From the First Presidency

God’s Great Gift

By President Russell M. Nelson

From “Thanks Be to God,” Ensign, May 2012, 77–80.

Left: illustration by Simini Blocker; Right: illustration by Beth Whittaker

One day Sister Nelson and I saw some tropical fish at an aquarium. Fish with bright colors and different shapes and sizes darted back and forth. I asked a nearby worker, “Who feeds these beautiful fish?”

She answered, “I do.”

Then I asked, “Have the fish ever thanked you?”

She replied, “Not yet!”

Some people are like those fish. They are not aware of God and His goodness to them. How much better it would be if we could be more aware of God’s love and express gratitude to Him.

redeem: pay for our sins so we can return to God

Atonement: when Jesus suffered for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane and died on the cross at Calvary

Thankful for Jesus Christ

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to help us. He did that because He loves us so much.

Jesus came to redeem us.

Because of His Atonement, we can be resurrected after we die.

Because of His Atonement, we can return to live with Heavenly Father forever.

Jesus explained:

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26).

For this wonderful message of Easter, we give thanks to God!

Jesus Is My Savior

Jesus was resurrected on Easter morning. Color in a sun ray after you read each sentence about what He has done for us. Then color the rest of the picture.

• Jesus suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross to save us from our sins.

• Jesus died and was resurrected so that we can all be resurrected after we die.

• Jesus gave us the sacrament to help us remember Him.

• Jesus taught us to forgive others.

• Jesus showed us how to be kind.

• Because of Jesus, we can live with our Heavenly Parents and family members forever.

See family manual pages 58–60, Primary manual pages 57–60.