March 25–31: “He Shall Rise … with Healing in His Wings.” Easter
“March 25–31: ‘He Shall Rise … with Healing in His Wings.’ Easter,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 (2023)
“March 25–31. Easter,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: 2024 (2023)
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resurrected Christ with His Apostles
Christ and the Apostles, by Del Parson
March 25–31: “He Shall Rise … with Healing in His Wings”
Easter
The ancient Apostles were bold in their testimonies of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection (see Acts 4:33). Millions of people believe in Jesus Christ and try to follow Him because of their words recorded in the Bible. Yet some people might wonder: If Jesus Christ is the Savior of the whole world, then why were His eyewitnesses limited to a handful of people in one small region?
The Book of Mormon stands as an additional, convincing witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, “manifesting himself unto all nations” (title page of the Book of Mormon) and offering salvation to all who come unto Him. In addition, this second witness also makes it clear what salvation means. This is why Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, and all the prophets labored so “diligently to engraven these words upon plates”—to declare to future generations that they too “knew of Christ, and … had a hope of his glory” (Jacob 4:3–4). This Easter season, reflect on the testimonies in the Book of Mormon that the Savior’s power is both universal and personal—redeeming the whole world and redeeming you.
Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church
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Because of Jesus Christ, I will be resurrected.
It’s traditional at Easter to ponder the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, but what exactly does it mean to be resurrected? What insights does the Book of Mormon offer about resurrection? Perhaps this Easter season you could list truths about resurrection that you find in 2 Nephi 9:6–15, 22; Alma 11:42–45; 40:21–25; 3 Nephi 26:4–5.
You could also record how these truths about resurrection influence your actions and the way you live. For example, consider how you would complete these sentences: If I did not know these things … and Because I know these things …
A hymn like “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136) could help you think about why the Savior’s Resurrection is important to you. As you sing, listen to, or read the hymn, you might ask yourself, “How is my life different because Jesus Christ was resurrected?”
The Gospel Library has a collection of Easter videos that could be a meaningful part of your study. Perhaps you could watch one or more of these videos and ponder what they add to your understanding or appreciation of the Savior’s Resurrection.
Jesus Christ took upon Himself my sins, pains, and infirmities.
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins. The Book of Mormon expands our understanding of Christ’s sacrifice and suffering in important ways. You can find some of these teachings in Mosiah 3:7; 15:5–9; Alma 7:11–13. After you read these passages, consider recording what you discover in a chart like this one:
What did the Savior suffer?
Why did He suffer?
What does this mean to me?
Here’s another way to study these passages: Look for hymns that you feel match the messages they teach. The “Scriptures” index at the back of the hymnbook can help. What phrases from these hymns and the scriptures help you appreciate the Savior’s sacrifice more deeply?
It could be said that the Book of Mormon is an account of people who changed because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. You can read some of these experiences in Mosiah 5:1–2; 27:8–28; Alma 15:3–12; 24:7–19. You might think of other examples to study as well. What do you notice that these experiences have in common? What differences do you notice? What do these experiences teach you about how the Savior can change you?
Because Jesus Christ was resurrected, I will be resurrected too.
You can use “Chapter 53: Jesus Is Crucified” and “Chapter 54: Jesus Is Risen” (in New Testament Stories, 136–38, 139–44) to tell your children about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Or let your children tell you the story, using the pictures in these chapters.
The Risen Savior’s visit to the Americas is a powerful witness of His Resurrection. Consider telling your children about it, using 3 Nephi 11; 17; the song “Easter Hosanna”; or the last verse of “Book of Mormon Stories” (Children’s Songbook, 68–69, 118–19). Encourage your children to imagine what it would have been like to feel Jesus’s wounds (see 3 Nephi 11:14–15) or to be one of the children He blessed (see 3 Nephi 17:21). Share with each other your feelings about Jesus Christ and His Resurrection.
To help your children discover what the Book of Mormon teaches about resurrection, you could invite them to pretend that you don’t know anything about it and ask them to explain it to you. Help them look in 2 Nephi 9:10–15; Alma 11:41–45; and Alma 40:21–23 for answers to questions like these: What does it mean to be resurrected? Who will be resurrected? Also invite them to bear testimony of the Savior’s Resurrection as part of their answer.
Jesus Christ knows how to comfort me.
Mosiah 3:7 and Alma 7:11 describe some of what the Savior went through as part of His Atonement. You might read one of these verses to your children and ask them to listen for words that tell them what Jesus suffered for us. Then you could read Alma 7:12 to find out why He suffered it. Testify that Jesus Christ felt all of our pains and sicknesses so that He could comfort us.
Do your children have a favorite hymn or song about Jesus Christ and His Atonement? You could sing it together—or learn a new one. Talk about words or phrases in the lyrics that teach you about the comfort and peace the Savior offers us.
The Book of Mormon gives many examples of people who were changed because of the Savior’s Atonement. Perhaps your children could choose one to learn about, such as Enos (see Enos 1:2–8), Alma the Younger (see Mosiah 27:8–24), or the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (see Alma 24:7–19). How did this person or group change because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ? How can we follow their examples?
You and your children could also compare something clean and something dirty and talk about how dirty things are made clean. Read together Alma 13:11–13. What did Jesus do so that we can be made clean from our sins? How does this make us feel about sin? How does it make us feel about the Savior?
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
Live worthy of the Spirit’s guidance. The Spirit is the real teacher. As you seek His guidance and live worthily, He will give you thoughts and impressions about how to meet the needs of the people you teach.
