sunday will come

I get together with a friend often to go for walks/runs with our fancy jogging strollers. One day we were on this path near her home, and she told me she was glad I was there because we were headed toward the "Jesus tree," and since I'm religious I would probably like the Jesus tree.

The Jesus tree, in someone's yard, was a picture of Jesus nailed up on a tree similar to how Christ was nailed on a cross. It was an interesting depiction of the crucifixion. Although it was a Christian symbol, I can't say I "liked" it per se. Instead I used the opportunity to tell her that as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I believe in the crucifixion and recognize it as an integral part of God's plan, but I don't celebrate it or worship it. I don't wear a cross. There are no crosses in our buildings.

I celebrate the Resurrection. To me, the message of Christ's death isn't that he died for us, it's that He lives. He lives for us. And we, too, can overcome death.

One of my favorite messages on this topic is from a General Conference addresses by the late Joseph B. Wirthlin. I am grateful to a Facebook friend for posting it and reminding me of these wonderful words.





There was a part of the talk that I remember that he didn't say in the video, my favorite part:

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.

I love that. Sunday will come. I can't tell you how horrible I have felt at times in my life, and to realize that it will be over, whether in this life or the next, redemption will come. Because my Savior conquered sin and death, I can too.

Happy Easter. I will probably eat a Cadbury egg or two today, but I will also be infinitely grateful for my Savior.