A Few Thoughts on the Resurrection

In the Bible Dictionary entry for "Resurrection," it says that the doctrine of the Resurrection is "the center point of hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ." I usually only think about the blessings of the Resurrection when someone close to me passes away, but after reading this I felt like perhaps the doctrine of the Resurrection is a doctrine that should be making a bigger difference in my life. I decided to try and gain a better understanding of the connection between the Resurrection and having hope. How important is hope in this gospel?

Moroni 7:41 tells me that I should "have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection." In 1 Thes. 5:8, the armor of God is discussed, and the helmet is called the "hope of salvation." Connecting these two scriptures, it seems like having a hope because of the Atonement and Resurrection is an important part of protecting myself against Satan.

I found it interesting that hope is connected with the head (the helmet). As I thought about this, another scripture came to mind: Jacob 3:2. Here we are told that if we have a firm mind, then we can feel the love of God forever. How can I have a firm mind? Seems like wearing a helmet of hope would be useful. Hope can certainly help me fight off mental afflictions like discouragement.

The doctrine of the Resurrection is a powerful doctrine that should fill my life with hope and help me to have a "firm mind."

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A Few Thoughts on the Atonement

I taught Sunday School again today. The lesson was on the Atonement, in specific the events that occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here are a few of the thoughts that I shared in my lesson:

The Atonement can be found everywhere in the scriptures if we just look. For example, in 1 Nephi 17:8, the Lord tells Nephi, "Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters." The Lord "carries" us to the promised land. It is only through his Atonement that we can make it across the waters, past the trials of this life, and to the Celestial kingdom.

In Romans 8:16-17, we are told that we can be joint heirs with Christ, "if it so be that we suffer with him." What does it mean to suffer with Christ? As I read about Christ's experience in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46), I noticed that he took Peter, James, and John to the Garden and asked them to "watch" with him. I wonder if one possible way that we can "suffer with" Christ is by doing exactly what Jesus asked his disciples to do in the Garden: watch and pray. Be there, in a sense, and stay awake.

Finally, I noticed that before the Atonement occurred, Christ had the attitude "Thy will be done" (Matthew 26:39). Perhaps before the Atonement can become a reality in my life, I must also have the attitude, "Thy will be done."

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