Area Message
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
One of the most fundamental doctrines taught by the Twelve was that Jesus had risen from the tomb with a glorified resurrected body in the fashion and likeness of His Eternal Father, a celestial body quickened by celestial glory.
Christ’s Resurrection was unprecedented and was the most memorable and glorious event in the history of this world, declared by angelic proclamation. “He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6). Jesus was the first mortal ever to come forth from the grave in a state of immortality; all others were restored to mortality and eventually died again, but not Jesus, for He is the first fruits of the Resurrection.
President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) taught: “The greatest events of history are those which affect the greatest number of people for the longest periods. By this standard, no event could be more important to individuals or nations than the Resurrection of the Master.” 1
Following His Resurrection, the Savior met Cleophas and his companion on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Jesus, for they were sad and their faith had weakened by the loss of their Master. The Savior taught them: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).
Later that night as He sat to have dinner with them, “he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
“And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:30–32). They became powerful witnesses of His Resurrection.
The principal witnesses of the Resurrection of the Savior were Mary, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and the Apostles. But there were many other witnesses, more than 500, including James and Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:6–8. Another 2,500 Saints in the ancient Americas are recorded in The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:8–15 and 17:25. To me one of the most touching moments was when the resurrected Savior appeared to the Nephites and blessed them. This account is also found in the Book of Mormon.
The Savior’s Resurrection validated all He had taught. The Twelve now realized that this was not the end, but the beginning of their own ministries as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. They ministered, giving everything, even their lives, in the service to God. The hope of the Resurrection was sufficient to lift their spirits. Their conviction and faith in Jesus Christ were now complete.
The Resurrection is promised to all of Heavenly Father’s children who were faithful in the preexistence. Those who receive celestial glory will be resurrected first, followed by terrestrial glory, then telestial glory, and finally the sons of perdition 2 .
The Resurrection is the crowning event of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and it gives completion to His atoning sacrifice. Through His Resurrection, the Savior reconciled all of the consequences of the Fall including that of physical death. He who created a physically perfect world now provides the means so that after the Fall it may become perfect once more through the Resurrection.
Jesus exercised His power to resurrect, giving legitimacy to the promise that we will also be resurrected. Our resurrection consists in the reuniting of our spirit and physical body, never again to be divided; it means becoming immortal, without blood, with a perfected body of flesh and bones. Such will be our physical condition after the Resurrection.
Samuel the Lamanite taught: “For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, [and here is the reason why] that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord” (Helaman 14:15).
Jesus experienced mortality just as you and I do. He knew happiness and pain, He rejoiced as well as sorrowed with others. He knew friendship, but He also experienced the sadness that comes through traitors and false accusers. He submitted himself to all of this so He could better understand how to succor you and me. He died a mortal death as you and I will, but more importantly, because of His Resurrection so shall we be resurrected.
Jesus gave powerful testimony about the Resurrection when He said: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17–18).
He proclaimed this power when He said to the Jews: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” (see John 2:19). They could not understand He was speaking about the temple of His body.
There are commandments we must obey if we are to obtain celestial bodies and celestial glory. The challenge of this life is to learn them, accept them, and abide by them. The reality of the Resurrection with the possibility of exaltation because of our Redeemer’s sacrifice is reason enough to merit our everlasting gratitude to Him.