Week 14: "He Shall Rise …With Healing in His Wings"
From Come, Follow Me :
The Book of Mormon stands as an additional, convincing witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, "manifesting himself unto all nations" (title page of the Book of Mormon) and offering salvation to all who come unto Him. In addition, this second witness also clarifies what salvation means. This is why Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, and all the prophets labored so "diligently to engraven these words upon plates"—to declare to future generations that they too "knew of Christ, and ... had a hope of his glory" (Jacob 4:3–4). This Easter season, reflect on the testimonies in the Book of Mormon that the power of Christ's Atonement is both universal and personal—redeeming the whole world and redeeming you.
President Oaks
"Because we believe the accounts in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon about the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also believe the numerous scriptural teachings that a similar resurrection will come to all mortals who have ever lived upon this earth. That resurrection gives us what the Apostle Peter called "a lively hope" (1 Peter 1:3).
1 Pet. 3:18-20, D&C 138:16–19
The Apostle Peter writes, "By which also he [Jesus Christ] went and preached unto the spirits in prison." While the gospel may be accepted by spirits in the spirit world, the ordinances of salvation must be performed for them by those who are living here on Earth.
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The Eternal Family through Christ, by Judith Mehr. Learn more here.
The Savior's Visit to the Spirit World
"The facts of Jesus' death and Resurrection are hailed by those of Christian denominations as fundamental tenets. However, what Jesus' immortal spirit did after His death and before His Resurrection is a mystery to all but the Latter-day Saints. And the significance of what He did during those hours provides the doctrinal foundation for building temples across the earth."
"The dead who have not heard or who rejected the gospel in mortality are in darkness, or in a state of misery (see Alma 40:14; D&C 138:2). Yet because of our Savior's visit, we have a hope for their salvation. We may go to the temple and turn the key, opening the gates of heaven for them and, by our service, for ourselves. For we know "that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect" (D&C 128:15). Mercy and justice combine to give all of our Father's children the opportunity to return to Him." (Read more here.)
Gathering Israel on Both Sides Of The Veil
Watch this video from President Nelson: "You cannot imagine, my son, how many spirits there are in the spirit world who have not yet received the gospel ... But many are receiving it, and a great work is being accomplished. Many are anxiously looking forth to their friends who are still living to administer for them in the temples."
Read more about the story here. President Nelson invites us to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. Watch his General Conference talk to us all and his broadcast to the youth in which he states: "My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing.This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth."
Our ancestors are being taught the gospel in the spirit world, and they need our help. Here are some ways to find those who need ordinance work done (sign up for a FamilySearch Account first):
When you exercise faith, you will receive inspiration to find the information needed for the temple. As Quentin L. Cook taught, you should not "underestimate the influence of the deceased in assisting your efforts."
Note : We look forward to the time when our temples are open once again! Meanwhile, we can all prepare for our next visit and have names ready. Another wonderful idea is to take time to discover facts and stories about those whose names you have found. See 10 Ways To Discover, Gather, and Share Ancestor Stories.
In many parts of the world, this year's April general conference takes place the weekend before Easter. Review these messages together and identify teachings that strengthen your testimonies of the Savior.
How Do You Hear Him?
"In this special year as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him? I also invite you to take steps to hear Him better and more often. Throughout this year, we will focus in a special way on the historic event that took place in the Sacred Grove.
I invite you to be proactive and look for opportunities to share your feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ with your family and friends, including inviting your friends to join you in worshiping Him on Easter Sunday.
Now, as one of the Lord's special witnesses, I bless you in your efforts to get on and stay on His covenant path, and strive with all your heart, might, mind and soul to Hear Him!" President Nelson
Share your Feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ
Be proactive and look for opportunities to share your feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Thus, the year 2020 will be designated as a bicentennial year. General conference next April will be different from any previous conference...I hope that every member and every family will prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel." (President Nelson, October 2019 General Conference)
Read afresh Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price.
How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?
With the Book of Mormon videos now becoming available, you may wish to incorporate them in your individual and family study.
Select your own questions.
Design your own plan.
Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration. As you do, general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.
The Living Christ
From Come, Follow Me :
As a family, read "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles" and invite each family member to choose an Easter message from this testimony to share with others. For example, you might create posters to display on social media, on your front door, or in a window. As you celebrate Easter with your family, look for ways to learn together about the Savior and His Atonement, including the Resurrection.
This Easter, as the Management Team of The Family History Guide Association, we express our love of Jesus Christ and share our collective witness that He is our Redeemer, our Mediator with the Father, and our Savior. We know He is grateful for all you do to further the work of salvation for all of God's children on both sides of the veil.
We are grateful for the promises shared by Elder Renlund in his talk Family History and Temple Work: Healing and Sealing, and will continue to do all we can to help you in your efforts to receive them. Elder D. Todd Christofferson describes our feelings well:
"Our anxiety to redeem the dead, and the time and resources we put behind that commitment, are, above all, an expression of our witness concerning Jesus Christ". The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus
We pray that you will know who your companions can be on life's journey, as Elder Holland shares:
"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel." General Conference April 2009
May the message of Easter bless your lives and those of your loved ones always.
With gratitude, The Management Team of The Family History Guide
Write one story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson. By the end of the year, you will have 50 stories to add to your personal history (try audio-recording) to preserve on FamilySearch memories. You can journal online here.
This is an historic time in the history of the church and of the world; you may want to write many stories! Generations to come will want to know of your faith, courage, and how you are seeing the Lord's hand in your life and in the lives of those you love.
You may want to write about preparing for general conference (see the activity above). You also may want to write about your experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. You are invited to read the words of others:
