Easter Eggs

          Kinder Ovos.  Or Ovos de Pascoa (Eggs of Easter).  The most evident traditional token of giving on Easter in Brazil was chocolate eggs with little surprises or toys inside.  The bigger the egg you received, the higher claim you had to bragging rights.  Hooray for chocolate AND surprises inside!  How can you go wrong with that?  Um, not possible!  However, I was disheartened by that fact that KinderOvos and chocolate eggs were more of a focus on Easter than the real cause for celebration—the glorious resurrection! 

I remember one Easter Sunday when I was a missionary in Brazil.  I was with a Brazilian companion and we were in a bus station on our way to an appointment after church services.  Hundreds of people in various lines.  It appeared to be just an ordinary day.  Ordinary clothes.  Mundane conversation.   Nothing appeared to be special about the day.  People were going through the motions of the day and I wondered if they even considered what they day really meant.  I wanted to stand on the hand rail and shout to everyone, “Do you know what today is?  Do you realize what happened on this day?  You will all one day be resurrected because of Easter!  We will all live again after this life!  We have reason for hope because of our Savior’s resurrection!”  I didn’t shout.  I didn’t even shake anyone, even though I felt the urge to shake everyone around me into a realization of what the day meant. 

I have thought about that day many times.  Do I go through the motions of life without pausing to reflect on what my Savior has done for me?   

President Henry B. Eyring opened his remarks in the April 2013 EnsignFirst Presidency Message, “A testimony of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a source of both hope and determination.”   Hope and determination.  I feel that because of the atonement, I do have hope.  Hope that there is more to my existence than this mortal life.  If I don’t have the privilege of marrying and having children in this life, I will still have an opportunity to realize that blessing.  Determination.  I feel that because we will live again and this life is not the end, I must demonstrate through my life a determination to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ—and not only for myself, but I am determined to meet my obligation to help others learning about the Savior and his teachings. 

I have tried to be more conscious of casual times to testify when I am with my nieces and nephews, with other children in my sphere of influence, and with my Young Women.  This last week my sister was visiting with her five small children.  Each night as she struggled through the motions of putting them to bed, I wanted to make sure they had some scriptures read before they fell asleep.  Unplanned, I found an Easter book with some Gospel Art pictures of Jesus on the shelf.  Of course!  This week is Easter—that is what we should read scriptures about!   Much easier was the task of describing some of the events in the last week of the Savior’s life with the visuals.  If you don’t have a Gospel Art picture book, I encourage you to get one, however, I guess if you have easy access to the computer when you are reading scriptures, you can access any picture you want.  We read Mosiah 3:5-10 and I was able to explain what it meant that Jesus bled from every pore.  That concept is so commonplace to me, that I didn’t realize my nieces and nephews didn’t know what it meant.  I was grateful for pictures and quick inspiration that created a sweet teaching moment about the Savior.

At this Easter time, in addition to savoring my seasonal favorite Cadbury Eggs, I want to share with those I love (maybe with a little more reverence than shouting in a bus station) that I know that Christ does live. 

How can we each personally celebrate this great event?  In the conclusion of President Eyring’s April 2013 message, he shares four suggestions we can ponder during the Sacrament:

“I have found [during the Sacrament] God can give me what feels like a personal interview.  He brings to my attention what I have done that pleases Him, my need for repentance and forgiveness, and the names and faces of people He would have me serve for Him.” 

Because of the life and resurrection of Christ, my life has focus.  I have hope and “determination to serve him to the end” (Moroni 6:3).  I know He lives! 

Jesus, the very thought of thee

With sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far thy face to see

And in thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,

Nor can the mem'ry find

A sweeter sound than thy blest name,

O Savior of mankind!

O hope of ev'ry contrite heart,

O joy of all the meek,

To those who fall, how kind thou art!

How good to those who seek!

Jesus, our only joy be thou,

As thou our prize wilt be;

Jesus, be thou our glory now,

And thru eternity.

Hymn #141  Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

I put pictures to the arrangement of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" for a Young Women Lesson earlier this year.  This song was arranged my friend, Michael Hicks and it is from the 2001 EFY album.