Easter Message

It was a good week and really, it hasn't been too long since I last emailed (Wednesday). All is well here in Guarabira and the work is moving forward. 

I wish I had more news or something excited to say... but I don’t. We do have a lot of investigators that are progressing right now, and that is a huge blessing!

Really, all my thoughts this week are turned to next Sunday, Easter. What an amazing day it is to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. In that spirit, I had to quotes I wanted to share today. 

 Jeffrey R. Holland gave a few things to remember during sacrament meeting and I found one idea particularly interesting. He said, ``On some days we will ahve cause to remember the unkind treatment He received, the rejection he experienced, and the injustice- oh the injustice He endured. When we, too, then face some of that in life, we can remember that Christ was also troubled on every side, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down but ´dot destroyed´(2 Cor 4:8-9). 

``When those difficult times come to us we can remember that Jesus had to descend below all things before he could ascend above them, and that He suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that He might be filled with mercy and know how to succor His people in their infirmities (Alma 7:11-12). 

``To those who stagger or stumble, he is there to steady and strengthen us. In the end he is there to save us, and for all this He gave His life. However dim our days may seem, they have been darker for the savior of the world... in fact, in a resurrected otherwise perfected body, our Lord of this sacrament table has chosen to retain for the benefit of his disciples the wounds in his hands and his feet and his side- signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and perfect. Signs, if you will, that pain in this world is NOT evidence that God doesn’t love you. It is the wounded Christ who is the captain of our soul- he who yet bears the scars of sacrifice, the lesions of love and humility and forgiveness.``

I think the message of the resurrection is the most beautiful that there is... and the same hope comes from Joseph B. Wirthlin´s message, Sunday Will Come. He said, ``I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world´s history, that Friday when the Savior was crucified was the darkest. But the doom of that day did not endure. The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind. And in an instant, the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, stood before them as the first fruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence... Because of the life and eternal sacrifice of the Savior of the world, we will be reunited with those we have cherished.``

I love my Savior. The words of the hymn, ``I stand all amazed`` come to mind as I think of all He did for each and every one of us. He loves us. My prayer is that this Easter Sunday and always, we remember His loving sacrifice that made everything possible. 

I love you all. I am grateful to have the greatest family to have ever lived. We are not a perfect family, are we? But we are together to teach each other all we need to know that one day will may be perfected in Christ. 

Have a wonderful day, week, whatever. Be safe. I love you. May God be with you until we meet again.

Sister Seal