I Know That My Redeemer Liveth

This has been a great Easter Day for us.  We worshipped this morning participating in a sacred ordinance administered by authorized servants of the Lord.  We live in gratitude for this opportunity to celebrate the resurrection and atonement of the Redeemer each week.  But on this special day, we felt even more keenly the great blessings afforded us by the sacrifice of our Savior.  We wish to declare clearly to all of our family and friends our assurance of the reality of the literal resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  This not only gives each of us certain hope of a literal resurrection, but many other eternal blessings as well - for us and our ancestors and posterity.    We invite all to watch, listen to, or read a couple of great discourses on the resurrection by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, and by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, both apostles (special witnesses) of Jesus Christ.  We were also inspired today by an Easter message published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entitled Because of Him.  We were particularly touched by a hymn we sung today in our Sacrament Meeting, and share the verses as our testimony of the Living Christ.  The words are from one of my favorite speakers, Elder Marion D. Hanks.

That Easter morn, a grave that burst

Proclaimed to man that "Last and First"

Had ris'n again

And conquered pain.

This morn renews for us that day

When Jesus cast the bonds away,

Took living breath

And conquered death.

Thus we in gratitude recall

And give our love and pledge our all,

Shed grateful tear

And conquer fear.