EASTER SUNDAY: HE LIVES, HE LIVES WHO ONCE WAS DEAD...

• Today is Easter Sunday.  I have been so filled with the love of my Savior this week as I have seen so many Face Book and and Instagram posts having to do with our Savior's resurrection and atonement.  I do not have time or space to copy and paste everything I have seen and read this week but one that stood out to me today was a post by my daughter, Stacie.  There is a picture of Christ that accompanies this quote from Elder Jeffery R. Holland and it says,

• "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. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you]."

• - Jeffrey R. Holland

• I can't even imagine what it would be like to not have a belief system in life after death.  I can't imagine the intensity of the pain that we would feel if Christ hadn't taken upon himself the burdens of our sins, our grief, our trials and our mistakes in life.  I have experience some of those things on my journey through the first 65 years of my life and am so grateful I didn't have to do it alone.  I always know that my Heavenly Father and His Son love me for who I am.  They want me to return to them at the end of my days a better person for the trials and sorrows that I have endured.  They want me to learn all I can out their Gospel and teach others along the way so that we can all be present together in families in the eternities.

Today in church we were privileged to hear from a newly returned missionary-Elder Fiso.  He served in San Diego.  His talk was very touching in how to related the atonement to some of his mission experiences.  One comment he made has stayed with me all day.  He said, "I know that miracles and blessings happened within my family because I was in the service of the Lord, doing His work."  Then he said that he could see the miracle in his own growth from his experiences. As I thought about his first statement I reflected on our mission here and how I hope and pray that through my service here in Hawaii in the temple each day, I have helped miracles happen and been partially responsible for blessings being poured down upon my family members and close friends.  I know that I have seen miracles and blessings within myself as I have been here for the past 9 1/2 months.  I do have a stronger testimony of the gospel, of temples, of the work that we are doing for those deceased individuals who will need that work done for them in order to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

The closing song in Sacrament meeting was "I Stand All Amazed".  I have loved this song since I was a teenager.  I still get tears in my eyes when I sing it.  

I Stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, 

confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me a sinner, he suffered,  he bled and died.

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine

to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.

That he should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt,

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat, 

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me.

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me.

This afternoon we were invited to Keith's house for dinner with he and Deb and two of Larry's and Keith's cousins and (Lynn and Jeff Shultz and Cindy).  We had a good time chatting and the Cousins all had a good time reminiscing old times.  Hard to believe that so many years have passed for our generation.  Those times as children were so wonderful and good.  No worries, no stresses of life...  All of our basic needs were met by our parents.  Now all of our parents have departed this earthly existence. 

One parting thing to record tonight.  Spencer is supposed to receive his mission call tomorrow, at least we are hoping.  We know it is in the mail now.  I can't wait to see where the Lord calls him and what his experiences will be.  This is the week also that the Fidler and Boyle families will arrive here in Hawaii.  They are all pretty excited as am I.  It seems like forever since I have seen any of my children or grandchildren.  We will be going home in June so I will get to give ALL of them a great big hug!  Can't wait!

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