Today was our Fast and Testimony Meeting. Ordinarily, I would just bear my testimony and encourage others to do the same. But because it is Easter, President Garvin assigned those of us who were conducting the meetings to bear a longer testimony, centered on the atonement and resurrection of Christ. Here is the message I prepared. Happy Easter! He is risen!
In Russia there was an Easter tradition among the believers to greet one another with the exclamation “He is risen!” The proper response was “He is risen indeed!”
It is in this spirit that I wish to testify of the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By assignment from President Garvin, I will be speaking a little longer than I normally would, but as Ammon said, “Who can glory too much in the Lord? … Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel” (Al. 26:16).
The atonement of Jesus Christ is the most significant event that has ever occurred. Nothing has such a far-reaching effect. It is both universal and personal.
When Heavenly Father presented his great plan for our eternal happiness, we rejoiced. We knew that there would be challenges along the way. We knew we would face difficulties. Above all, we knew that we would sin, and need to repent. We knew that we could never earn our own salvation based on our works alone.
Heavenly Father knew that we would make mistakes; he knew that we would stumble and that we would need help. As a part of his plan, he provided a Savior for us, to help bring us back into his presence.
And so the Father sent his Firstborn Son, his only begotten Son to sacrifice himself in our behalf. There was no other good enough to make this sacrifice. Jesus alone was sinless, which qualified him to give himself for us. This was not just a limited sacrifice, but it was infinite and eternal, as Amulek testified in Alma 34:9-10, 14-15:
“For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
“For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
“And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal.
“And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance”
(Alma 34:9 – 10, 14-15).
The term “atonement” suggests a reconciliation, and a reuniting in love and happiness.
This offering was made out of the great love that both Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ have for us. I truly stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. I try to think of that each time we partake of the sacrament. (There are great sermons in our sacrament hymns. I hope that you ponder the messages contained in them.) His precious blood he freely spilt; his life he freely gave. He did this willingly for each us.
Alma described the extent of the Savior’s suffering for us in Alma 7:11-12:
“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11 - 12).
This is one of the most comforting passages of scripture I know. What a blessing it is to know that the atonement does not just apply to my sins – which would be a rich blessing in itself – but that it applies all my sorrows and infirmities; that when life’s challenges begin to be overwhelming, I can call upon the power of the atonement, and Christ will help me to carry my burdens.
Howard W. Hunter testified: “Think of it! When his body was taken from the cross and hastily placed in a borrowed tomb, he, the sinless Son of God, had already taken upon him not only the sins and temptations of every human soul who will repent, but all of our sickness and grief and pain of every kind. He suffered these afflictions as we suffer them, according to the flesh. He suffered them all. He did this to perfect his mercy and his ability to lift us above every earthly trial.”
Jesus Christ himself testified to Martin Harris in D&C 19:15-19:
“Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men” (D& C 19:15 - 19).
In return for this great gift, Heavenly Father asks very little. He asks that we repent of our sins, and asks that we strive to be true to our covenants. If we refuse to repent, we deny ourselves the blessings of the atonement. The Savior asked: “What doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed on him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).
I pray that we will all accept this great gift of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and that we will lay aside our sins and do our best to follow him. I encourage you to learn of your Savior. Study his life and his works. If you have not done so, gain your own personal witness of the power of the atonement in your life. Gain a testimony of Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Redeemer. This will provide great strength to you as you deal with the trials and temptations of this life.
The Savior’s death was not the end. On the third day, he rose again, which we celebrate today. Because he rose from the grave, we have the promise that we will all rise again. All of our loved ones will rise again and we will be with them again.
This has been a great comfort to us as we await the reunion with our son, and with grandparents, siblings and others who have died. The grave is not the end! They will live again, and so will we.
God lives! He loves us, and desires that we return to live with him again. I testify that he sent his Son to redeem us from our sins.
I know that the atonement of Jesus Christ is real. It is powerful. I have felt its power in my own life. I will be eternally grateful for Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf.
I testify to you that Christ is risen! I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
The scriptures contain the word of God to us. They testify of Christ and his mission. We are led by a living prophet who also testifies of Christ and shows us how to follow him.
I pray that we will strive to follow him, and that we will not lose sight of the true meaning of this Easter Day. He is risen!
