Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  Before I go get all sappy on you, I wanted to share some cheesy photos.  I am not really into the whole commercialism of Easter, but we did get some chocolate bunnies and a bag of candy & eggs (thanks to my cute mom) to celebrate the holiday.

We went to stake conference and listened to Danny’s sister give the most beautiful talk on the Atonement.  She did a fantastic job and brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion.  Elder Worthin from the 70 was also there.  He also gave an amazing talk on the Savior.  It was so nice to be in that meeting really focusing on the Savior especially today when we celebrate His resurrection.  I just want to share some thoughts about the Savior that have really touched my life. 

The prophet Joseph Smith said: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.”

In his talk “None Were with Him” Elder Holland so eloquently said:
Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”

My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ’s lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosa in our present day. As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[Click here to read his whole talk]

And President Monson said: “My beloved brothers and sisters, in our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: “He is not here: for he is risen.”
[Click here to read his whole talk]

How grateful I am for the gospel in my life and for the knowledge that the Savior IS risen.  What a beautiful blessing and comfort in our life!