From the Cross to an Empty Tomb

Today is Easter, a day when we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. From the words of the hymn “I Believe in Christ”, “I believe in Christ oh blessed name. I will worship him with all my might, and I shall live with joy and love in his eternal courts above”.

Often when I am running in the early morning hours I see this cross that stands as a witness of the sacrifice that our Savior Jesus Christ made for each of us. The cross is not in front of a church, but the local John Deer Dealership. It shines brightly as a witness of the owner’s faith in Christ. They are not afraid to testify to the world of their faith. Seeing it every morning warms my heart and reminds me that I too am one of His witnesses and that I am here as a missionary for His Church today.

Seeing this cross reminds me that Jesus Christ suffered and was crucified so we could have our sins forgiven and cleansed. In an interview with President Gordan B. Hinckley, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the interviewer asked why our church does not have the cross on our buildings. President Hinckley responded that we worship the living Jesus Christ. In January 1 2000, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published a document called “The Living Christ”. Part of that document says:

"He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind

He rose from the grave to “become the first fruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “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—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).”

Sometimes when I am running the sun is beginning to rise and instead of seeing the cross shining in the dark, I see a fading cross as the skies brighten. Just as sure as the sun will rise each morning bringing an end to the darkness; Easter morning is a witness to the world that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The tomb was empty, and the risen Lord appeared unto his apostles and others that morning. He appeared to thousands of his people here in ancient America and they each had the opportunity to feel the wounds in his hands, just as the Apostle Thomas did.

I add my testimony that I know that Jesus Christ lives again. Just as the dark of night fads away as the sun rises, when we die, the darkness of the grave will give way on the morning of the resurrection. Because of the living Jesus Christ, the darkness of the cross will fad away and all who lived and died will live again and be brought before Christ where we shall all bow the knee and wash his feet with our tears. Happy Easter.

Your questions and comments are welcome.

Christ in America after His Resurrection

Because of Him

For many Christian denominations we are entering the Holy Week. Today is Palm Sunday, when Christ triumphantly enters Jerusalem; Friday is Good Friday, when Christ was crucified; and Sunday is Easter Sunday, when Christ was resurrected. We celebrate all of these because of the events that happened a single week in the life of one man – Jesus Christ. His life, and especially the events of that last week, has affected the life of every person that has ever lived or will ever live on this and many other worlds. Because of him the world was created and we are here (John 1:3). Because of him, we will all live again after we die.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey. Kings would show power by riding a horse into a conquering city; whereas a King would ride a donkey as a token of peace. Jesus Christ was the Prince of Peace and as such riding a donkey into Jerusalem would represent peace. The people of Jerusalem cut down palm branches and spread them before him and shouted:

“Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matthew 21:8-9)

What happened to the people between Palm Sunday and Friday when they cried: “crucify him”? (Luke 23:21) Why would many of the same people who would worship him as their messiah turn against him and want him put to death? I would guess it is that most of both crowds had no idea who Jesus was and were just following along with those a few believers and then a few Jewish rulers that hated Jesus. We have all seen the affect a crowd can have on others as they work them into a frenzy everyone just joins in not really knowing what is going on.

Which group would we have been part of? Are we among the believers, those who cried “crucify him”, or are we another group that had no idea what was going on and did not even pay attention to all the fuss? If you have the day off work because of Good Friday or Easter, is it another day off work or do you go to your house of worship and give thanks because of life we celebrate this holy week?

Because of him all sickness and pain will be done away. Because of him, death has no victory and we will live again. Because of him, we can find happiness in this life and in the life to come. Because of him, we can be forgiven and cleansed of our sins. Everything that I am is because of him.

I invite you to come worship with us, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can find the nearest church by clicking here and putting in your address. Even if you don’t want to worship with us, please go to your church and give thanks of all you have because of him.

Please watch this 1-minute video titled “Because of Him”. Your questions and comments are always welcome. 

Coming Home

This week was a time of coming home. Our children and grandchildren came home to grandma’s house for thanksgiving dinner. Not sure why it is always grandma’s house and not grandpa’s; but it does not matter whose house they call it as long as they never stop wanting to come home. The Thanksgiving Holiday is a wonderful time for family and friends to gather and enjoy some of my favorite foods. The grandkids asked if grandma was making her pretzel jello desert, one of our sons asked if she was making her sourdough dinner rolls and still others asked if she was making her famous stuffing. I guess that is why everyone thinks of it as grandma’s home because she is the one that makes their favorite foods. The one thing they always ask if I am making is their favorite breakfast - sourdough biscuits and eggs. The best part is the blessing of having everyone home again enjoying playing and visiting. Even the chaos with all the grandkids making a mess of all the toys and the noise is comforting.

Family gatherings at Thanksgiving have always been important to me. When I was young I remember uncles and aunts coming to our home for the holidays. It seemed that our home was the place to go for our family gatherings. My dad’s parents were in California and we lived in Indiana so we did not get to see them much. My Mother’s mom lived not too far from us but she would come to our home along with some of her family for the holidays.

One of our family traditions is the grandkids get their Christmas pajamas on Thanksgiving. It seems that no matter how old they are they still enjoy getting their new pajamas from grandma and grandpa at Thanksgiving. They get to try them on and then we take pictures. They even get to be silly in some of the pictures. This year the weather was so warm they were able to go outside and play. We were all blessed to have the opportunity to talk on the phone with our youngest son who was not there with us.

My brother’s family is having another homecoming this year. Their youngest son came home this past week from serving a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Missionary homecomings are special traditions for LDS Families. The whole family goes to the airport to greet the returning missionary. There is nothing more comforting for a mother than to be able to give her son a hug after being away from her for two years. The biggest adjustment is seeing the growth and maturity that has taken place from two years of selfless service as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no joy greater that a mother and father can feel than a child coming home again.

There is another homecoming that some of my classmates form high school have experienced over the past few weeks. They have had family members go home to their Father in Heaven. Losing a loved one is difficult and yet if we understand where they are going it should be a time of rejoicing for the one we have lost. They are home. William Wordsworth in his Poem “Ode – Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” said:

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:

My heart goes out to those that have lost loved ones and I know that this is a difficult time for them. I hope that they can be comforted knowing that they are now enjoying the peace and happiness of being home again with their Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. The Prophet Amla sought to know what happened to us when we die and he taught:

Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. (Alma 40:11-12)

The Prophet Joseph F. Smith saw a vision of the spirit world at the time of the Savior’s death he said:

As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.

They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.

While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful;

And the saints rejoiced in their redemption, and bowed the knee and acknowledged the Son of God as their Redeemer and Deliverer from death and the chains of hell.

Their countenances shone, and the radiance from the presence of the Lord rested upon them, and they sang praises unto his holy name. (Doctrine & Covenants 138:11-24)

It is comforting to know that because of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ when we die we will be brought back into the presence of the one that suffered for our sins and if we allowed his atonement to free us from our sins we will dwell with him and our Heavenly Father for all eternity.

Homecomings are a joyous time whether it is going to grandma's house for the holidays, welcoming a son or daughter home from a mission or even when a loved one leaves this life and returns home to Heavenly Father.

Your comments and questions are welcome.

In My Flesh I Shall See God

This week two of my coworkers passed away unexpectedly. One was 38 and left his wife and two teenage children, the other just retired and left his wife and children behind. The funeral for one of them was Friday and the other will be tomorrow. It is times like these that we often question what will happen to us after we die. This is a question that we all have asked at some time. Job in the Old Testament gives us his testimony of what will happen:

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:25-27)

Job's words can bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones that there is life after death. We read of the Savior’s resurrection three days after his crucifixion. Several women came to the sepulcher and found the tomb empty. They ran back to tell the disciples what they found. Peter, John and Mary ran back to the sepulcher. When Peter and John saw that it was empty they left but Mary stayed and the scriptures say that while she was there she saw two angels who asked her why she was seeking the living among the dead. She turned and saw another man whom she thought was the gardener and she asked if he had taken the Lord’s body somewhere. The scripture continues:

 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:14-17)

Mary was the first to witness the reality of Job’s testimony, that there is life after death. There in front of her was Jesus, he indeed had been resurrected. Later that night Jesus appeared to ten of the disciples as they were talking:

And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

And he took it, and did eat before them.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. (Matthew 24:36-46)

With these scriptures we know that Jesus Christ died and was resurrected, not just as a spirit but with a physical body. Job’s testimony is that he will see God as a physical person as well, meaning that we will be resurrected in the same manner that Christ was resurrected. In Book of Mormon Amulek taught us:

Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death.
The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.

Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. (Alma 11:42-44)

When we are resurrected we will have everything restored in a perfect body and we will be brought to stand before Jesus Christ to be judged according to our works. The resurrection will come to every person that is born into this word, none will be left out. If we are judged to be worthy of God’s presence then we will dwell there eternally as families.

Elder Robert D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve, bore this testimony of the resurrection not just as individuals, but as families:

“The knowledge and understanding of the doctrine that God lives and Jesus is the Christ and that we have an opportunity to be resurrected and live in the presence of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, makes it possible to endure otherwise tragic events. This doctrine brings a brightness of hope into an otherwise dark and dreary world. It answers the simple questions of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. These are truths that must be taught and practiced in our homes.

“God lives. Jesus is the Christ. Through His Atonement we will all have the opportunity of being resurrected. This is not just an individual blessing; it is much more than that. It is a blessing to each one of us and to our families. That we may be eternally grateful, that we can live in the presence of God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ, that we may be together in the eternities to come, that we might understand the joy, and that we not only teach this doctrine but live true to it in our lives and in our families, is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (“The Eternal Family”, Robert D. Hales, General Conference, October 1996)

Our testimony to the world is that we are here for a reason, and that there is life after this life. The life after this life can be wonderful and exalting if we keep God’s commandments, are baptized by the proper priesthood authority and receive the temple covenants that bind our family together forever.
Knowing we will be together as a family is a great promise, but how do we get through the lonely times ahead when we miss a loved one that has passed beyond the veil? How do we endure the trials without a husband, father, mother, brother, sister or friend? We must rely on the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ that he can free us from our burdens and find peace. He has said:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke about how we can find happiness even in the difficult times. He said:

“Above all else, ultimate happiness, true peace, and anything even remotely close to scriptural joy are found first, foremost, and forever in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Lots of other philosophies and systems of belief have been tried.  Indeed it seems safe to say that virtually every other philosophy and system has been tried down through the centuries of history.  But when the Apostle Thomas asked the Lord the question young people often ask today, “How can we know the way?” (and at your age in life that really translates, “How can we know the way to be happy?”) Jesus gave the answer that rings from eternity to all eternity, “I am the way, the truth, and the life . . . And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do. . . . If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

"What a promise!  Live my way, live my truth, live my life—live in this manner that I am showing you and teaching you—and whatsoever you ask will be given, whatsoever you seek you will find, including happiness.  Parts of the blessing may come soon, parts may come later, and parts may not come until heaven but they will come—all of them.  What encouragement that is after a blue Monday or a sad Tuesday or a tearful Wednesday!  And it is a promise the realization of which cannot come any other way than by devotion to eternal truth!  In the words of then newly ordained Elder David O. McKay just short of a full century ago, “[Unlike gratification or pleasure or some kind of thrill, true] happiness is found only along that well beaten [gospel] track, narrow as it is, . . . [and] straight [as it is], which leads to life eternal.”7  So love God and each other, and be true to the gospel of Jesus Christ.” (“Living After the Manner of Happiness”, Jeffrey R. Holland, BYU-Idaho Devotional Address, September 23, 2014)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ provides all the answers to the questions about the purpose of life and what will happen to us after we die. It is a comforting blessing to know we can and will be with our families through the eternities. When we lose a loved one and we have to go through our lives without them we know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the sealing ordinances of the temple, we will be with them again. We can find peace and happiness even when we feel alone if we follow the advice of Elder Holland and live the gospel and follow the Savior’s example of love and service.

I want the families of my two friends and coworkers to know that our family prays that the Lord will lift their burdens from them and they find peace in this difficult time. I know they have a testimony of the resurrection and that because they have been sealed by temple covenants their families are eternal. I know that after this life we will all see God and our families in the flesh and then dwell with them for all eternity.

Your comments and questions are welcome.

Thou Art The Christ

While Jesus was in Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13) After they responded by saying that some thought he was John the Baptist or Elias or Jeremias, Jesus then asked: “But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) Peter answered by saying:

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:16-17)

Peter knew by revelation from Father in Heaven that Jesus was the Christ. He was not just a good speaker, teacher, or prophet; he was the Son of the living God.

Here in the North American Continent about 500 years earlier a man, named Sherem, came among the people teaching that it was a foolish tradition to believe in Jesus Christ. He said it was not possible to know the future. When the prophet Jacob questioned him asking him if he denied the reality of Jesus Christ, Sherem responded:

If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be.

And I (Jacob) said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he (Sherem) said, Yea.

And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ. (Jacob 7:9-11)

The first Article of Faith says:

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Why is it important that we know that Jesus Christ is real and that we have a Heavenly Father? To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe all the scriptures testify of him. He is the creator of heaven and earth, he is the Son of God and we are also children of that same God. We lived with them before we came here in mortality and we were sent here to prove ourselves worthy of returning to live with Christ and our Heavenly Father after we die. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ all who are born on this earth will live again after they die; the only thing to be determined is what type of life we will have. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and let the atonement become effective in our lives and keep God’s commandments, we will become joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17) and all that the Father and Christ have will given to us (Doctrine & Covenants 84:33-38) and we will become as they are (Doctrine & Covenants 132:20).

The Prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon testified of the importance of having faith in Christ. He said:

And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out. (2 Nephi 25:29)

And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.

And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.

And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.

For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen. (2 Nephi 33:10-15)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson in the last General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints quoted from a book by President Monson of a man that did not believe in God and Christ and then bears his testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ and the importance of a testimony of Christ. He said:

“President Thomas S. Monson tells of a Robert Blatchford who, 100 years ago “in his book God and My Neighbor, attacked with vigor accepted Christian beliefs, such as God, Christ, prayer, and immortality. He boldly asserted, ‘I claim to have proved everything I set out to prove so fully and decisively that no Christian, however great or able he may be, can answer my arguments or shake my case.’ He surrounded himself with a wall of skepticism. Then a surprising thing happened. His wall suddenly crumbled to dust. … Slowly he began to feel his way back to the faith he had scorned and ridiculed. What had caused this profound change in his outlook? His wife [had] died. With a broken heart, he went into the room where lay all that was mortal of her. He looked again at the face he loved so well. Coming out, he said to a friend: ‘It is she, and yet it is not she. Everything is changed. Something that was there before is taken away. She is not the same. What can be gone if it be not the soul?’”

“As the prophesied birth of Jesus drew near, there were those among the ancient Nephite and Lamanite peoples who believed, though most doubted. In due course, the sign of His birth arrived—a day and a night and a day without darkness—and all knew.³⁷ Even so today, some believe in the literal Resurrection of Christ, and many doubt or disbelieve. But some know. In due course, all will see and all will know; indeed, “every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him.”

“I believe the many witnesses of the Savior’s Resurrection whose experiences and testimonies are found in the New Testament—Peter and his companions of the Twelve and dear, pure Mary of Magdala, among others. I believe the testimonies found in the Book of Mormon—of Nephi the Apostle with the unnamed multitude in the land Bountiful, among others. And I believe the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon who, after many other testimonies, proclaimed the great witness of this last dispensation “that he lives! For we saw him.” Under the glance of His all-seeing eye, I stand myself as a witness that Jesus of Nazareth is the resurrected Redeemer, and I testify of all that follows from the fact of His Resurrection. May you receive the conviction and comfort of that same witness, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” (“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ”, D. Todd Christofferson, General Conference, April 2014)

I add my witness of the reality of Jesus Christ. He is the Son of the living God. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He was Jehovah of the Old Testament; he was born of Mary and established his church on the earth during his ministry. He was rejected by the Jews and crucified, then rose again the third day. He taught the people in Jerusalem for 30 days, and also appeared to the people here in America after his resurrection. Because of the death of the ancient apostles and apostasy within the church, the the priesthood authority Christ gave to the Apostles to administer the saving ordinances was lost. Jesus Christ and the Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in 1820 (Joseph Smith History) and restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood on the earth again in these latter days (Doctrine & Covenants 1:17). We have a prophet who is God’s voice to all today, Thomas S. Monson. Without this knowledge and testimony I would be as the Apostle Paul described “be most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19).

Your comments and questions are always welcome.