He is Risen!

The following are excerpts from the Easter Sunday past talks given by Lloyd D. Newell for the Spoken Word.

"He is risen and what of us? The great glad tidings of Easter proclaim, "He is risen!" Throughout the Christian world, bells ring joyously and congregations sing the good word 'Christ the Lord is risen today!'

Perhaps amid the solemn festivities, we might pause to ask: 'And what of us?' Have we risen to a fullness of joy in the Easter message? The blessings that arise from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are many. But some in particular swell faithful hearts to overflowing. The resurrection of the Savior...and the promise that goes with it, calms the haunting fear of death that all mankind experiences. Believers accept the words of Jesus Christ, who said, 'I am the resurrection, and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.' The apostle Paul explained this truth carefully in his epistle to the faithful of Corinth; 'For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.'

Because of the resurrection, all humanity shall one day arise from death, even as Jesus rose from His tomb two thousand years ago. It is not only the assurance of everlasting life in the hereafter which brings joy. In the here and now, the Atonement gives hope, day by day, that men and women can conquer inner weaknesses and failings to become whole and happy...

...President Gordon B. Hinckley said of the resurrection; 'As surely as there has been mortal death, there will be immortal life; and as certainly as there has been separation, there will be reunion. This is the faith which comes of Christ, who brought to all the promise of immortality.
With this promise comes the assurance that each one of us born into this mortal realm will one day receive the blessings of an immortal soul, as our spirit and body are reunited through the miracle of the resurrection. And combined with this miracle is the even greater gift given to all who seek to know the will of God and who then strive to live by His words, the promise of His atonement and the richness of eternal life. Such are the miracles attested to by a solitary angel who stood before an empty tomb and declared; He is not here, He is risen".

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Because we are Christians, we celebrate Christ's birth and are reminded of the truths He taught and the life He lived. The message most comforting is that after His crucifixion He was resurrected. The divine assurance comes from the words in the scriptures "He is not here, He is risen!". The prophets have taught it and we know it to be true that because our Savior lives...so shall we...even after death in this part of our eternal life.

It is such a privilege to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. It is wonderful to know the great plan of salvation...of happiness. As we enjoy the Easter season and think of the meaning of the Savior's life and what it brings to our lives, it follows that we need to open our mouths to share the gospel with every brother and sister we are associated with who aren't members of His church here on earth today.

At this beautiful time of the year. At the beginning of the renewal of the earth in our hemisphere and as we celebrate the resurrection of the Savior, let's each count our blessings and plan how we can share the gospel with someone. We need to hasten the second coming of Jesus Christ by spreading His gospel.

With this note, we send our love and good wishes to you at this Easter time.


Love Maurine Winters and Kristina Law.