The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) joins with the rest of the Christian world this week in celebrating Easter and remembering the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Church’s 2013 Easter Message for Australia is presented by Elder Terence M Vinson, an Area Seventy in the Pacific Area.
Global warming, carbon tax, Kyoto Protocol! Much has been written and spoken of the depleting supplies of natural resources in the world and of our responsibility, as recipients of those resources, to conserve them and to protect the environment for our children and for future generations. While some of these issues remain controversial, often scant regard is given to the even more important life-sustaining resources of both mortal and eternal sustainability.
In a world where love for God and others is one such diminishing resource, we can so easily replenish our supply. Some feel unloved even within their own families. By concentrating only on our own needs and wants without a genuine love and concern for others, the world becomes more secular and less inclined to remember God. Disdain for the feelings, and sometimes even the lives of others, is a common occurrence that appears to be the root cause for many negative and sad events which monopolise our newspapers and television news screens.
Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, was the epitome of love for His Heavenly Father and for all whom he met and, indeed, for all who will ever occupy this earth. He atoned for our sins and also innocently bore our pains, afflictions and injustices so that He could help us during the periods we suffer through no fault of our own. We can all draw on His strength and enjoy the blessings of His atonement.
He endured immense physical and spiritual suffering, both prior to and during His crucifixion, resulting in His physical death. He also suffered spiritual death – the separation from His father, our Heavenly Father. This especially occurred on the cross as His Father realised He had to permit His beloved son a brief separation in order to allow the completion of the atonement. The atonement of Christ enabled each of us to overcome our own spiritual death, through repentance for our sins, and be able to again stand worthily in His presence after this life.
The subsequent resurrection of Christ—the reuniting of his spirit and body after his death—brought about the grand resurrection of every member of the human race. He overcame physical death so that we, also, will eventually be resurrected, whether our lives have been good or bad.
His atonement and resurrection are the greatest events in the history of the world—events that we celebrate at Easter, and events that bless us every day. Let us be grateful and ponder His life, teachings and atonement especially at this wonderful season of the year. He is the author and source of the world’s greatest resource – love!
We encourage all to go out of their way to show love and kindness to others. Christ’s teachings are a gospel of love and we appeal to all Christians, and to good people of all beliefs, to live in His ways and to be messengers of peace.
Elder Terence M. Vinson
Area Seventy – Pacific Area
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints