Flashback Friday- Joyful Easter 2010

On Easter morning, our family was "gathered" to listen to General Conference, which is to say- we were all in the same area with the television on. Kelly was also on his laptop doing family history work, the kids were at the kitchen table filling candy eggs and I was folding laundry.

As President Monson started his remarks, I noticed that I was feeling off- confused and frustrated are the best words I can find to describe it. I had spent the last 90 minutes listening to uplifting music... and kids fighting. I had heard inspired words from apostles of the Lord... and I was casually folding laundry while still in my jammies. I had watched beautiful images of the spring flowers surrounding the Salt Lake Temple... and my children were cramming as many chocolates and jelly beans as they could fit into bright plastic eggs.

I began to doubt.
I wondered how my children would learn the truth. I wondered if I could really teach them. I started to feel heavy. I looked around at the candy and the contention and the casualness and wondered if I knew what Easter should really mean and what should be important...

Then something changed as President Monson closed, saying:

My beloved brothers and sisters, in our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: “He is not here: for he is risen.”

He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days’ prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free.
Christ has won the victory!

He. is. Risen. Yes- I know! As the choir sang the words President Monson had just read, the change was overwhelming- peace filled my heart and tears of joy began to fall from my eyes. In that moment, I knew without a doubt that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. He came to this earth, He suffered for our sins, He died on the cross, and He rose from the tomb, so that we could have Eternal Life.

It wasn't a revelation- it was a reminder. The Holy Ghost testified to my heart that these things are true, just as he has before.

But sometimes I forget. Not completely- to know of Christ is a spiritual gift that I have been given. But sometimes my mind wanders. My commitment falters. My clarity is blurred.

For those times, and for my children, I want to record that I have felt the witness of the Holy Ghost tell me that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He made it possible for me to repent and return to live with my Father in Heaven.

President Monson also said:

I have read—and I believe—the testimonies of those who experienced the grief of Christ’s Crucifixion and the joy of His Resurrection. I have read—and I believe—the testimonies of those in the New World who were visited by the same risen Lord.

I believe the testimony of one who, in this dispensation, spoke with the Father and the Son in a grove now called sacred and who gave his life, sealing that testimony with his blood. Declared he:

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father.”

I would add, that I have heard- and I believe- the testimony of the living prophet of the Lord, Thomas S. Monson. I am thankful for his special witness of Jesus Christ, who I know is the true source of peace and joy and life.

This experience set the tone for the rest of the day and I can say it was a joy-full Easter. We put on our nice clothes, including new skirts from Aunt Kathryn. We watched the afternoon session of conference with Kelly's parents. We had dinner and an egg hunt with Kelly's family. We came home for dessert and fun with some of my family. We went to bed happy, knowing that this Easter Sunday was an important and special day.