Gospel Message Day 288

Death of Christ

We in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tend to talk more about the Atonement and the Resurrection of Christ than the event in the middle of the two--His death. I know I've spoken of all 3 during this year-long challenge. But I probably didn't focus as much on the death. We do not generally focus on His death, because we find such great healing, hope, promise, and joy in His Atonement and His Resurrection.

But His death was a very vital part of His work and purpose on Earth. It also overlapped with the Atonement, since on the cross He suffered through all the pain and agony that He did in Gethsemane. And there are other things related to His death that are important for us to know and to remember.

*The events that led up to His death show just how unjust his trial and sentence were. He was innocent. His death couldn't have been more wrong, despicable, or tragic.

*The actual events of His death fulfilled prophecy. Such as no bones being broken. Crucified people typically had their legs broken. But this was not the case for our Savior.

*His death was not a quick, painless one. Now was it a quick, painful one. It was a very long, agonizing method of killing him, full of pain. There was no backing out of it once in it. And there was even more time (after all of that time during Gethsemane and the trials, etc) for Christ to remember why He was hanging on that cross, and for whom He was there. Each of us was present during His death, for I believe we were on His mind as He suffered for us.

*I think the most important thing to remember--Christ was the one who had the power over His death. He only died when He gave up the ghost. He could have held on to His spirit as long as He wanted. He was born part-God, and had the ability to hold on to His immortality. He let go when He knew His work was finished, and because He knew that His death was a part of that work.

Gospel Message Day 191

Easter, Part 5

I was in the temple today. (Technically yesterday morning). It was Good Friday, and there I was being instructed about the Plan of Salvation. Being reminded that a Savior was appointed to, well, save us. Being reminded that Christ came to Earth to fulfill the Atonement. Which happened on Good Friday. Full circle. Easter is usually celebrating just Christ's resurrection. But I feel that Easter includes Christ's last week on Earth as well as the resurrection. (Read the linked article--really good!)

So the Passover feast where the Sacrament was instituted. The Atonement (which basically lasted from  the Garden of Gethsemane until he gave up His spirit on the cross). Christ's trial, which was his final testimony of Himself and His mission. The Crucifixion. Christ's time beyond the veil before His resurrection. And then the glorious resurrection itself. For me, Easter includes all of these. Which makes this one amazing time of year!

P.S. I love that April General Conference always comes close to the Easter season, often being part of it as it is this year. Perfect fit to talk of Christ, sing of Christ, rejoice of Christ, preach of Christ, learn of Christ, testify of Christ, and write of Christ during the celebration of the most important part of His mission on Earth.

Gospel Message Day 187

Easter

Yesterday's post seems to be a good segue into an Easter countdown. We kind of did one of those for Christmas, so we should certainly do one for Easter.

I've probably quoted it before, probably around Christmas, but I have long loved President Hinckley's Christmas Devotional quote: Without the death, it would be just another birth.

His Atonement, His crucifixion, and His Resurrection were the 3-fold culmination of our Savior's mission on Earth. Without them, He would just have been an amazing teacher. But He was unfathomably so much more.

Gospel Message Day 150

Gospel Study Insight

I feel I've finished the last topic, but my scripture study wanted to be shared today instead of beginning a new topic. My bishop challenged our ward to read the New Testament this year, to help us with our study of it in Gospel Doctrine. I decided to start today, but this time for my reading I thought I would try going by the Harmony of the Gospels as listed in the Bible Dictionary. I remember being challenged to this before. Maybe in my New Testament class at BYU? But I can't remember if I finished it. I don't think I did.

So I feel it is a good challenge for me. As I waited in the temple to do some service, I began this challenge and managed to get up to Jesus' baptism. (I'm also reading the scriptures that we have received through latter-day revelation--meaning revelation since the Gospel was restored (thus Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price). I love reading these together. Because I had time to read, I was able to manage a lot of reading and not just a few verses. And I was able to see better than I usually do with my typical focus on chapter by chapter in one work and book of scripture just how much all 4 of our scripture works correlate to each other. How the others truly testify of Christ and support the New Testament in what was written.

I also found it amazing that in a world WAY before cell phones and any other digital device and connection, people all over the world testified of one Jesus Christ. Jacob did ~550 years before Christ's birth. And could prophesy and testify of Him by name. King Benjamin prophesied and testified of Him by name 124 years before the Savior came. Samuel the Lamanite prophesied of Jesus by name 5 years before His birth. Isaiah also prophesied and testified of Him by name hundreds of years before the birth. And even further back, Enoch testified of Christ by name when he told of how the Lord revealed the Plan of Salvation (and the Savior's name and mission with it) to Adam. The very first man on Earth.

Christ was foretold of for many generations. He has been talked of for generations since. All before anything digital could spread the word around the globe. He didn't need to go viral with media. Jesus Christ, His mission, His message, His teachings, His life, His Atonement, His death, His resurrection--they all spread throughout the world because people opened their mouths to share the Good News. And that is what we are supposed to do today. Open our mouths--keep spreading the Good News!

Doctrine and Covenants 33:8-10:

Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.

Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.

Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying:Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand

Day 8

The missionaries Aaron and Ammon (along with their brothers) were sons of Mosiah, who was the last king of the Nephites before they ended kingship and implemented the use of judges. Mosiah's father was King Benjamin. Both were righteous kings and led the people on a good path, working right along beside them and following the Lord's ways and the Lord's prophets' counsel. At the beginning of the book of Mosiah, King Benjamin gathers the people together so he may speak to them one last time before he dies. (Story found in chapters 2-6.) King Benjamin, also, preached of the Savior and of what would come to pass (124 years later). He spoke of the birth, life, ministry, atonement, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Those beautiful words are found in chapter 3, verse 5-12: 

 5 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

  6 And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

  7 And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

  8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

  9 And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him.

  10 And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men.

  11 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

  12 But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet again, faith. Belief. The Spirit testifying to them that Christ would come and bring the greatest gifts to mankind. And the same for us. Our faith and belief are strengthened, supported, and expanded when we let the Spirit speak to us and testify of the reality of Christ. That He did come as a tiny baby, and grow and endure the daily trials and joys that each of us has endured. And then taught us the way we should be. And then atoned for our sins and pains and grievances. Was slain for us. And then rose from the dead, allowing us the chance to be reunited with our perfected body after we die. All of this providing us the possibility to learn and live in this life so we can one day return to our Savior as well as our Father in Heaven. Gospel doesn't just mean "great news." It's glorious, glorious news! All of those songs that sing "glory" and "alleluia" and "hallelujah" and "praise" and such joyous words like that are ways that I love to proclaim my excited wonderment and gratitude over all that Christ has done and still does for us.

I Stand All Amazed

I've spent all evening setting up this blog. So, for my first entry, I thought I would just share the lyrics to my favorite Sacrament song. It is my favorite because as a very young child, I was confused that we were singing about how wonderful it was that somebody died. I asked my mother about it while the congregation was singing. And my mother taught me just a portion of the Plan of Salvation, especially the part of the Savior atoning for our sins, his death, and his resurrection. All so that our souls could be bought back and that we would have the chance to return to live with Heavenly Father again. It was the beginnings of gaining a testimony of my Savior. I will always associate the song with that milestone.

I Stand All Amazed

lyrics by Charles H. Gabriel

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That he should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love, and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!