“Observations”

by: Donald S. Conkey

Date: March 20, 2008 - # 8812 -  Easter, God’s symbol of Hope (830)

The message “He is Risen” will be heard in every Christian church in the county on Sunday morning, in both word and song. It’s a powerful message for all believers. It’s a message that uplifts the spirit and gives hope to the soul — penetrating that chilling fear that engulfs all of us at times. And we all need hope living in an uncertain world.

Few challenge the fact that the United States was founded on the Christian faith. This nation was created by men and women whose faith was rooted in the biblical teachings the Founders found in the Holy Bible. Columbus said he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to find America. The Pilgrims found hope in their King James Bible to leave their native land and face the deadly Atlantic to worship according to their own conscience. Thomas Jefferson boldly declared the foundational cornerstones of this new nation were the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God. James Madison found his principles of liberty in the scriptures. When Abraham Lincoln had to make decisions to keep the nation bound together he too turned to that higher power, to He whom Christians will reverence on Sunday.

And anyone who is listening to this year’s political rhetoric recognizes the theme of all three presidential candidates is ‘change’ and ‘hope.’ Their campaigns of change and hope are based on the discontent the people have with our government’s never ending political conflicts and sex laden scandals - in both parties. Their campaigns seem to imply that a change in government will reduce the stress in our lives and give us hope for the future.

It sounds good, real good, but is it real - or are they only more empty promises?

This week I reread every scripture dealing with Christ’s trial, crucifixion and resurrection, sometimes twice. I was engulfed by the spirit as I read the written Word found in Matthew, Mark and Luke. This story too talks about change and hope - but change and hope in an entirely different context than what we are hearing from those seeking our vote.

As I read those inspiring words my mind wandered and I visualized the Savior standing in that heavenly Council in Heaven (Job 38) presenting his Plan to his Father; his war with Lucifer (Rev 12); creating the earth; counseling with Adam, Abraham, and Moses; condescending to come to earth to take upon himself a mortal body and the sins of all those who would accept him; standing falsely accused before Pilate; being dragged to the cross, the nails in his hands and wrists; giving up the Ghost; being laid in the tomb; rising from the tomb; teaching his apostles - then rising to sit on the right hand of God the Father. It is a beautiful story filled with real change, and real hope.

But another scripture, seldom mentioned during the Easter season, sums up for me the entire meaning of Easter. Acts 1:2-3 tells how Christ, following his resurrection, spent forty days teaching his apostles. WOW! Think of it, forty days with the Lord. He, Christ, had ministered for three years but only after his death and resurrection did his apostles fully comprehend His ministry’s messages.

What was it like during those forty days?  Were they power packed forty days? The Holy Ghost was yet to come. He, the risen Christ, was communicating directly with the apostles – no need for the Holy Ghost. I have often pondered these forty days – what did he teach them?

It must have been an intense time. The apostles had so much to learn: his Plan of Salvation in detail; how to use his priesthood; how to establish his earthly Kingdom to be “built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone (Eph 2);” his perfect laws of liberty (James 1); the difference between salvation and exaltation; how to call and ordain priesthood leaders; the three heavens Paul described to the Corinthians; the meaning and purpose of baptism for the dead that Paul taught (1 Corth 15); the doctrine of agency; the purpose for Adam’s fall; the age of accountability; how to receive revelation; clarification of his parables; and all other doctrines necessary to take His Gospel to every nation, kindred and people worldwide.

And likely the Savior would have endowed the apostle’s with authority, power, and hope to make the changes in themselves necessary to carry on in his absence. And the apostles were changed: from doubters (Thomas) to having total belief. And they saw his risen body walking amongst them. Now they knew he had risen and returned. Now they were prepared to go forth and teach his message of change and hope to the world.  

His message was and is a message of change and hope, the only real change and hope that brings inner peace to those who follow him. It’s a powerful Easter message to a nation, and world, in dire need of his change and hope.