Easter
“I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”
From the manual:
April 3, 1836, was Easter Sunday. After helping administer the sacrament to Saints gathered in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery found a quiet place behind a veil in the temple and bowed in silent prayer. Then, on this sacred day when Christians everywhere were commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the risen Savior Himself appeared in His temple, declaring, “I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:4).
What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is “he who liveth”? It doesn’t just mean that He rose from the tomb on the third day and appeared to His Galilean disciples. It means that He lives today. He speaks through prophets today. He leads His Church today. He heals wounded souls and broken hearts today. So we can echo the words of Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony … which we give of him: That he lives!” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22). We can hear His voice in these revelations. We can witness His hand in our lives. And we can each feel “the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’” (Hymns, no. 136).
You are the best! I love that you are just unapologetically, completely, 100% genuinely you. Thank you for the time and energy that you put into this podcast. I look forward to it every week. Shine on!
I love that you highlighted the phrase “Your sins are forgiven you”. I was riding my bike while listening to this episode. When you highlighted that phrase I was immediately received a thought that the phrase was not just a statement of forgiveness for Joseph’s current sins, but also a reminder that all our sins have already been atoned for. Christ has already paid the price for all our sins and all that is left for us to do is to come follow him.