?

I have a 3 month old girl and she's our first, that's why I'm struggling, I have literally no idea how to live with a baby. 

[HaggisShuu]

10 hours ago, zil2 said:

I tend to think it's a combination of the first two: 1a) It's a pure gift; 1b) the gift must be delayed because resurrection involves receiving glory, and that can't happen until after the Atonement is complete; 2) by successfully completing His Atonement and resurrection, Christ has gained the right to extend the benefits to us - benefits we would have no other way to receive.

If there's some mechanical connection, I'm having a hard time imagining it.

Interesting. My mind works by interpreting things through a mechanical lense. I struggle to accept vaguer notions. I think the atonement can make sense mechanically. I think moral laws govern the universe just as much as physical laws and God is subject to both. 
D&C 19:16-17 is one of my favourite passages for this line of thinking:

Quote

16 For behold, I, God, have sufferedthese things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

Moral law is satisfied at the final judgement because:

A) Those who follow the Gospel are saved

B) Those who do not receive some kind of punishment. I don't think it's the eternal kind, Christ's suffering in Gethsemane didn't last forever. So suffering as he did, seems to imply a one time punishment for an unrighteous life, followed by eternity in a lower kingdom of Glory. 
 

This is just how I interpret it. 
 

Your theory makes a lot of sense now that I reframe things. I was seeing the atonement and resurrection as completely separate entities. The atonement mechanically provides us with forgiveness, and then the resurrection gives us the victory other death (somehow). But perhaps the victory over death started in Gethsemane. As a result of the cleansing effect of accepting the atonement, our garments will be white enough to receive an inheritance. No unclean thing and all that. 
 

Thank you for your insights. 
 

 

[Carborendum]

14 hours ago, HaggisShuu said:

One concept I've always struggled to grasp, is how does Christs resurrection mean we can all be resurrected? 
How does the victory over death work? 

I understand other aspects of the atonement, how his experience in Gethsemane and death on the cross enables us to be forgiven. But I really struggle to understand how his resurrection enables our resurrection. 
 

Is this a bit nit picky? Maybe. I just like to understand. 

We're told that it is incomprehensible to us.  But scriptures give us analogies and metaphors.

Summary:

• Death is a prison. 
• Christ was given power to lay down His life and to take it up again.
• By doing so, He obtained the keys to the prison gates.
• Now there is an order to the resurrection. 
  • The righteous will be resurrected first (morning of the first resurrection, etc.). 
  • The wicked will be released from that prison last.

A slightly altered version of this also explains how the Atonement works to save us from sin.

Edited April 3 by Carborendum

[HaggisShuu]

4 hours ago, Carborendum said:

We're told that it is incomprehensible to us.  But scriptures give us analogies and metaphors.

Summary:

• Death is a prison. 
• Christ was given power to lay down His life and to take it up again.
• By doing so, He obtained the keys to the prison gates.
• Now there is an order to the resurrection. 
  • The righteous will be resurrected first (morning of the first resurrection, etc.). 
  • The wicked will be released from that prison last.

A slightly altered version of this also explains how the Atonement works to save us from sin.

I agree it's incomprehensible but this is what I was trying to say earlier. I can't and won't accept that as a final answer, and so I will probably spend the rest of my life trying to make it make sense, which is in no way a bad thing. To just accept it's too hard to fully understand and stop there is lazy in my opinion. 

Edited April 3 by HaggisShuu

[Carborendum]

1 hour ago, HaggisShuu said:

I agree it's incomprehensible but this is what I was trying to say earlier. I can't and won't accept that as a final answer, and so I will probably spend the rest of my life trying to make it make sense, which is in no way a bad thing. To just accept it's too hard to fully understand and stop there is lazy in my opinion. 

As for trying to understand the mechanics of it, the curiosity you show is what I'd hope more people shared.  The pitfall is that one tends to believe that if you can't make sense of it after (x-period of time) then it must be false.

Just be aware that the "spark of life" itself is something that all of humanity has pondered throughout all of history.  And the greatest minds in history haven't been able to figure it out.

For now, I'd hope that you'd spend some time pondering the metaphor I offered.  The meaning is much more important than the mechanics.

[SilentOne]

What gives them the power to go through hard things? What gives an extra layer of strength to go on when everything seems lost?

I have found that the source of that strength is faith in Jesus Christ as we intentionally seek to come unto Him each and every day.
- Joaquin E. Costa, The Power of Jesus Christ in Our Lives Every Day

Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
- 2 Nephi 4:17-21

[SilentOne]

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.

[mordorbund]

On 4/2/2025 at 5:25 PM, HaggisShuu said:

I am looking for some inspiration also as to how people add a spiritual twist to their Easters. 
I don't want it to be a day about chocolate eggs and lamb legs this year. 

Every year we read the Easter story. Most of the time it’s from one of the Gospels, but I have synoptized it before and we read the whole thing.

[HaggisShuu]

On 4/3/2025 at 7:15 PM, Carborendum said:

As for trying to understand the mechanics of it, the curiosity you show is what I'd hope more people shared.  The pitfall is that one tends to believe that if you can't make sense of it after (x-period of time) then it must be false.

Just be aware that the "spark of life" itself is something that all of humanity has pondered throughout all of history.  And the greatest minds in history haven't been able to figure it out.

For now, I'd hope that you'd spend some time pondering the metaphor I offered.  The meaning is much more important than the mechanics.

I think there is good enough historical evidence that this outcome doesn't concern me.

I am appreciative of your analogies, perhaps this wasn't reflected in my response. 

[SilentOne]

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

[HaggisShuu]

On 4/3/2025 at 11:02 PM, mordorbund said:

Every year we read the Easter story. Most of the time it’s from one of the Gospels, but I have synoptized it before and we read the whole thing.

I did that at Christmas for personal study. It was very fun bringing together the full timeline from the New Testament and Book of Mormon. Thomas S. Monson "teaching of prophets" manual has a chapter on christmas too. Very spiritually uplifting. 

Edited April 4 by HaggisShuu

[SilentOne]

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.

[SilentOne]

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

[SilentOne]

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

[SilentOne]

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

[jewels8]

When I was in Young Women's, they gave us each a dozen plastic eggs, called Easter in Eggs.  Numbered 1-12.  Each egg had a scripture and a symbol.  Like a tiny red cloth for Christ's robe or what he wore, 3 dimes for pieces of silver, a linen cloth for wrapping His body, a sacrament cup for at The Last Supper, a tiny toothpick cross for when He died, a nail, etc.  The last egg was empty, to symbolize the empty tomb.  That He was resurrected.  I appreciate how much thought went into that.  I wish I still had it.

  We also had an Easter Lesson, where they had set up a table, like the Last Supper.  then they turned the lights down and played a tape of the scriptures of The Last Supper. There was a picture of Chrst in the room, with a light around Him.  It was very profound, and I will never forget it.