I taught the combined YW Easter lesson yesterday.
I find it difficult to teach about the Atonement – it is so huge, so vitally important, and I really wanted them to feel the Spirit.
I think the lesson went pretty well, but the best parts were the very beginning and the very end.
Right before I started to teach, the bishop came in to thank the young women and leaders for coming to the service project we had on Saturday morning. While he was there, he shared some thoughts about Easter. He had arisen early to study the accounts of the Savior's suffering in Gethsemane, crucifixion, and resurrection in the four gospels. During his study, he was struck by the women in the Savior's life. He imagined how difficult it must have been for Mary, to witness the abuse that was heaped upon her son, to see him killed. When even Jesus's disciples fled, and Peter denied knowing him, the two Marys and Martha stayed, lending what support they could. And women were the first to see the resurrected Lord.
He encouraged us all to be women who follow the Savior, who are not afraid to know him, to testify of him. I loved his perspective, and he set just the right tone for my lesson. Everyone was listening with rapt attention.
Earlier that morning, I felt inspired to have us sing I Know That My Redeemer Lives at the end of the lesson. I finished 5 minutes early so that we would have time to sing all 4 verses. I love that hymn, and never can sing it without feeling more grateful for the Savior and his offering to us. It was a joyous thing.
So... I don't remember a whole lot about what came in the middle. But at least I know the beginning and the end were good!
Last year, when my grandmother died right before Easter, the celebration was deeper for me. I felt that Easter would never be the same for me again. I had a wonderful, happy day yesterday, thinking of the blessings of the Atonement and the resurrection.
I hope you had a beautiful Easter as well.
5 comments:
I'm so glad you posted your Sunday thoughts. I remember when I was a teenager and one of the women in our ward lost her nine year old daughter to leukemia. She said, "Easter is now my favorite holiday of the year." I concur. I concur.
I think singing hymns as part of a lesson has a powerful affect. It's like singing your testimony.
I'm glad your day was a happy one.
As a woman and a mother (your mother!)I love having a daughter who loves the Lord and bears witness of Him. It is a joy to be taught by your words and thoughts.
I too, have felt such a new-found joy in the knowledge of the atonement and resurrection since Grandma's death. I am so thankful to know with a doubt that I will be with her again.
I love you.
I'm sure the middle part was great too, but this sounds like a really fantastic beginning and end. We sang that hymn in Sacrament meeting and I loved it.
Sadly, we visited a ward in St. George whose Sacrament mtg was decidedly UN-Easter themed and featured the weirdest musical number I have ever heard at church.
Wish I could have been at yours instead! I like your bishop's perspective, and I love thinking of Easter as the favorite holiday!
Easter has almost eclipsed Christmas as my favorite holiday. I feel a deeper sense of Spirit lately on this holiday, perhaps because it hasn't been overly commercialized yet. Also, the circle is complete at Easter. It's such a wonderful holiday.
Post a Comment