News Release

Easter—a Celebration of the Living Christ

At this Easter season, we celebrate, with all the Christian world, the wonderful fruits of the atonement of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, culminating in His glorious resurrection. The reality of that resurrection was confirmed by many more witnesses than would be required in any court of law. Some were His apostles, including Thomas, who initially doubted.

The resurrected Saviour's words to Thomas were prophetic for many who have since come to follow Jesus Christ. "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

One of the marvellous consequences of Christ's resurrection is that all mankind will also be resurrected. In the poetic words of the King James Version of the Bible: "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19)

 

What comfort these words of the Saviour give for all, and particularly for those who mourn departed loved ones!

Jesus spoke of the blessing we receive from His condescension as He left His divine throne to take mortality upon Himself for our sakes: "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."(1 Cor 15:22-23)

We, the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also testify of His resurrection and the complete necessity of relying upon His grace for our own salvation. Our Church bears His name and, although we may be known as "Mormons" to many, our allegiance is centred completely in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He lives and continues to love and care, as would a loving parent, for all who reside on this earth.

We are saddened by the increasing secularism of today's world and the evidences of this trend in our own wide, brown land. It seems that not only have many Australians forgotten their duty to honour Jesus Christ, but also they have chosen to ignore the key message that he taught. His teaching of having love for God and for others has been widely replaced by a philosophy of seeking one's own ends without regard to the feelings of others.

The Saviour's teachings were clear on how we should treat one another: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?" (Matt.5:43-46)

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.

Contributed by Elder Terence M Vinson, Area Seventy-Pacific Area, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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