He Is Risen! An Easter Sermon

Last year, I spoke of the Russian Easter tradition that is had among the believers to greet one another with the exclamation: “He is risen!” To which others respond “He is risen indeed!” It is in this spirit that I speak to you today.

The past two evenings, I listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing Handel’s Messiah live from the Tabernacle. All good music touches me, but listening to this touched me in a powerful way. This helped me to focus my thoughts on the Savior and his mission, and on his great gifts to us. We should be grateful every day, not just at Easter, for his gifts.

Easter becomes especially meaningful to those who have lost loved ones recently. It serves as a reminder that those loved ones will live again.

We live in a world that has largely forgotten who Jesus Christ really is. Easter seems to be all about eggs and rabbits and candy, while ignoring the atonement and resurrection.

Even those who profess to be Christians no longer seem to understand who Jesus Christ is. Victor spoke of the prophets’ invitations to us to come unto Christ. We must continue to come unto Christ, and invite others to do the same. But why? In order to come unto him, we must know who he is and what he did.

We are all children of our Heavenly Father. One of the most important truths we teach is that I am a Child of God. Our Heavenly Father lives. He loves us. He wants us to become like he is and experience the eternal joy and happiness that he enjoys. In fact he has said that his work and his glory is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39)

Because of this, he presented a plan to us, which permits us to receive a body, and to experience mortal life, and to be tested, to prove to our Heavenly Father that we really want to be like him. As Paul wrote to Titus, we received “hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” (Titus 1:2)

An important part of this plan is the agency we are given, the gift given through the atonement to “act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon.” (2 Ne. 2:26) Samuel testified: “behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.

“He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.” (Hel. 14:30 - 31)

As part of his plan, this earth was created, and our first parents, Adam and Eve were placed here, as husband and wife. Initially there was no sin, and no death in the garden of Eden. Lehi tells us that “if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. … And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.” (2 Ne. 2:22-23)

Lehi continues: “But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.” According the God’s plan, Adam partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and fell. But the plan provided for this, and the fall was a good thing for all of us, as Lehi tells us: “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Ne. 2:24 - 25)

Thus, with the fall, man was separated from God, and also became subject to death.

The prophet Alma taught “Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people.

“And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us…” (Alma 12:22, 24)

The crucial part of Heavenly Father’s plan, the part that gives us the promise of joy, both here and throughout eternity, is the promise of a Savior to redeem us from the fall. Again, from Lehi, “And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.  And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.” (2 Ne. 2:26)

Our Primary children can testify to us “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” (Articles of Faith 1:3)

“Atonement” is a created word. It has no roots in other languages. We are taught that it can be broken down into “at-one-ment,” suggesting a uniting with another. In other languages, the word for atonement signifies a reconciliation or reuniting with God.

Elder Nelson reminds us that “Reconciliation comes from Latin roots re, meaning ‘again’; con, meaning ‘with’; and sella, meaning ‘seat.’ Reconciliation, therefore, literally means ‘to sit again with.’” (CR, Oct 1996) I find this interesting in connection with Elder Nelson’s explanation in the recent General Conference that “The word religion literally means “to ligate again” or “to tie back” to God.” (CR, Apr 2014)

There is nothing to compare with the atonement in its breadth and depth. Alma and others testified that Christ provided an infinite and eternal sacrifice in our behalf.

The atonement is Christ’s gift to us, at Easter, and through the rest of the year. We all benefit from the effects that come from the atonement. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we have our agency to choose good or evil, as I have mentioned. But because we have agency, we need the other benefits of the atonement: temporal and spiritual salvation.

Job asked the question: “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14), to which he testified, in response: “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:” (Job 19:25 - 26)

Paul taught so beautifully: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

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

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:19 - 22)

Again from Paul: “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

 “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Cor. 15:13 -14)

Abinadi testified: “For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.

“But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.

“And there cometh a resurrection …” (Mosiah 15:19 - 21)

“And now if Christ had not come into the world … there could have been no redemption.

“And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

“But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.” (Mosiah 16:6 - 8)

Jacob, the brother of Nephi stated: “Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption.  Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration.  And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.

“O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace!  For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

“And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; …

“O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.

“And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave.” (2 Ne. 9:7 - 11)

Jacob speaks here of both temporal and spiritual death. Spiritual death, or separation from God, comes from sin, and is also overcome through the power of the Atonement, conditioned upon our repentance.

Alma taught: “But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

“Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.” (Alma 12:33 - 34)

Elder Hallstrom spoke in Conference of those who are unwilling to change: “once any of us conclude—‘That’s just the way I am,’ we give up our ability to change. We might as well raise the white flag, put down our weapons, concede the battle, and just surrender—any prospect of winning is lost.” (CR, Apr 2014) Whenever we justify sin by saying “I cannot change,” or “they cannot change,” we are denying the power of the Atonement. Through Christ’s atonement, we are all enabled with the power to change ourselves and to become even as he is, as he commanded us.

As we worthily partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants with Christ each week, we take important steps in putting the atonement to work in our lives, and in becoming like our Savior.

And because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Rom. 3:23) we need not label anyone as a hypocrite who comes to partake of the sacrament and reconcile himself or herself with God each week. We are all striving to do our best to come unto Christ, each at our own pace.

Another important aspect of Christ’s atonement is one that is often overlooked, but can have a great impact in our lives.

Alma taught the people of Zarahemla: “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.

“Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

“Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.

“Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.

“And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me.” (Alma 7:11 - 16)

In Conference, Elder Bednar referred to these verses, then explained: “The Savior 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.

“‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light’ (Matt. 11:28–30)…

“Consider the Lord’s uniquely individual invitation to ‘take my yoke upon you.’ Making and keeping sacred covenants yokes us to and with the Lord Jesus Christ. In essence, the Savior is beckoning us to rely upon and pull together with Him, even though our best efforts are not equal to and cannot be compared with His. As we trust in and pull our load with Him during the journey of mortality, truly His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

“We are not and never need be alone. We can press forward in our daily lives with heavenly help. Through the Savior’s Atonement we can receive capacity and ‘strength beyond [our] own’ (Lord, I Would Follow Thee, Hymns, no. 220). As the Lord declared, “Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end” (D&C 100:12)…

“There is no physical pain, no spiritual wound, no anguish of soul or heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, ‘No one knows what it is like. No one understands.’ But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see Alma 34:14), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power. Indeed, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.” (CR, Apr 2014)

The Lord’s apostles have repeatedly instructed us to study the Atonement of Jesus Christ; to teach and testify of it; and to take advantage of the great spiritual power it affords us. I know that they are inspired servants of God, and that as we follow their counsel, we will feel the strength of the Lord in our lives.

It is also important to personalize the atonement. I share, with permission the words of a brother who posted his own poem online:

“Why 'til now, did I not see
that when Jesus healed the sick
or raised the dead,
He's done that for me?

“The stories I read but not perceived -
with all those He served, taught,
caused to believe -
He's done that for me.

“As he walked on the shores of Galilee,
He sought out the fishers, said, "Come, follow me."
Freeing the captives -
He's done that for me.

“With eyes now opened, I now clearly see -
the stories of mercy, love, and compassion,
spoke of another - but,
He's done that for me.” (Arlen Denney)

I know that Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God. He is our Savior: he is my Savior; he is your Savior. I have felt the power of his atonement in my life, and I continue to feel it and be strengthened by it. I truly stand all amazed at what he has done for me.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and because he lives, we will all live again. I have received many strong personal witnesses that death is not the end, but simply an interruption, as President Uchtdorf testified.

God lives! He loves each of each children: each of us!

May the spirit of the Lord, which is the spirit of Easter, be with you today and always, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Come, Ye Thankful People

The following is based on a talk President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, gave November 19, 2013, at the Salt Lake Rotary Club. I used his remarks as a starting point and wove my own thoughts and style throughout. There is enough of his material remaining here for me to feel compelled to give him some credit.

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My brothers and sisters, I am grateful for this opportunity to express my feelings of thanks today. It is particularly important to maintain a spirit of gratitude as we enter a season which no longer seems to emphasize gratitude, but gluttony and greed. If our thoughts are centered on Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ and their gifts to us, we will be able to resist these forces that tend to pull us away from them.

Let me share some thoughts on gratitude:

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."³

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."⁴

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”⁵

The U.S. has a great and inspiring history. It is now 392 years since the pilgrims celebrated their Day of Thanksgiving. 

These people of the Mayflower Compact were 44 Saints and 66 Strangers.⁷ Nevertheless, it was a contract of equality and unity.

During their first winter, 47 died.⁸ But hope and harvest came again.

H.U. Westermayer said, “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished; nevertheless, they set aside days of thanksgiving, days of praise and prayer.”⁹

I might argue with Mr. Westermayer that the Latter-day Saints were frequently just as impoverished, and they, too set aside days of thanksgiving, praise and prayer. And we have been reconciled with our countrymen, and have offered forgiveness, and obtained a measure of acceptance.

Today, some think that Thanksgiving Day should not be connected to God the Almighty but only to country and history.

Here is what George Washington had to say in his October 3, 1789, Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;  both Houses of Congress have requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."¹⁰

With all the busyness and the business going on during this time of year, do not let the feasting distract us from our prayer and praise!

We do well to remember one of our favorite hymns, which reads, “Count your many blessings; Name them one by one. Count your many blessings; See what God has done.”¹¹

A wise man once said, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables you to count your blessings.”¹²

Enlarging our capacity for gratitude enriches our entire soul.

Gratitude is one of the most important human virtues and one of the most common human deficiencies. Gratitude does not develop without effort.

We can learn this from the fearless handcart pioneers who pulled their meager belongings in handcarts across the scorching plains and through the snows of the high mountain passes to escape persecution, and then expressed their gratitude in peaceful worship in the Salt Lake Valley.

Elder James E. Talmage said, “Gratitude is twin sister to humility; pride is a foe to both.”¹⁴

President James E. Faust said, “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.

“[It is with gratitude as with all other] types of human strength: ‘Use it or lose it.’  When not used, muscles weaken, skills deteriorate, and faith disappears.”¹⁵

President Hinckley said, “I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we ‘accentuate the positive.’ I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort.”¹⁶

And from President John F. Kennedy:  “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”¹⁷

Henry van Dyke: “Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.”¹⁸

These values are expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving. They are urgently needed in a time of serious challenges and uncertainty.

We need only to open a newspaper or turn on the news to realize that we are living in a cynical time.  Trust in public institutions, corporations, and even organized religion is declining.  Almost daily, media reports describe the decline of moral decency and the erosion of basic ethical conduct.

In this time of uncertainty, mistrust, fear, rumors of war, and political road rage, we should never forget the Savior’s instruction to us to love one another. One of the best ways we can show our gratitude for the atoning sacrifice of our Savior is to love and forgive others.

A great gift we have received from the Father is our agency. Moral agency refers not only to the capacity to act for ourselves but also that we are accountable for those actions.

Heavenly Father has also given us other commandments to guide us as we walk through this life.  The Ten Commandments and other divine laws constitute the commandments of God.  These divine laws were instituted by God to govern His creations and to prescribe behavior for us, His offspring. If we obey these laws, we will find joy in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come.

It takes courage and humility to put away old hatreds, divisions, and traditions that constrict and confine people into a blind succession of destructive behavior toward others.

“Where there is gratitude, there is humility as opposed to pride; there is generosity as opposed to selfishness.”²¹

I believe that it is within our reach to breach barriers of misunderstandings and build bridges of brotherhood and understanding among ourselves and others. 

Today, the power of Christ’s teachings could bring to pass a miracle, similar to the one Paul described to the people of Ephesus, a people ripe with divisiveness. 

“Without Christ, we were aliens, having no hope.  But now in Christ Jesus we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.²²

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”²³

Christ instructed the saints in our day to “let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practise virtue and holiness before me.

“And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.

“I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” (D & C 38:24–25, 27).

          Speaking to Joseph Smith and the Three Witnesses, Christ said: “I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one” (D & C 35:2).

          As we strive to become unified with each other, we also draw nearer to Christ. Since he invited all men to “come unto Christ,” this is a natural first step.

          In a beloved hymn, we sing:

“Come, follow me," the Savior said.
Then let us in his footsteps tread,
For thus alone can we be one
With God's own loved, begotten Son.”

         

In the scriptures, we learn that Christ “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). If we want to become like him, we should also decide to do good. We should be eager to serve our fellow men in whatever ways we are able. Often we think that this service requires that we have money or significant talents or something else that we do not possess. In reality, all it requires is a willing heart.

          Each one of us, from the youngest to the oldest member of the ward, has the ability to touch the hearts of others. Each one of you has the power to bless the lives of your fellow ward members. If you don’t try to do this, you are being like the person who buried his talent.

          And this also applies to sharing the gospel with our friends and neighbors.

          It is really very simple: if you are feeling down, serve others; if you feel like you have no talents, serve others; if you feel like you have no friends, serve others; if you need the Lord’s blessings in your life, serve others.

          We sing “Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant, but follow the Savior, your pattern and friend.”

          This raises an important question: do you feel like the Savior is your friend? Primary children will likely answer without hesitation that Jesus is their friend, but as we grow older, do we put we put distance between us?

          When I was in Primary, we sang:

“Jesus is our loving friend.
He is always near.
He will guide us when we pray;
Ev'ry child is dear.”

          Brothers and sisters, do you know, even as you endure trials and face the challenges of life, that Jesus is your loving friend? Do you know that you are a child of God, and that he loves you?

          We do not need great doctrinal knowledge to know and understand these things. All we need is the faith of a child. And then with the faith of a child, we need to ask the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ for a witness that we are his children. By the power of the Holy Ghost, he will bear witness to us that he lives, that we are his children, and that he loves us. When you receive that witness, you will also know that Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers.

          Once we have that witness, we should be sharing it with our families. Can you think of a more significant gift as we approach the Christmas season?

          I was touched as I recently reread Joseph Smith’s witness of the Savior:

“By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them;

“And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them;

“And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. …

“Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him.

“He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.

“He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day;

“And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father;

“That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved“(D & C 20:17-25).

Christ also revealed a similar doctrine to the Nephites:

“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

“And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

“And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. …

“Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day”

(3 Nephi 27:13-16, 20-22).

          As we look at these two passages, we see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not as complicated as some make it out to be.  A testimony of the gospel is based on these simple truths.

          Once we gain this testimony and help those we love to gain this testimony, we will be blessed with the strength to resist temptation, and the ability to overcome the challenges we face, and to endure our trials, as we become more like our Savior. If you feel a little uncertain right now, if you feel a little shaky, lean on those of us who have received this witness until you know for yourself.

          I testify to you that we are the children of the living God, our Heavenly Father, who loves us and wants us to return to him. He established a plan so that we can know the way back to him. An important part of that plan was to send his son to atone for our sins.

          I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. He is our Savior: yours, and mine. He came to earth to set the example for us. He truly “marked the path and led the way.”

          More importantly, he suffered and died for us, and was resurrected. He overcame sin and death so that we may also overcome our sins and our death, if we will follow the path he indicated.

          I stand all amazed at the great love he has for each of us, that he would make such a great sacrifice for all of his Father’s children.

          In this season of Thanksgiving and celebrating his birth, we should be thankful for all that the Savior has done for us. This is what makes Christmas meaningful.

          I am eternally grateful for my Savior and his great gifts to me. I am also grateful to be numbered among you, my brothers and sisters, as the least among you.

          I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. That a spirit of thanks may carry through the Christmas season and throughout the coming year is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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Notes (from Pres. Uchtdorf’s portion)

³Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency (Center City, Minnesota: Hazelden, 1990), 218.

⁴W. T. Purkiser, The Gifts of the Spirit, Beacon Hill Press, Feb 1, 1975, 34.

⁵Cynthia Ozick.

⁷Thomas Prince, (1736) Chronology 73, 84–86. Internet Archive.

⁸Nathaniel Philbrick (2006). Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War. New York: Penguin Group, 80–84.

⁹See http://www.quotegarden.com/thanksgiving.html.

¹⁰“Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789,” Founders Online, National Archives (ver. 2013-09-28). Source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 4, 8 September 1789 – 15 January 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, 131–132.

¹¹Hymns, no. 241.

¹²Eric Hoffer (1973), Reflections on the Human Condition, New York: Harper & Row, 94.

¹⁴Sunday Night Talks, 2nd ed. (1931), 483.

¹⁵“Gratitude as a Saving Principle,” Ensign, May 1990, 86.

¹⁶Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Continuing Pursuit of Truth,” Ensign, April 1986.

¹⁷"Proclamation 3560 - Thanksgiving Day, 1963," November 5, 1963. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.

¹⁸Henry Van Dyke.

²¹Gordon B. Hinckley, “How Lucky Can You Be!” BYU Devotional, October 13, 1964.

²²See Ephesians 2:12-13.

²³Ephesians 2:19.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget.

Given on Sunday, 26 May 2013

Memorial Day is a significant holiday. In many areas outside of California, it marks the beginning of the summer season. We enjoy the time off from work, the barbecuing, and the time with family and friends.

But an important part of Memorial Day is memory: remembering. We should remember the sacrifices that were made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have.

I see many vehicles with the inscription: “In memory of Joe Doakes,” or some other individual. I often wonder if it is the window or the whole vehicle that is dedicated to their memory, and if they treat the car differently because of that.

To me, Memorial Day is also a time to remember our kindred dead. Many of them paid a great price to come to this land of promise and of freedom.

The Lord told the brother of Jared: “Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.

“For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God.  And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off” (Ether 2:12, 10).

Sometime later, he stated through Lehi: “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.  And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Nephi 1:7).

There are both blessings and curses associated with living in the Promised Land. How do we qualify for the blessings and avoid the curses? The name of tomorrow’s holiday gives us a clue: we must remember. It is up to us to avoid spiritual senility, and we can help each other.

Helaman counseled his sons: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12).

What is it we should remember? First of all, we should remember why we are here in the first place. I don’t mean why we are here in church today, but why we are here on earth. We need to remember our Heavenly Father’s plan.

In Revelation 12, we gain an understanding of why we are here. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:7 – 9, 11; italics are mine).

 These verses describe the war in heaven, which is not unlike many of the battles we are fighting today. How were Satan and his followers defeated? Look at verse 11 again: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” So we see that he was beaten through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through the power of our testimonies, and through our sacrifice.

We must remember the Atonement of our Savior. This is absolutely critical to our salvation. That is the main reason we meet here each Sunday. If you pay close attention to the sacrament prayers, you will note each week that we “eat in remembrance of the body of [the] Son,” and drink “in remembrance of the blood of [the] Son, which was shed for [us]” (D&C 20:77, 79; italics are mine). So we are gathered to remember the Savior’s sacrifice for us.

In addition, in each of the prayers, we covenant to “always remember him.” When the bread is blessed, we covenant to keep his commandments, and when the water is blessed, we are promised the presence of his Spirit. This is also very important to us.

If we do not attend our sacrament meetings frequently, it becomes easy for us to forget what the Savior has done for us. When we forget, it is easy for us to fall into the traps of Satan.

If you ponder the covenants contained in the sacrament prayers, the significance of the promise of the companionship Holy Ghost may strike you.

Christ taught his apostles this important truth: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

This is a great twofold blessing. Not only does the Savior promise that the Holy Ghost will teach us all things, but he will also bring all things to our remembrance. As we get older, this doctrine becomes more and more comforting.

The key to this remembering that brings and maintains testimony is receiving the Holy Ghost as a companion. It is the Holy Ghost who helps us see what God has done for us. It is the Holy Ghost who can help those we serve to see what God has done for them.

Now if we always remember the Savior, and always keep his commandments, and have his Spirit to be with us, as we partake of the sacrament and then live our lives throughout the coming week, doesn’t it follow that it will be much easier for us to keep our foundation on the rock of our Redeemer? When the storms howl around us as they did in Oklahoma this week; when the ground shakes as it did in Northern California; when the hail and mighty rains beat upon us as it did in San Antonio yesterday, we will be able to withstand all of this and remain true and faithful to our covenants.

If we forget, we may be swept away.

Now we have some brand new graduates here today, and we congratulate each of you, and also who will graduate in the coming weeks. That is an important accomplishment.

While you progressed through school, you learned (or at least filled your minds) with many things. If I were to ask one (or all) of you to come and share some familiar concepts, could you do it? And you not-so-recent grads can ask yourself the same question.

Let’s start with the Pythagorean Theorem. Do you still remember it?

How about the quadratic equation?

Dangling participles?

Avogadro’s number?

The Krebs cycle?

Punnett’s squares?

I could go on, but I will spare you on that count. My point is, these are probably familiar to you, but because you no longer study them, you might struggle a little to explain them. If we reviewed, you would have an “Oh, yeah” moment, and your memory would be refreshed. When we say “use it or lose it,” it refers to your brain, too.

The truths of the gospel are much the same. If I asked one of you to explain the plan of salvation in 500 words or less, could you do it? Could you explain the Atonement of Jesus Christ? The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood?

More important than explaining, though, is testifying. Can you testify with conviction of the plan of salvation, the Atonement, the power of the priesthood? Can you testify of the gift of the Holy Ghost?

Alma posed a related question in chapter 5: “And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?  Have ye received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

“Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?

“And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?”(Alma 5:14 – 15, 26). What happened yesterday is not enough. We need to continue to feel the Spirit today!

Each of us is here because we have felt the Spirit in our lives, and received a witness that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. Are you doing all you can to maintain that testimony? Just as you may have forgotten the ins and outs of the Pythagorean Theorem, you forget your testimony if you do not nourish it.

Alma spoke of an experiment: “Now, we will compare the word unto a seed.  Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

“Now behold, would not this increase your faith?  I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

“But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow.  And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith?  Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

“And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed?  I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

“Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

“And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

“And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect?  Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand”

(Alma 32:28 - 34). But pay attention to what he says next: “And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us.  And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

“But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

“Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

“And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

“But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

“And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst” (Alma 32:37 - 42).

If we do not nourish the tree, it will die. This doesn’t mean it was a bad tree; it means that we didn’t take care of it. If I neglect my testimony, it doesn’t mean that the church isn’t true; it means that I was careless in my discipleship.

So I must remember to take care of my testimony. I must continue to nourish it by feasting upon the word of Christ. I nourish my testimony by praying in faith for a continued witness that the church is true, and for the strength to endure to the end. I nourish my testimony by attending my meetings and renewing my covenants. I nourish my testimony by remembering to take care of it.

Saying “I’ve read the Book of Mormon once; I don’t need to read it again” makes as much sense as saying “I had dinner once; I don’t need to eat again.” You just wouldn’t do that.

Finally, we need to remember to serve. That is a topic for another Sunday. Service keeps things in perspective. It helps us to be thankful for what we have received, and it strengthens our love for one another. The service we give should be a sacrifice. In doing so, we are a greater blessing to our brothers and sisters.

One way we serve and nourish our testimonies is to share them with our friends and neighbors. If you are not sure of how to do that, “ask the missionaries; they can help you.”

I close with the words of King Benjamin to his people: “And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.

“But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish.  And now, O man [and woman], remember, and perish not” (Mosiah 4:29 - 30).

I pray that we will always remember to build on the rock of our Redeemer. I pray that we will always remember him, and that we will remember his Atonement and our own testimonies.

I testify to you that this is God’s work. He lives and loves us. May we never forget this.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.