It’s Easter, the season to celebrate the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, and His gift of resurrection for each of us. “The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.” Alma 40:23
I taught Primary a few years ago at this time of year, and the lesson was about Jesus Christ, His resurrection, and that because He came back to life, we can, too. As I taught, one little girl insisted that a person could never come back to life once they’re dead. She was so adamant about it, and almost panicked when I maintained that yes, there was a resurrection, and that it would be beautiful and glorious.
I thought that perhaps her family had seen some movie about zombies or mummies and her parents, to comfort her, had told her that no such thing could ever happen; it was all pretend. I thought that because the same thing had happened in my family. When my children were little, they were afraid of the idea of the resurrection because of the idea of mummies, etc. I explained to them that the resurrection will be wonderful, nothing like the movies that show that kind of stuff.
It is so sad that the Resurrection has been so cleverly twisted by evil and ignorance to bring fear and nightmarish scenes into a person’s mind when they consider it. How important it is to make the things of God known to our children (and everyone else) to help them not be deceived. How grateful I am for the truth about a glorified, perfect, beautiful resurrection where we will come back in exquisite perfection, lifted to a state of glory.
The doctrine of the resurrection has come to mean so much more to me now than I had the capacity to comprehend before. As I think about the energy and health of my younger years in stark contrast to the inevitable difficulties and deterioration of my current and future years, I am filled with awe and gratitude that Christ made resurrection a reality for every person who ever lived. And while it doesn’t take away the reality of aging, disease and mortality, focusing on His promise of a perfect, healthy, strong, immortal body in the future blesses me with patience and fills me with hope.
I testify of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the most glorious event in the history of the world, and of its unending blessings to us all. Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane, then gave His life, and overcame death so that we, through the wonderful power of His Atonement, can overcome sin and death. Our resurrection will be a magnificent event, where we will receive perfect, glorious immortal bodies, reunited with our eternal spirits, just like Jesus’ did.
We should celebrate this all year long.