Quote of the day

"Naked - that's the way to do ice cream." -Jen 

Messages from the Easter Story: The Ascension

After the Resurrection, Christ stayed with the disciples for 40 days and taught them things pertaining to the kingdom. After the 40 days were over, Christ told His disciples that they would be "witnesses of Him in Jerusalem, Judea, and in the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight" (Acts 1:8-9).

The Ascension is an important part of the Easter story because it testifies that after Christ was Resurrected, He didn't just disappear and leave men to finish the job. Acts specifically mentioned that the disciples watched Him ascend into heaven so they could know that He was STILL in charge after He left, but this time He could guide them from heaven. Christ continues to guide His Church today. He is still in contact with His witnesses.‪#‎BecauseHeLives‬

Messages from the Easter Story: Suffering in the Garden

The night before Christ was lifted up on the cross, the Lamb of God went solemnly to Gethsemane. The Gospels say that He was "sorrowful and very heavy," "sore amazed," "in agony" and asked the Father that "He might not drink the bitter cup." Later, they wrote that He "fell on His face," and that "His sweat was as it were great drops of blood."

The Book of Mormon gives additional information to what actually happened that night in the Garden. It teaches that Jesus suffered much more that night than just for the sins of all mankind. Jacob wrote that He suffered the pains of all men that night (2 Nephi 9:21). King Benjamin included that He suffered such temptation, pain, fatigue, and anguish that blood came from every pore (Mosiah 3:7). Alma added that He suffered the sicknesses, infirmities, and sins of all men (Alma 7:11-12).

The following line from Alma in verse 13 gives great insight into who the Savior is. He said, "Now the Spirit knoweth all things." LDS Church leaders, including President Eyring (April 2009 conference), have taught that this verse teaches that Jesus didn't need to experience all of our pains, temptations, sicknesses, and infirmities that night in order to accomplish His role in the Atonement. He could have known how to succor us through revelation. However, He chose to suffer for us that He might learn through personal experience. ‪#‎BecauseHeLives‬

Messages from the Easter Story: The Sacrament

Just before Jesus went to Gethsemane to suffer for the sins of mankind, He introduced to His disciples a way to remember Him and what He would do that night: the sacrament. He gave the bread and water and said "This do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).

My favorite passage about remembering is from Helaman 5:9-12, where Helaman told his sons to remember Christ: Remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved; remember that Christ is come to redeem the world; remember that you must build your foundation upon Christ; and when you do Satan shall have no power to drag you down.‪#‎BecauseHeLives‬