Easter Video: He is Risen

He Lives!

D&C 76:22  And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the ^atestimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he ^blives!

I hope we all have a HAPPY EASTER as we remember that HE LIVES!

Are You (Really) Easter Ready?

So I think I am done with all of my candy buying and I have a few free Easter Egg Hunts on my calendar but am I REALLY ready for Easter?  I have some work do.  One of the things that I love about having this blog is that I can refer back to things that I have done in the past and prepare myself once again. I thought I would post links to some of my past Easter posts for all of you just in case you are in need of some ideas to make Christ the center of Easter, where He should be.  I wish I would've prepared for true Easter first and Easter bunny second.  It is time to think of Christ.

• 7 day scripture reading or spiritual easter egg hunt
• A video of Elder Holland's Easter thoughts.
• More excited for the Easter Bunny - with a link to some wonderful Easter ideas.
• A Christ-Centered Easter Treat

And finally here are a few great things that were not posted on this site but that would be great to read or do this Easter season:

•  This first one is an article from April's Friend magazine.  It is called "Easter Week" and has scripture readings for 8 days (sorry this is a little late to start on time but you coud always start out with a few the first day :)  Or you could put them in Easter Eggs and do a hunt on Sunday and put them in order, or even do both.  Text Version   -   PDF Version
• Read President Monson's First Presidency Message - He is Not Here, but is Risen
• Read The Living Christ as a family.

 And to finish off I wanted to share the First Presidency Easter Message for 2011 and this wonderful Easter Mormon Message video (both would be great to read or watch individually or with your family):

"Among the most cherished thoughts and writings in this world is the divine statement of truth: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
This precious Son, our Lord and Savior, atoned for the sins of all mankind. That memorable night in Gethsemane His suffering was so great, His anguish so consuming that He pleaded, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Later, on the cruel cross, He died that we might live, and live everlastingly. Resurrection morning was preceded by pain, by suffering in accordance with the divine plan of God. Before Easter, there had to be a cross. The world has witnessed no greater gift, nor has it known more lasting love.
The message of Easter is that the Savior lives! And because He lives all shall indeed live again. This knowledge provides the peace for loved ones of those who have passed on, "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!'"



I hope we all have a spirit-filled Easter!

What We Believe: He is Risen

( Click to Enlarge)

This article was taken from the Ensign.

To check out all of the Ensigns in PDF form click HERE.

To learn more of what we believe and

what we are all about visit mormon.org.

Yummy Christ-Centered Easter Treat

I first learned how to make this simple and yummy treat when I was in junior high foods class. I just recently realized that I could turn it into a great Easter teaching moment.

Marshmallow Biscuits

The Tomb:
10 refrigerator biscuits

Clean Linen Cloth:
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter

Jesus' Body:
5 large marshmallows, cut in half

(You can use a whole marshmallow if you are using jumbo biscuits)

Melt butter. Mix cinnamon and sugar.

Cut marshmallows in half and roll in melted butter, then cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Pound each biscuit flat. Wrap the marshmallows in biscuit. Seal the edges of the biscuit being careful not to get sugar on edges of biscuit or it will not seal. Place on a greased cookie sheet or muffin tin and put in a 375 degree oven for 7-12 minutes (times will be different if using a jumbo biscuit) or until lightly browned. This can get a little messy.

When you pull your biscuits out of the oven and take a bite out of the tomb the marshmallow (Jesus body) will be gone but the cloth will still remain (the cinnamon and sugar).











My three year old loved this and seemed to grasp onto the idea. He helped me to prepare the biscuits and I told him what each item represented and then we read the ressurection story from The New Testament Stories book (you could also watch it online HERE) while they cooked. When they came out and "Jesus" was gone he loved it. We talked about how Jesus still lives and even though He died He was ressurrected.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

More Excited for the Easter Bunny?

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most important event in all of history. Yet how many are more excited about what the Easter Bunny brings on Easter morning than about what the Savior brought on that first Easter? “On this Easter eve, may our thoughts turn to Him who atoned for our sins, who showed us the way to live, how to pray, and who demonstrated by His own actions how we might do so” (Thomas S. Monson, “Pathways to Perfection,” Ensign, May 2002). (Click on the quote for a list of ideas to help you and your family remember the Savior this Easter.)

For a week worth of Easter scripture readings click HERE. (Last year we did "candy" Easter on a different day and then on actual Easter Sunday we did an easter egg hunt with each of the pictures found in the above link in an egg. It worked out well. We were still able to enjoy some treats and fun egg hunts but we were able to center that special day around the Savior.)

Let us all strive to make the Savior the center of our Easter this year. Let is focus on Him as we listen to or watch each Conference session that weekend. Let us always remember what our Savior and Redeemer has done for each one of us. He loves us. He died for us. He lives.

First Presidency Easter Message

Yesterday the First Presidency issued this Easter message:

"At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

Picture courtesy of LDS.org

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ: None Were with Him

I loved Elder Holland's powerful thoughts this Conference and so I was thrilled to find out that a video had been created of a portion of his talk and was posted on Mormon Messages. This would be a good video to sit down and watch with your family on Easter day or even for FHE on Monday. If you missed his talk or even if you didn't, I urge you to read the entire talk HERE (All of the Conference talks are now available in English).

This Easter season let us remember what our Savior has down for us. Let us remember that He understands the things we go through and that He knows us personally. Let us remember that He lives.

Easter Centered on Christ

Many of you have probably seen this in the Friend but for those who haven't there is a wonderful page titled, "An Easter Testimony". It shares 7 events, along with the scriptures where they can be found, from Christ instituting the Sacrament to Christ appearing to His apostles after his resurrection.

We are in the process of reading the scriptures throughout this week and I plan to then cut out each picture and put them in eggs this weekend. My little boy will go on a little hunt to find the eggs and then we will put them in order of when they happened and discover the secret message.

I love that the Friend makes it so simple to know how to make Holidays centered where the should be, on the Savior.

There are so many other wonderful ideas online. Check out Sugardoodle's Easter page for more ideas centered on Christ.

What are you doing to celebrate the true meaning and purpose of Easter?