He is Risen

Happy Easter!

I want to testify that I have a strong testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. He lived. He gave his life for us, and he is risen.

Easter morning I attended a Sunrise service at the cemetery near my house. The minister made a poignant point that the physical setting of the graveyard and the sunrise probably taught a greater lesson that he ever could. The last sunrise service that I remember attending was on Easter Morning on the Mount of Olives. The trip that I took to Israel as a youth did much to build a foundation for my understanding of the life of Jesus Christ. I remember obtaining a spiritual confirmation over and over again that Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world, and I was indeed walking where Jesus walked.

I gave a lesson in church, and I wasn't able to share my thoughts anywhere how I would have liked or felt like I should have. It was a good reminder that we need to keep things simple.

We started by listing a few things that we love about Easter time: - the focus on Christ - flowers - candy - rebirth - music - spring - rain - sunshine - new clothes - family - peace and love

The lesson was about Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, and how the Lord will never forsake us. I have a strong testimony that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.

In my mind I have a strong connection between Joseph Smith’s suffering in Liberty Jail, our own trials and suffering, the comfort the Lord provides in our time of trial, and the how they lead to a greater understanding of the infinite nature of our Lord’s atonement. That connection takes a while to explain, so it didn’t come out very well at the time. Hopefully this is a little better. I still get emotional talking about this experience, but writing is easier, and the tears don’t get in the way of explaining.

In October 2005 our Stake performed the musical Joseph Smith the Prophet, by Rob Gardner. I love the music. While we rehearsing I was impressed by the difficult trials of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Our director Hannah Smith had a way of focusing us on the content of our songs, and there were many times while rehearsing and performing that we were lead to tears. I was dating Devin Bayles when rehearsals started, and he joined me and was planning to sing. We were not dating at the time of the performance, but he was still there for the performance. (As opposed to the person I was dating, who was not able to make either performance because he was sick. He had made it to work all week, but couldn’t make it to a concert for a few hours.)

In 2005 President Hinckley gave a challenge to members of the church and our friends to read or re-read the Book of Mormon in its entirety. I took that challenge. By November, Devin and I had started dating again. When I found out that Devin had died, I was devastated, and in much need of comforting.On December 2, 2005 I read in the Book of Mormon, where I had left off. The passage in 3 Nephi 22, felt like it was written directly to me. Although I cried and cried, it was just what I needed to hear.

Section 121 and 122 of the Doctrine and Covenants detail the suffering of the prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. The song “My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee” by Rob Gardner combines passages. Even though the music is sad, music has the power to speak to our soul, and I found a measure of peace. Juana had sang in the choir with me and let me borrow her CD, so I would listen to the song over and over again. I know that I didn’t understand why this had happened, but I knew that I was receiving extra blessings and help to make it through the experience. I had no doubt that Jesus Christ was aware of me personally and my deep loss. I may never be able to fully understand the atonement, but I gained a little more insight to the suffering of Jesus Christ. He loved and felt loss more deeply than even I, and through his atonement I may again feel whole. Whole from my sin, from my loss, from my shortcomings, and loss.

It is because of Jesus Christ that flowers, music, spring, rain, sunshine, family, and even - new clothes have meaning, purpose and joy.