What Does Easter Mean to You?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to numerous scriptures – Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants – about the Easter story. The lesson is titled “He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory” and introduced by the following information. 

The life of Jesus Christ “is central to all human history” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” Gospel Library). What does that mean? In part, it means that the Savior’s life influences the eternal destiny of everyone who has ever lived or ever will live. You might also say that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, on that first Easter Sunday, connects all of God’s people throughout history: those who were born before His Resurrection looked forward to it with faith (see Jacob 4:4), and those born after look back on it with faith. As we read Old Testament accounts and prophecies, we don’t ever see the name Jesus Christ, but we do see the evidence of the ancient believers’ faith in and longing for their Messiah and Redeemer. So we who are invited to remember Him can feel a connection with those who looked forward to Him. For truly Jesus Christ has borne “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6; emphasis added), and “in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22; emphasis added).

The lesson included numerous principles, including (1) Prophets ancient and modern testify of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. (2) Jesus Christ offers me peace and joy. (3) Because of His Atonement, Jesus Christ has the power to help me overcome sin, death, trials, and weaknesses.

(4) Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for my salvation.

I feel prompted to discuss a compilation of ideas, something from each principle. There are many passages in the Old Testament that point to the Savior’s life, ministry, and atoning sacrifice. An example could be Zechariah 9:9, which many Bible students will recognize.

9 ¶ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus Christ rode a young donkey, a colt, into Jerusalem, as recorded in Matthew 21:1-11.

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

The second principle is about Jesus Christ offering each person peace and joy. Easter is a joyful time, because it’s a time to celebrate the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection. It is a time of new life – trees, bushes, and grass turn green, flowers start to bloom, and new life is seen in the animal kingdom. Yet, there are many people who do not feel joyful for assorted reasons. We can help them to feel joy by sharing a favorite scripture. One scripture that is helpful to me is

Alma 22:11-22.

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

17 Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state?

18 Behold, we went forth even in wrath, with mighty threatenings to destroy his church.

19 Oh then, why did he not consign us to an awful destruction, yea, why did he not let the sword of his justice fall upon us, and doom us to eternal despair?

20 Oh, my soul, almost as it were, fleeth at the thought. Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.

21 And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.

22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.

The third principle teaches that Jesus Christ can help us overcome the problems in our lives because of the power of His Atonement. There are numerous scriptures from which to choose, but I chose Moroni 10:32-33. These verses teach many blessings that can come to us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

The last principle teaches that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for my salvation through his atoning sacrifice. He described his suffering to Joseph Smith as follows.

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these 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;

18 Which suffering caused myself, 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 I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – President Dallin H. Oaks, President Henry B. Eyring, and President D. Todd Christofferson – released the following Easter message:

As Mary Magdalene and her companions mournfully approached the Garden Tomb, two angels appeared to them and shared the clarion call of all Christianity:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead?

“He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5–6).

This Easter season we also joyfully testify of this same eternal truth — Jesus Christ is risen. He lives! The Savior of the world was crucified and, on the third day, rose from the dead, “the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). His Resurrection allows all to be resurrected, and through His grace, we can find peace “which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) and “be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

We invite each of you during this Easter season to “seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written” (Ether 12:41). As you do so, we testify that your Easter celebrations can strengthen your own faith and testimony that “death is conquered; man is free. Christ has won the victory” (“He Is Risen!,” Hymns, no. 199).

I am grateful for the Easter season because it reminds me that Jesus Christ paid the price for my sins and made it possible through His atoning sacrifice for me and all mankind to return to the presence of Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father sacrificed His Only Begotten Son and Jesus Christ sacrificed His life because They love me and They love you. I look forward to being back in Their presence and enjoying eternal life with Them.