Happy Easter

I can't believe its been nearly a month since I posted. I thought I had better add something so you don't all think I'm dead. But since I don't have much to say, I thought I'd remind you all about Easter. (I wanted to include a picture of Jesus speaking to Mary at the empty tomb but I'm using my friend’s computer. She is from Hong Kong so almost everything is in Cantonese. When I go to save a picture to upload it, I can't tell where it is saved is at!)

Although I am a Christmas-a-holic, Easter really is the more important holiday when you think about it. As our late prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley taught, we wouldn't celebrate Christmas if there hadn't been an Easter. If the Savior hadn't atoned for our sins and been resurrected so that we could all have eternal life, we wouldn't care that He had been born. He would have been the same as any other person. But He wasn't. He came to the earth to fulfill the will of His Father and to save all mankind from death. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He bore all our sins, sorrows, temptations, sadness’s, and all other "unhappy things" so that He could fully understand us. On Calvary, He was crucified for our sins so that we wouldn't have to pay the debt that they require. But most importantly, on Sunday, He was resurrected. While it is important that He died (just as it is important that He was born) that is not the real miracle. Jesus didn't save us from death by His death. The hope of a glorious resurrection came when he became "the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Corinthians 15:20). Because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we will be too. As President Hinckley also taught, the reason we don't use the cross as a symbol in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is because our message is a message of the living Christ, not the dying one. We rejoice in His resurrection.

"And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ" (Mosiah 16:7-8).

So, while you are all out having a good time finding eggs, opening baskets, and eating ham (all appropriate Easter activities just like gifts at Christmas) remember that Jesus is the reason for this season as well and take some time to thank your Heavenly Father for His matchless love and the gift of His son.

Happy Easter!