Easter Joy

Matthew 28:5-7

"... I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is arisen, as he said. Come, see the place where the bLord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead..."

2 Nephi 2:6–7

“Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.”

Boyd K. Packer:

The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance. ...There is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no offense exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness.

“Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” 2

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” 3

“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” 4

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” 5

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”   9

(October 1995, "The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness")

Jeffery R. Holland: 

Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” 20   (April 2009, "None Were With Him")

Neal A. Maxwell:

Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed! Such is the “sacrifice unto the Lord … of a broken heart and a contrite spirit,” (D&C 59:8), a prerequisite to taking up the cross, while giving “away all [our] sins” in order to “know God” (Alma 22:18) for the denial of self precedes the full acceptance of Him. (April 1995, "Deny Yourselves of all Ungodliness")

Gordon B. Hinckley:

I do not wish to give offense to any of my Christian colleagues who use the cross on the steeples of their cathedrals and at the altars of their chapels, who wear it on their vestments, and imprint it on their books and other literature. But for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ.” (April 1975)

Doctrine and Covenants 128:23

Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory, and salvation, and honor, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities, and powers!