Jesus the Christ - 14

 It is interesting that Elder Talmage thought concerning the man with palsy lifted down through the roof - 

"The incident demands our further study. According to one of the accounts, the Lord's first words to the afflicted one were: "Son, be of good cheer;" followed directly by the comforting and authoritative assurance: "Thy sins be given thee."[416] The man was probably in a state of fear; he may have known that his ailment was the result of wicked indulgences; nevertheless, though he may have considered the possibility of hearing only condemnation for his transgression, he had faith to be brought. In this man's condition there was plainly a close connection between his past sins and his present affliction; and in this particular his case is not unique, for we read that Christ admonished another, whom He healed, to sin no more lest a worse thing befall him.[417] We are not warranted, however, in assuming that all bodily ills are the result of culpable sin; and against such a conception stands the Lord's combined instruction and rebuke to those who, in the case of a man born blind, asked who had sinned, the man or his parents to bring so grievous an affliction upon him, to which inquiry our Lord replied that the man's blindness was due neither to his own sin nor to that of his parents. In many instances, however, disease is the direct result of individual sin. Whatever may have been the measure of past offense on the part of the man suffering from palsy, Christ recognized his repentance together with the faith that accompanied it, and it was the Lord's rightful prerogative to decide upon the man's fitness to receive remission of his sins and relief from his bodily affliction. The interrogative response of Jesus to the muttered criticism of the scribes, Pharisees, and doctors, has been interpreted in many ways. He inquired which was easier, to say, "Thy sins be forgiven thee," or to say, "Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk." Is it not a rational explanation that, when spoken authoritatively by Him, the two expressions were of allied meaning? The circumstance should have been a sufficient demonstration to all who heard, that He, the Son of Man, claimed and possessed the right and the power to remit both physical and spiritual penalties, to heal the body of visible disease, and to purge the spirit of the no less real malady of sin.  In the presence of people of all classes Jesus thus openly asserted His divinity, and affirmed the same by a miraculous manifestation of power."

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 265). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 13

 Elder Talmage suggested that when the Savior wouldn't satisfy their desire for a desired miracle for those of His home town - 

"Then great was their wrath. Did He dare to class them with Gentiles and lepers? Were they to be likened unto despized unbelievers, and that too by the son of the village carpenter, who had grown from childhood in their community? Victims of diabolical rage, they seized the Lord and took Him to the brow of the hill on the slopes of which the town was built, determined to avenge their wounded feelings by hurling Him from the rocky cliffs. Thus early in His ministry did the forces of opposition attain murderous intensity. But our Lord's time to die had not yet come. The infuriated mob was powerless to go one step farther than their supposed victim would permit. "But he passing through the midst of them went his way." Whether they were overawed by the grace of His presence, silenced by the power of His words, or stayed by some more appalling intervention, we are not informed. He departed from the unbelieving Nazarenes, and thenceforth Nazareth was no longer His home."

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (pp. 249-250). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 13

 As the Savior spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well - 

"...as Jesus expounded the matter to her, the place of worship was of lesser importance than the spirit of the worshiper. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 244). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Elder Talmage wrote earlier of "God" or the Godhead consisting of the Eternal Father or Elohim, His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, suggesting all three are Gods.  I have pondered somewhat the Holy Ghost and His nature in the eternities.  Though there is little revealed and written on the eternity of the Holy Ghost and associated doctrine, the thought crossed my mind for the first time this morning that the teaching of the Savior could be in reference to the Holy Ghost.

Jesus the Christ - 12

 Of the Savior's first cleansing of the temple, Elder Talmage wrote - 

"The incident of Christ's forcible clearing of the temple is a contradiction of the traditional conception of Him as of One so gentle and unassertive in demeanor as to appear unmanly. Gentle He was, and patient under affliction, merciful and long-suffering in dealing with contrite sinners, yet stern and inflexible in the presence of hypocrisy, and unsparing in His denunciation of persistent evil-doers. His mood was adapted to the conditions to which He addressed Himself; tender words of encouragement or burning expletives of righteous indignation issued with equal fluency from His lips. His nature was no poetic conception of cherubic sweetness ever present, but that of a Man, with the emotions and passions essential to manhood and manliness. He, who often wept with compassion, at other times evinced in word and action the righteous anger of a God. But of all His passions, however gently they rippled or strongly surged, He was ever master. Contrast the gentle Jesus moved to hospitable service by the needs of a festal party in Cana, with the indignant Christ plying His whip, and amidst commotion and turmoil of His own making, driving cattle and men before Him as an unclean herd."

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 221). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 11

 Concerning the Savior's first miracle, Elder Talmage wrote - 

"The circumstances incident to the miraculous act are instructive to contemplate. The presence of Jesus at the marriage, and His contribution to the successful conduct of the feast, set the seal of His approval upon the matrimonial relationship and upon the propriety of social entertainment. He was neither a recluse nor an ascetic; He moved among men, eating and drinking, as a natural, normal Being.[337] On the occasion of the feast He recognized and heeded the demands of the liberal hospitality of the times, and provided accordingly. He, who but a few days before had revolted at the tempter's suggestion that He provide bread for His impoverished body, now used His power to supply a luxury for others. One effect of the miracle was to confirm the trust of those whose belief in Him as the Messiah was yet young and untried. "His disciples believed on him"; surely they had believed in some measure before, otherwise they would not have followed Him; but their belief was now strengthened and made to approach, if indeed it did not attain, the condition of abiding faith in their Lord. The comparative privacy attending the manifestation is impressive; the moral and spiritual effect was for the few, the inauguration of the Lord's ministry was not to be marked by public display."

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 205). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 10

 As Elder Talmage reviewed the three temptations of the Savior after fasting 40 days in the wilderness, he argued that He was peccable, meaning He possessed agency and could sin writing - 

A question deserving some attention in this connection is that of the peccability or impeccability of Christ—the question as to whether He was capable of sinning. Had there been no possibility of His yielding to the lures of Satan, there would have been no real test in the temptations, no genuine victory in the result. Our Lord was sinless yet peccable; He had the capacity, the ability to sin had He willed so to do. Had He been bereft of the faculty to sin, He would have been shorn of His free agency; and it was to safeguard and insure the agency of man that He had offered Himself, before the world was, as a redeeming sacrifice. To say that He could not sin because He was the embodiment of righteousness is no denial of His agency of choice between evil and good. A thoroughly truthful man cannot culpably lie; nevertheless his insurance against falsehood is not that of external compulsion, but of internal restraint due to his cultivated companionship companionship of the spirit of truth. A really honest man will neither take nor covet his neighbor's goods, indeed it may be said that he cannot steal; yet he is capable of stealing should he so elect. His honesty is an armor against temptation; but the coat of mail, the helmet, the breastplate, and the greaves, are but an outward covering; the man within may be vulnerable if he can be reached. But why proceed with labored reasoning, which can lead to but one conclusion, when our Lord's own words and other scriptures confirm the fact? Shortly before His betrayal, when admonishing the Twelve to humility, He said: "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations."[

"But why proceed with labored reasoning, which can lead to but one conclusion, when our Lord's own words and other scriptures confirm the fact? Shortly before His betrayal, when admonishing the Twelve to humility, He said: "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations."[306] While here we find no exclusive reference to the temptations immediately following His baptism, the exposition is plain that He had endured temptations, and by implication, these had continued throughout the period of His ministry. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews expressly taught that Christ was peccable, in that He was tempted "in all points" as are the rest of mankind. Consider the unambiguous declaration: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."[307] And further: "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered."[308]

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 190). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ -

Elder Talmage explained -  

"It is not to be supposed that Christ's victorious emergence from the dark clouds of the three specified temptations exempted Him from further assaults by Satan, or insured Him against later trials of faith, trust, and endurance. Luke closes his account of the temptations following the forty-day fast as follows: "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season."[304] This victory over the devil and his wilesout for fame and material wealth, were great but not final successes in the struggle between Jesus, the embodied God, and Satan, the fallen angel of light. That Christ was subject to temptation during the period of His association with the apostles He expressly affirmed.[305] That His temptations extended even to the agony in Gethsemane will appear as we proceed with this study. It is not given to the rest of us, nor was it given to Jesus, to meet the foe, to fight and overcome in a single encounter, once for all time. The strife between the immortal spirit and the flesh, between the offspring of God on the one hand, the world and the devil on the other, is persistent through life."

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 188). anboco. Kindle Edition. , this triumph over the cravings of the flesh, the harassing doubts of the mind, the suggested reaching 

Jesus the Christ - 10

Writing of John the Baptist, Elder Talmage commented - 

"The spirit of his demands was that of a practical religion, the only religion of any possible worth—the religion of right living. With all his vigor, in spite of his brusqueness, notwithstanding his forceful assaults on the degenerate customs of the times, this John was no agitator against established institutions, no inciter of riot, no advocate of revolt, no promoter of rebellion. He did not assail the tax system but the extortions of the corrupt and avaricious publicans; he did not denounce the army, but the iniquities of the soldiers, many of whom had taken advantage of their position to bear false witness for the sake of gain and to enrich themselves by forcible seizure.  He preached, what in the now current dispensation we call the first or fundamental principles of the gospel—"the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,"[286] comprizing faith, which is vitalized belief, in God; genuine repentance, which comprizes contrition for past offenses and a resolute determination to turn from sin; baptism by immersion in water at his hands as the hands of one having authority; and the higher baptism by fire or the bestowal of the Holy Ghost by an authority greater than that possessed by himself. His preaching was positive, and in many respects opposed to the conventions of the times; he made no appeal to the people through the medium of miraculous manifestations;[287] and though many of his hearers attached themselves to him as disciples,[288] he established no formal organization, nor did he attempt to form a cult. His demand for repentance was an individual call, as unto each acceptable applicant the rite of baptism was individually administered."

President Dallin H. Oaks - Alive in Christ

 President Oaks addressed a few topics that I need to pay more attention to.  He taught - 

For us, the universal Resurrection is equally certain. As the Book of Mormon teaches:

“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form. …

“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” (Alma 11:43–44).

I wonder if we fully appreciate the enormous significance of this belief in a literal, universal resurrection. The conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity changes the whole perspective of our mortal life. It affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality. It gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love. It signifies that mortal deficiencies are only temporary! It also gives us the courage to face our own death or that of loved ones—even deaths we might call premature."

"In the Sermon on the Mount, He declared:

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44).

What a revolutionary teaching for personal relationships! Love even your enemies! But who are our enemies? The full meaning of enemies in the sources from which King James’s translators chose the word enemies includes military foes but even extends to any who actively oppose one another. Today we might say that we are commanded to love our adversaries. All mortals are beloved children of God. As President David O. McKay taught, “There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for one’s fellowmen.”

"Each of us can strive to follow our Savior in His teachings about how to relate to one another. This does not mean surrendering our values. The covenants we have made inevitably position us as devoted participants in the eternal contest between truth and error. We balance our various responsibilities.

This balancing is not easy. When we seek to keep all the commandments in our personal lives, we are sometimes accused of having no love for those who don’t. When we show personal love and support loving causes, we are sometimes misunderstood as implying support for results that contradict our other religious duties. But as followers of Christ, we should seek to live peaceably and lovingly with other children of God who do not share our values and do not have the covenant obligations we have assumed. In a democratic government we should seek fairness for all. In countless circumstances, strangers’ suspicions or even hostility gradually gives way to friendship when personal contacts produce mutual respect.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that we should “pour forth love” to all people. Speaking of our Savior, the Apostle John wrote, “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). We can follow the example of Jesus Christ, who is our role model, by choosing to love others—even if they show little or no love toward us. He declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9; see also 3 Nephi 12:9).

Peacemakers! How it would change the world if followers of Christ would forgo harsh and hurtful words in all their communications."

Jesus the Christ - 6

 After Ezra and Nehemiah's efforts to move Judah back to the written law and the prophets, what emerged were self-perpetuated scholars who became known as scribes and rabbis who attempted to interpret laws with more rules.  The Savior in his mortal ministry declared - 

"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."

Adding - 

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!"

Jesus the Christ - 6

Elder Talmage explained "meridian" as follows - 

"The term "meridian", as commonly used, conveys the thought of a principal division of time or space[146] thus we speak of the hours before the daily noon as ante-meridian (a.m.) and those after noon as post-meridian (p.m.). So the years and the centuries of human history are divided by the great event of the birth of Jesus Christ. The years preceding that epoch-making occurrence are now designated as time Before Christ (B.C.); while subsequent years are each specified as a certain Year of our Lord, or, as in the Latin tongue, Anno Domini (A.D.). Thus the world's chronology has been adjusted and systematized with reference to the time of the Savior's birth; and this method of reckoning is in use among all Christian nations."  Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (pp. 92-93). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 5

 Elder Talmage taught that even though some believe Shiloh referred to a location, it also referred to a person  or the Messiah where - 

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be."

Shiloh is the Savior.  He is the Law Giver.

Elder Dale G. Renlund - Because of Jesus Christ

 Elder Renlund taught - 

"I cannot add more time to your days or eliminate the many concerns modern life brings. But I can offer this counsel: Not all matters are of equal value, and maintaining an eternal perspective helps us prioritize the things that are of greatest value. On this Easter Sunday, let us consider why focusing on Jesus Christ and the “infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice” is of greatest value and helps us no matter how many other concerns we must manage. His life, His mission, and the fruits of His Atonement bless us infinitely and daily.

Jesus lived and died to do His Father’s will. His infinite Atonement—the series of events He experienced from Gethsemane through His death on the cross and on to His glorious Resurrection—is central to Heavenly Father’s plan for our salvation. The plan depended on Jesus Christ; there was no alternative. He completed the Atonement and thereby received “all power … in heaven and in earth.”"

"Second, Jesus Christ has both the power and the desire to save us from our sins. Because of Jesus Christ, when we repent and follow Him, “immediately [will] the great plan of redemption be brought about unto [us].” The Redeemer suffered the punishment for everyone’s sins, transgressions, and mistakes. He can and will declare guiltless all who believe on His name, repent, follow the covenant path, and strive to endure to the end. “All mankind may be saved” because of Him and His atoning sacrifice. All means everyone. If everyone, then anyone. If anyone, then even one. And if even one, then even you.

Jesus Christ has infinite capacity to forgive, promising that “as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.” Because of Jesus Christ, sins for which we have sincerely repented leave no spiritual scar, track, or trace. There is no scarlet letter to wear, now or in the eternities. When we repent with real intent, the entirety of our sin, not just a part, is figuratively nailed to the cross and we no longer bear its spiritual consequences. After we have repented, we owe no more to justice because Jesus has paid the debt; He pardons us from deserved punishment. We are forgiven, our hearts and hands are made clean, and the Lord remembers our sins no more. The Lord our God “is mighty; he will save, [and] he will rejoice over [us].”

Third, Jesus Christ understands our challenges, having taken on not only our sins but also our griefs, sicknesses, and frailties. Because He endured and completed the infinite atoning sacrifice, He empathizes perfectly with us. He can “calm [our] anguish” and offers “gentle … peace … for [our] beseeching.” He, and only He, can consider every factor that shapes who we are: our genetics, intellectual abilities, traditions, experiences, mental and emotional conditions, and every other circumstance that affects who we are. He, and only He, will eventually judge us “according to [our] works, according to the desire of [our] hearts.”

Because of Jesus Christ, all that is unfair in life can and will be made right. He will consecrate our afflictions for our gain. He will sanctify to us our deepest distress. He will fill with sweet a bitter cup. He will dependably and consistently make us whole. If we let Him, we will “suffer no manner of afflictions, save it [is] swallowed up in the joy of Christ.”

Focusing on the Savior, His infinite Atonement, and what He has done for us will bring joy and clarity into our lives, no matter how many other concerns we have. This is why ancient and modern prophets have and always will direct us to Christ. You may remember that President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Whatever questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.” And President Dallin H. Oaks, the Lord’s living prophet today, simply declared, “Jesus Christ is the way.”"

Jesus the Christ 5

 For my own records, Elder Talmage referenced beside Isaiah, several Old Testament prophets concerning the coming of the Son of God - 

"Unto Jeremiah came the word of the Lord in terms of plainness, declaring the sure advent of the King by whom the safety of both Judah and Israel should be assured;[124] the Prince of the House of David, through whom the divine promise to the son of Jesse should be realized.[125] Under the same spirit prophesied Ezekiel,[126] Hosea,[127] and Micah.[128] Zechariah broke off in the midst of fateful prediction to voice the glad song of thanksgiving and praise as he beheld in vision the simple pageantry of the King's triumphal entry into the city of David.[129] Then the prophet bewailed the grief of the conscience-smitten nation, by whom, as was foreseen, the Savior of humankind would be pierced, even unto death;[130] and showed that, when subdued by contrition His own people would ask, "What are these wounds in thy hands?", the Lord would answer: "Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."[131] The very price to be paid for the betrayal of the Christ to His death was foretold as in parable.[132]"

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 77). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 5

 In reference to the following scripture - 

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; and he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."  Moses 4:21

...Elder Talmage taught an interesting truth - 

"...Brief mention of the plan of salvation, the author of which is Jesus Christ, appears in the promise given of God following the fall—that though the devil, represented by the serpent in Eden, should have power to bruise the heel of Adam's posterity, through the seed of the woman should come the power to bruise the adversary's head.[103] It is significant that this assurance of eventual victory over sin and its inevitable effect, death, both of which were introduced to earth through Satan the arch-enemy of mankind, was to be realized through the offspring of woman; the promise was not made specifically to the man, nor to the pair. The only instance of offspring from woman dissociated from mortal fatherhood is the birth of Jesus the Christ, who was the earthly Son of a mortal mother, begotten by an immortal Father."  Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 73). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 4

 Elder Talmage explained - 

"Christ is a sacred title, and not an ordinary appellation or common name; it is of Greek derivation, and in meaning is identical with its Hebrew equivalent Messiah or Messias, signifying the Anointed One."

[Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 62). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Elder Ronald A. Rasband - He Is Risen

 Elder Rasband taught - 

"Jesus Christ and His Resurrection are at the very core of the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Prophet Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Restoration, who saw and spoke with God the Father and His Beloved Son, taught, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven.” As an Apostle called of Jesus Christ, I bear my testimony to all the world of that truth."

"Jesus Christ is more than a mortal first laid in a manger, more than a friend, teacher, rabbi, minister, or prophet. He is the Only Begotten Son of the Father. And by divine design, His Resurrection by His own godly power reunited His body and His spirit. What a majestic and monumental event in Father in Heaven’s eternal plan."

"May we be at peace, brothers and sisters, for the Lord has promised, “Where I am, there ye may be also.” May we believe the Lord’s words in Isaiah: “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” May we testify of Him by the way we live and what we love. May we feel to our very souls these stirring words: “He is risen! He is risen! Tell it out with joyful voice” and “let the whole wide earth rejoice.”"

Jesus the Christ - 4

 For me, Elder Talmage made an interesting thought - 

"The scriptures specify three personages in the Godhead; (1) God the Eternal Father, (2) His Son Jesus Christ, and (3) the Holy Ghost. These constitute the Holy Trinity, comprizing three physically separate and distinct individuals, who together constitute the presiding council of the heavens...."  

Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 59). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 3

 Elder Talmage taught of the Savior- 

"Such then is the need of a Redeemer, for without Him mankind would forever remain in a fallen state, and as to hope of eternal progression would be inevitably lost.[64] The mortal probation is provided as an opportunity for advancement; but so great are the difficulties and the dangers, so strong is the influence of evil in the world, and so weak is man in resistance thereto, that without the aid of a power above that of humanity no soul would find its way back to God from whom it came."  Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (p. 49). anboco. Kindle Edition. 

Jesus the Christ - 3

 Elder Talmage taught - 

"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

After the fall, Jesus Christ is the only one who possessed power over death in His own life.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Encounter at the Empty Tomb

Elder Uchtdorf taught - 

"Today we understand better why the Savior had to die.

We know His “dying … brought new birth through resurrection’s miracle.” But did His disciples know this at the time? Or did they wonder if God had entirely abandoned them?

Despite the heaviness of their hearts and the unanswered questions in their minds, Mary and her companions made their way to the tomb.

They didn’t come expecting a miracle.

They didn’t come anticipating their questions would be answered.

They certainly didn’t come because they had a complete understanding of what was happening.

They came because of their immeasurable love and reverence for Jesus Christ. They came desiring to provide a loving act of service as a measure of their devotion and love for the man they honored and followed as the promised Messiah.

They came because they knew when the world is dark, the best place to go is toward “the light [that] shines in … darkness.”

What Mary and those with her discovered on that Sunday morning changed the world forever. “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel … [and] said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.’”

This encounter at the empty tomb changed them forever.

It changed the world."

"He lives!

Today.

At this moment.

He lives and is an active, ongoing influence in His Church and in the personal lives of those who follow Him. He guides, comforts, listens, calms our fears, and wipes away our tears.

The message of the risen Christ is that, with His strength, all obstacles can be overcome. Because Jesus Christ conquered death, surely He can conquer any danger, confusion, or doubt we face."

But it’s worth remembering how it started—early on that Sunday morning with Mary and a small group of friends who, despite grief, fear, and unanswered questions, encountered the empty tomb and learned for themselves the glorious truth of His Resurrection. It began on that Easter morning when these few women became the world’s first witnesses of the single greatest event in the history of this world."

"We must all do the same.

We must encounter the empty tomb, experience the reality of what it means, and, in turn, share that witness with others.

Even though centuries separate us from that holy day, we are among those who Jesus referred to when He said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Savior has entrusted each of us personally with sacred spiritual experiences and knowledge. Because of those experiences, we can see for ourselves the meaning of the empty tomb: that Jesus Christ lives and is actively blessing all who seek Him.

We too can rise to Jesus’s challenge and spread the glorious news of the empty tomb.

We can serve full-time missions, which will bring lifelong blessings not only now but for generations to come.

We can feel a renewed determination and embrace the challenge of becoming lifelong missionaries and disciples of Christ through courageous and humble acts of discipleship in our daily lives.

We can walk in “the way” of Christ and “serve God with all diligence day and night.”

Living the message of the risen Christ testifies of our devotion and love for our Savior. It may well be that our consistent, courageous, and humble acts of service and love for God and His children will speak far more eloquently and powerfully than we ever could through words alone.

Some might hesitate to commit fully because of unresolved questions relating to life circumstances, the gospel, or the Church.

But, like Mary and those with her that morning, even when things seem dark, we step forward in faith, with courage and humility, and walk toward the Savior’s light. As we do so, eventually the dawn of understanding will surely reward our faith.

Like the warmth and light of the morning sun, we will feel the love and healing of the Son of God.

Darkness will give way to eternal light."

Jesus the Christ -3

Writing on the need of a Redeemer, Elder Talmage quotes Paul - 

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned..."  Romans 5:12

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."  Romans 5:18

"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."  1 Corinthians 15:21-22

Adam brought the fall.  The Savior brought redemption

Jesus the Christ - 2

 Elder Talmage wrote concerning the pre-mortal existence of the Savior - 

An ancient prophet, designated in the record as the brother of Jared,[25] once pleaded with the Lord in special supplication: "And the Lord said unto him, Believest thou the words which I shall speak? And he answered, Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord shewed himself unto him, and said, Because thou knowest these things, ye are redeemed from the fall: therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I shew myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have light, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. And never have I shewed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning, after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh."  Talmage, James E.. Jesus the Christ: A Study of the Messiah and Mission According to Holy (pp. 31-32). 

He mentions several times that all men were created in "mine own image".

Elder Ulisses Soares - Jesus Christ - the True Vine

 Elder Soares taught - 

"...in this sacred Easter season, our hearts turn with deep gratitude and reverent devotion to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and remember His merciful mortal ministry, His perfect love, and His marvelous gift of the Atonement. Throughout His ministry, the Savior spoke on several occasions the sacred words “I am,” using sublime metaphors to bear witness of who He eternally is—the great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Among these declarations is one of the most solemn and tender teachings of His ministry, spoken on the night preceding His suffering and death: “I am the true vine. … Ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Through this beautiful and moving metaphor, the Savior teaches that He is the true, trusted, and essential source of spiritual nourishment for our souls. Through Him, we receive strength beyond our own not only to survive the challenges of life but to grow and thrive. Through Him, life becomes more hopeful and more joyful and the fruits of the Spirit are manifested in us. Therefore, just as the branches cannot bear fruit of themselves unless they remain connected to the vine, neither can we reach our full spiritual measure unless we abide in Him and His gospel."

"Abiding in Christ does not remove the burdens of life, but through His grace they are made lighter, and our hearts are strengthened by the comfort and peace He promises. As we place ourselves in His loving care and take upon us His yoke, we receive the spiritual power to endure and overcome the trials, weaknesses, and sorrows of mortality—burdens often too heavy to bear without His redeeming help and healing influence. In his first epistle to the Saints, the Apostle John taught that he who “abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” The Apostle Paul likewise testified, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”"

"...the True Vine takes on even deeper meaning. The word true suggests that there are, in the world, other vines that present themselves as legitimate, even appearing to represent the loving voice and word of the Savior, the True Vine, and His gospel, while subtly and deviously leading minds and hearts elsewhere.

We live in a world filled with many voices—voices that relentlessly seek our attention and offer persuasive messages and invitations. Some speak with eloquence and influence and are well intentioned in their desire to promote goodness. Others are attractive in appearance but lack substance. Still others are misleading and may even appear to be connected to Christ and His gospel.

Over time, many of these voices grow into tangled vines, rooted in popular philosophies and spread through various forms of media. They promise security, happiness, or authenticity, yet they cannot satisfy the soul. Often, they quietly introduce doubt and division—first in the mind and then in the heart—leading to spiritual loss and sorrow. Although becoming entangled in such voices may feel exciting at first, it ultimately draws us toward fleeting worldly pursuits and weakens our connection to the True and Living Vine, Jesus Christ. As the Apostle Paul warned, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”"

"...in a world of many voices, remaining connected to the True Vine is not merely desirable; it is essential to our spiritual survival...."

Jesus The Christ - Chapter 1

 This year, The Church as a whole studying the Old Testament.  I found myself wanting to spend more time in the Pearl of Great Price.  Being both the Old and New Testaments are about the Savior, I thought and would again focus on Jesus the Christ by Elder Talmage.

In his explanations in the first chapter, I was touched by his comment - 

Christian and unbeliever alike acknowledge His supremacy as a Man, and respect the epoch-making significance of His birth. Christ was born in the meridian of time;[2] and His life on earth marked at once the culmination of the past and the inauguration of an era distinctive in human hope, endeavor, and achievement. His advent determined a new order in the reckoning of the years; and by common consent the centuries antedating His birth have been counted backward from the pivotal event and are designated accordingly. The rise and fall of dynasties, the birth and dissolution of nations, all the cycles of history as to war and peace, as to prosperity and adversity, as to health and pestilence, seasons of plenty and of famine, the awful happenings of earthquake and storm, the triumphs of invention and discovery, the epochs of man's development in godliness and the long periods of his dwindling in unbelief—all the occurrences that make history—are chronicled throughout Christendom by reference to the year before or after the birth of Jesus Christ."

Joseph Smith - History

 In response to John Wentworth's request, the Prophet Joseph Smith recanted much of the church history to that point.  I was impressed with his concluding renowned prophecy - 

“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and in Germany, Palestine, New Holland, Australia, the East Indies, and other places, the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

Joseph Smith” (History of the Church, 4:536–41).

Joseph Smith - History

 The Prophet Joseph Smith commented that when he and Oliver Cowdery were filled with the Holy Ghost - 

"Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of...."  Joseph Smith—History 1:74

Elder Gerald Causse - Love All; Love Each

 Elder Causse remarks included - 

"To love all and to love each are not two different kinds of love but the same divine love expressed on two scales—one expansive enough to embrace the whole world and the other personal enough to notice a single individual with unique needs, circumstances, and life story."

First, loving all.

"Are we selective, or exclusive, in determining who deserves our love, or do we extend Christlike love to all with whom we associate?

The Lord asked, “If ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?” To Him, all people upon this earth are our neighbors—there are no strangers or outcasts, only brothers and sisters.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “a man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.”

Discipleship was never meant to be a comfortable circle of familiar friends focused on their own interests. Rather, our congregations are a beautiful mosaic—enriched by diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences—yet united in devotion to Christ.

Service in the Church expands our circle of love and widens our associations. We meet people from all walks of life—new friends, brothers and sisters in need, recent converts, and missionary or ministering companions. We don’t serve only those we already love; rather, we come to love people as we serve them."

"Second, loving each.

Do we interact superficially with others, or do we genuinely seek to know and care for each person we meet?

Though He was often surrounded by multitudes, the Savior always gave His full attention to the one—one sheep, one leper, one Samaritan woman, one little child, one soul at a time. In His love, no one was ever lost in the crowd.

Likewise, in the Church of Jesus Christ, there should be no anonymity. As we enter the fold of Christ through sacred covenants, we are known, accounted for, and cared for—one person at a time.

Through my service, both in and out of the Church, I have learned that even those people who at first seemed insignificant have become some of the most remarkable and uplifting individuals I know. There is wonderful depth—so much to love—in every soul."

"...as we extend Christlike love to each person we serve, our eyes are opened to their divine potential. We begin to see them as the Lord sees them—mortal souls with the capacity to become exalted beings through the Savior’s restoring power and grace.

As we care for each soul, we help connect them to the Savior, inviting them to be healed and transformed through His atoning blood. In return, our own lives are blessed—we become more like the Savior and are filled with great joy."

Joseph Smith - History

 I find it interesting -

"On the 5th day of April, 1829, Oliver Cowdery came to my house, until which time I had never seen him. He stated to me that having been teaching school in the neighborhood where my father resided, and my father being one of those who sent to the school, he went to board for a season at his house, and while there the family related to him the circumstances of my having received the plates, and accordingly he had come to make inquiries of me.

67 Two days after the arrival of Mr. Cowdery (being the 7th of April) I commenced to translate the Book of Mormon, and he began to write for me."  Joseph Smith—History 1:66-67

In about three months, most of The Book of Mormon was translated.

Joseph Smith - History

 The Prophet recalled - 

"By this timely aid was I enabled to reach the place of my destination in Pennsylvania; and immediately after my arrival there I commenced copying the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them, which I did between the time I arrived at the house of my wife’s father, in the month of December, and the February following."  Joseph Smith—History 1:62

Can you imagine the thrill the Prophet had as he experienced the translation of characters on the plates?

Joseph Smith - History

 The Prophet related - 

"At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected."  Joseph Smith—History 1:59

I believe that each of us has been given a direct charge related to our own callings and missions.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson - Lost Luggage, Redeemed Souls

In my mind, Elder Stevenson compared the responsibility of Airlines to care for luggage in the same manner as the Lord expects us to care for His children.

"...the feeling is recognizable: entrusting what is precious into the care of others—and longing for its safe return. This evokes memories of familiar scenes: a mother—father—at a curb or platform, bidding farewell to their student, soldier, or missionary. Years of teaching, preparation, and prayer culminate in the moment of placing their cherished possession in the care of others—trusting conscientious stewards to care for their son or daughter throughout their journey until they are reunited.

In a much holier way, our Heavenly Father also places a claim upon us, not as a label on a handle but as a divine truth written on the heart: “You are mine. I know you. You are not alone. I have not forgotten you. I intend to bring you home.”"

"Please know you represent the Lord, scripturally aligned, serving those who are “numbered among the people of the church of Christ,” whose “names [are] taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way.” We “are to ‘watch over’ Church members and ‘be with and strengthen them’ (Doctrine and Covenants 20:53).” The greatest success in missionary work comes as we act in normal and natural ways; the same is true in ministering.

I invite you to contemplate how you can:

Provide Christlike love, caring, and service.

Offer help and comfort in times of spiritual or temporal need.

Prayerfully seek the guidance of the Spirit.

Help prepare families to make and keep sacred covenants with God as they receive ordinances."

In aspect to my calling - 

"Inspire them to “sincerely and persistently do the spiritual work needed to develop the crucial, spiritual skill of learning how to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, [giving them] all the direction [they] will ever need in [their lives].”"

...by the Holy Ghost