He Is Risen!

What a glorious day! I love Easter Sunday. I love having a week to remember such an event. Christ was willing to take upon him all of my sins, my imperfections. Every mean or careless word I have spoken, every thought that was not appropriate. He also willingly suffered all my pain and sorrow, my anguish and grief. As someone said, Christ is not a casual or silent observer in our lives because he knows, understands and feels everything we go through.

This week I have read and reread these words from Melvin J. Ballard:
"God heard the cry of His Son in that moment of great grief and agony, in the garden when the pores of His body opened and drops of blood stood upon Him, and He cried out: 'Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.'"

"I ask you, what father and mother could stand by and listen to the cry of their children in distress, in this world, and not render assistance?...

"I think I can see our dear Father behind the veil looking upon these dying struggles until even He could not endure it any longer; and, like the mother who bids farewell to her dying child and has to be taken out of the room so as not to look upon the last struggles, so He bowed His head and hid in some part of His universe, His great heart almost breaking for the love He had for His son. Oh, in that moment when He might have saved His Son, I thank and praise him that He did not fail us, for He had not only the love of His Son in mind, but He also had love for us." (Melvin J. Ballard, Crusader for Righteousness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, pp. 136-37.)



This painting by Carl Bloch called "Gethsemane" depicts Bloch's interpretation of the scriptures telling us that the Father sent an angel to comfort the Savior during the act of Atonement while in the Garden of Gethsemane. I have been able to view this altar piece three times now and each time I feel more and more grateful that Father did not leave Jesus alone. Likewise I know that we are not left alone when it is our time to go through sorrow or challenges of any kind. He would not ever leave us comfortless. He loves us.

I have felt His comfort and I have felt His love. I have felt His power and I have felt His displeasure with some of my choices but then I have also felt the sweetness of repentance and His forgiveness. How blessed I am.....how blessed we are! Without His atonement and resurrection we would surely be lost. But He does live! And because He lives I can be with my family forever.