Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday--the day that commemorates the day that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey's back, with the crowds laying palm fronds on the path before Him. And next week is Easter Sunday, the glorious day on which our Lord and Savior rose from the grave.
All my hopes for the future have roots in the events celebrated this week. All my desires for my family, all my dreams for happiness--they all come back to the Atonement. If it were not for Christ's sacrifice, I could never repent of the stupid things I do--and therefore I could never return to Father in Heaven, or be with my precious family again.
I don't have any specific memories of learning of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were taught to us bit by bit, line upon line even, from before I can remember. These lessons were woven into our ordinary lives so subtly--Family Home Evening lessons, discussions around the dinner table, car trips, visits to grandparents--that I don't remember even learning them. I just know.
Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day--these are important days. But they should not be the only time we think about the Atonement and Resurrection, nor the only time we teach our families about them. We deserve to spend more time than a few days a year dwelling on the miracle that makes all our happiness--present and future--possible.
All my hopes for the future have roots in the events celebrated this week. All my desires for my family, all my dreams for happiness--they all come back to the Atonement. If it were not for Christ's sacrifice, I could never repent of the stupid things I do--and therefore I could never return to Father in Heaven, or be with my precious family again.
I don't have any specific memories of learning of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were taught to us bit by bit, line upon line even, from before I can remember. These lessons were woven into our ordinary lives so subtly--Family Home Evening lessons, discussions around the dinner table, car trips, visits to grandparents--that I don't remember even learning them. I just know.
Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day--these are important days. But they should not be the only time we think about the Atonement and Resurrection, nor the only time we teach our families about them. We deserve to spend more time than a few days a year dwelling on the miracle that makes all our happiness--present and future--possible.
posted by Keryn at
11:51 AM
5 Comments:
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
I was just talking to the primary kids about that today. They asked if we were going to sing "Did Jesus Really Live Again?" for Easter Sunday and were disappointed when I said that we were saving it for the primary presentation in October. I told them that it was the perfect time right between Easter and Christmas to remember that Christ's resurrection and atonement are important to us all year round. I think they got it.
By
Kathryn Thompson, at 4/09/2006 11:57 PM
The holidays you mentioned are wonderful times to celebrate the Atonement. But I believe each of us should commemorate the Atonment in our daily lives. We should each have a personal celebration when we partake of the Sacrament each Sabbath.
By
Scott Hinrichs, at 4/10/2006 6:02 AM
Excellent post again. I'm making a similar one tonight on BofJ. Important stuff to remember.
By
Eric Nielson, at 4/10/2006 8:35 AM
Thank you all for such wonderful comments. I love the holidays--Christmas and Easter and Pioneer Day and Moroni Day (Sept 21) and Golden Plates Day (Sept 22)...but I honestly don't ever remember one huge testimony-building or world-shattering experience revolving around a holiday. Not that that fact makes me special or anything, but I don't think that our lack of emphasis on the "Holy Days" is a terrible thing.
By
Keryn, at 4/11/2006 6:47 PM
Want to wish you a happy Easter. Thanks for the thought on your blog. I would also like to leave my own thought to celebrate the season.
By
Jettboy, at 4/15/2006 2:39 PM
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home