Our Sunday will Come- Happy Easter!

Dear Bundle of Joy,

Today is Easter Sunday. It has been wonderful to celebrate the life of our Savior, His example, His atonement, and the eternal love he has for all of us! This last week was a special one, since it was the week before the Savior was resurrected. I tried to remember and read about what happened this last week, many years ago:

The week previous to His resurrection is the week that He:

-instituted the Sacrament

-suffered in Gethsemane

-performed the atonement on the cross

-let himself be crucified

-was resurrected!

Christ instituting the Sacrament

Christ in Gethsemane

He is not here, for He is risen!

With this knowledge that Christ lives again after dying, stems His gospel. If we didn't live again after we die or we weren't resurrected, we wouldn't really need to have faith, do temple work, or worry about if our choices are in line with God's will. With the knowledge that Christ had died but now lives again, we realize that this time on Earth is just a part of our existence. We learn that scriptures have been fulfilled, there is a plan after this life, and we must utilize the atonement in order to live with God again. The story of Christ's life is amazing, but the short time spent right before he was crucified is truly spiritual. The scriptures below illustrate these special moments and insights.

Matthew 21:12- Jesus entered the temple. He turned over the moneychangers' tables. He healed the blind and lame that entered the temple.
Jesus knew he would have to be crucified soon. He used his time to visit the temple, the house of God. When we are preparing for important events in our life, we too should attend the temple to draw upon the strength of God. Jesus also spent his last part of his life serving others. He could have spent these last moments primarily alone, with family, or friends. But he made time to heal those around him. We should always take time to serve others. Even if we are "too busy", have trials or hardship in our own life, or are  moving out of the ward next month. We should always be looking for ways to serve, no matter our circumstances.

Matthew 26:36- Christ went to go pray for the 1st time.

Matthew 26:39- Christ asked God, "O my Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but thou wilt".
Christ asked God if there was any other way than the one previously agreed upon. I love how this shows that He too was feeling uneasy (if that's the right word) or just looking to make sure that this was the only way to bring God's children back to Him. This is a great example to me of submitting to God's will, even if it is hard. 

Matthew 26:42- Christ went away a 2nd time to pray. He asked again, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done".
Christ checked up on his disciples (who were sleeping) and again returned to pray. He tells God that he will do what needs to be done. 

Matthew 26:44- Christ went away a 3rd time to pray. He repeated his pleadings again unto God.
Christ checked up on his disciples again (who were still sleeping) and again returned to pray. Sometimes we need to pray about hard things multiple times before we are given ALL the strength to endure through it. I cannot imagine how Christ was feeling knowing that after they left this place that he would be taken and arrested. 

Matthew 26:53-54- Christ knows that His Father could send help, but also knows that this must be done for mankind.
After Christ is arrested, one follower drew a sword and cut off the ear of a guard. Christ tells them not to bear their swords or else they would be killed by them. This is when he says what is written in this verse. He knows that he could be saved, but he knows that he needs to submit to them in order to fulfill the plan that God has set forth. It must have been so painful knowing that you could be saved from upcoming pain but not asking for it. 

Matthew 27:46- Christ asks "My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?" while on the cross.
I had always thought that if it were anyone on the cross, they would be asking the same thing. So, it never really seemed out of place for one to say this. However, I am reminded that Christ had NEVER BEEN WITHOUT THE SPIRIT of God. He lived a PERFECT life. His choices always warranted the SPIRIT to be with him. Even in Gethsemane, the Holy Ghost was with him to help him with the atonement...preparatory to him doing it on his own later. At that moment on the cross, He performed the atonement ON HIS OWN. The Spirit was no longer with him. He needed to do it on his own. This was the first time that he was all alone. I can't imagine what emptiness he must have felt. I also know that he knows how we feel when the Spirit withdraws from us when we make less than worthy choices. He knows.



In a talk given by Joseph B. Wirthlin, titled "Sunday Will Come", he speaks of loved ones dying and the fact that Christ opened the door to resurrection and that we will be able to see all our loved ones again. In this message he shares an important truth, using the death and resurrection of Christ as a symbol. Elder Wirthlin states many wonderful insights regarding this event:

I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross. On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.

On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.

I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.

And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.

This principle that "Sunday will come" that was illustrated from Christ's crucifixion, death, and resurrection beautifully illustrates that "this too shall pass". These phrases of hope are not empty BECAUSE HE LIVES.

Whatever we are going through, or will go through, Christ can help us. He can heal us. He is there for us. He knows how to help us even before we realize we need help. He is waiting for us to ask upon him. The enabling power of the atonement is one that I have come to learn a little more about. The strength it gives me in this trial of trying to have you is something I couldn't do on my own. I know it is for my learning and growth. He can and will help me through it... if I ask.

I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I do not know how to eloquently express my feelings on this subject, but do know He lives. He loves us. He wants us to draw on Him and His atonement so that we can become pure and live with Him and our Heavenly parents again. He is risen and because of Him, we will be too.

Love, 

Mom