April 14–20: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

Easter

April 3, 1836, was Easter Sunday. After helping administer the sacrament to Saints in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery found a quiet place behind a veil and bowed in silent prayer. Then, on this sacred day when Christians everywhere were commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the risen Savior Himself appeared in His temple, declaring, “I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:4).

What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is “he who liveth”? It doesn’t just mean that He rose from the tomb and appeared to His disciples in Galilee. It means that He lives today. He speaks through prophets today. He leads His Church today. He heals wounded souls and broken hearts today. So we can echo the words of Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony … which we give of him: That he lives!” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22). We can hear His voice in these revelations, witness His hand in our lives, and feel “the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’” (Hymns, no. 136).

Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church

Jesus Christ lives.

Most of us have not seen Jesus Christ as the Prophet Joseph Smith did. But we can know, as he did, that the Savior lives, that He knows our successes and struggles, and that He will help us in times of need. Consider your own testimony of the living Christ as you ponder the questions below and study the accompanying resources.

• Who is Jesus Christ? Why do we worship Him? (see “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”).

• What does the Spirit teach me about the experiences of Joseph Smith and others who saw the Savior? How do their testimonies strengthen mine? (see Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–14, 20–24; 110:1–10; Joseph Smith—History:17).

• What do I learn about the Savior’s mission and divinity from His own words? (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:5; 38:7).

• How can the Savior help me today? (see Isaiah 53:3–5; Hebrews 2:17–18; Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11–13; 36:3; Ether 12:27; Moses 5:10–12).

Power comes from memorization. Elder Richard G. Scott explained: “Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change” (“The Power of Scripture,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 6). If you find a scripture about the Savior that’s especially meaningful to you—perhaps one that could give you comfort in a time of need—consider memorizing it.

In the video “My Spiritual Goal,” a young woman decides to memorize “The Living Christ” (Gospel Library). What impresses you about her experience? What do you feel inspired to do to receive the truths in “The Living Christ” in your heart and mind?

Let Your Goals Be Guided by the Spirit

Ashley’s spiritual goal was to grow closer to Christ. So she made a plan, wrote it down, and set a completion date. Setting goals has increased Ashley’s ability to accomplish things she feels inspired to do.

To learn more about how the Savior blesses us today, you could study, listen to, or sing “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136). It could be inspiring to look for truths in this hymn that are also taught in Doctrine and Covenants 6:34; 84:77; 98:18; 138:23.

See also Topics and Questions, “Jesus Christ,” Gospel Library.

Because of Jesus Christ, I will be resurrected.

Joseph Smith knew how it feels to mourn the death of loved ones, including his father and two of his brothers. Joseph and Emma buried six of their children, each younger than two years old. From the revelations God gave, Joseph and Emma gained an eternal perspective.

Look for truths about death and God’s eternal plan in Doctrine and Covenants 29:26–27; 42:45–46; 63:49; 88:14–17, 27–31; 93:33–34. How do these truths affect the way you view death? How do they affect the way you live?

See also 1 Corinthians 15; Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 174–76; Easter.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Jesus Christ accomplished a “perfect atonement” for me.

One way to focus on the Savior at Easter time is to study revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants that teach about His atoning sacrifice. Some can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13; 19:16–19; 45:3–5; 76:69–70. Consider making a list of truths that you find in these verses. To deepen your study, you could add to your list by searching Luke 22:39–44; 1 John 1:7; 2 Nephi 2:6–9; Mosiah 3:5–13, 17–18; Moroni 10:32–33.

Here are some questions that could guide your study:

• What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

• Why did Jesus Christ choose to suffer and die for us?

• What must I do to receive the blessings of His sacrifice?

• How do I feel about Jesus Christ after reading these verses?

See also Guide to the Scriptures, “Atonement,” Gospel Library; “The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane” (video), Gospel Library.

The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane

Jesus, Peter, James, and John retire to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus submits to the Father's will and begins to suffer for the sins and afflictions of mankind. He is then betrayed and arrested. Matthew 26:36–57

For more ideas, see this month’s issues of the Liahona and For the Strength of Youth magazines.

Ideas for Teaching Children

Because of Jesus Christ, I will be resurrected.

• To teach your children about resurrection, you could start by showing them pictures of the death and Resurrection of the Savior. Let your children share what they know about these events. You could also sing a song like “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” (Children’s Songbook, 64).

• Consider an object lesson that could help your children understand what happens when we die (our spirits and bodies separate) and when we are resurrected (our spirits and bodies come back together, and our bodies are perfect and immortal). For example, what happens when we remove the battery from a flashlight or the ink container from a pen? What happens when they are reunited? (See Alma 11:44–45.)

• Do your children know someone who has passed away? Let them share a little about these individuals, and then read together Doctrine and Covenants 138:17. Talk with each other about how it feels to know that our loved ones will be resurrected and have bodies again.

• If you have older children, you might invite them to look for phrases that capture the message of Easter in the following passages: Doctrine and Covenants 63:49; 88:14–17, 27; 138:11, 14–17. They could do the same with the video “Because He Lives” (Gospel Library). How can we share this message with others?

The Prophet Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ.

• You and your children might be interested to read about three different times Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and others, as recorded in Joseph Smith—History 1:14–17; Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–24; 110:1–10. Your children could also look at pictures of these events in this week’s activity page. What do we learn about Jesus Christ from each of these experiences? Why is it a blessing to know that Joseph Smith and others saw the risen Savior?

Because of Jesus Christ, I can be forgiven of my sins.

• The truths Joseph Smith learned about forgiveness through Christ can give your children hope that they can be forgiven of their mistakes and sins. Consider inviting your children to create a table with headings like these: What the Savior did for me and What I must do to receive His forgiveness. Help your children search the following passages to find things that belong under these headings: Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13; 19:16–19; 45:3–5; 58:42–43. Share with each other your joy and gratitude for what the Savior did for us.

• You could also watch the video “The Shiny Bicycle” with your children (Gospel Library) and share experiences when you felt the Savior’s forgiveness as you repented.

The Shiny Bicycle

Everybody makes mistakes, and even though it's not easy, with the help of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ we can receive forgiveness for our sins.

For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.

Christ and Mary at the Tomb, by Joseph Brickey