I found this great talk (have you noticed that only LDS use the term “talk”?) by Cleon Skousen, about Easter. It gives me an understanding of the atonement and Easter that I have never had until now. I think you will enjoy it. It’s called “The Meaning of the Atonement” and you can download it here. http://latterdayconservative.com/downloads/w-cleon-skousen/. You can also find it on youtube by searching for “Cleon Skousen meaning of atonement.” On youtube it’s in several parts. Here is the first part. He takes a while to get to the meaning, by first talking about his mission to England, so be patient. He gets into the Easter story in part 2. In part 3 he gives the scriptures for you to write down and ponder on your own.

Brother Skousen walks you through the scriptures to explain that Jesus’ power comes from the honor He has earned from the love he has shown for all the elements below him. This is a principle that was highlighted in Orson Scott Card’s book Enchantment. Titles may come from above, but honor comes from serving those below you. I thought of this last week when I left my little ones in the charge of one of their older brothers, the one who tends to be not as nice to them as the other one. I reminded him to do his job nicely and lovingly so that his younger siblings will want to follow him.

I love the contrast of the pine tree and the forsythia bush in our front yard.

It’s very touching. Brother Skousen explains how he was mentored by Elder John Widtsoe (not Widstoe, as many Mormons say) to understand why Jesus died on the cross. Cleon asked Elder Widtsoe questions about Easter and Elder Widtsoe gave him several scriptures to take home and study in order to find the answers. I am still listening to this download over and over to fully comprehend it. He states that he discovered that because of Jesus’ atonement, love and mercy overcame the law.

This Easter season, I am so incredibly grateful that we each have a personal Savior who is so full of infinite, sweet, delightful, cheerful, happy love. A Savior who always did the right, peaceful, loving thing. A Savior, who, even when he was treated so horribly despicably, was able to say, right in the midst of his suffering, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Where else can we find such peace and happiness and goodness than from this man? Nowhere, because He is the source of eternal goodness.

Whenever I am feeling mad at somebody, I eventually remember this example and it helps me so much, even though I haven’t even been physically harmed, just had my feelings hurt. It’s so amazing that this loving man is not just a great teacher and example to us, but that He is our elder spiritual brother, a god, and our personal savior who saves us from eternal death and hell. He gives us grace and strength every day if we but ask.

I’ve always wished that I had inexhaustible resources of money to cover whatever material wishes I have. Wouldn’t it be great to have a check made out to you for millions of dollars? The beautiful, happy, most splendid thing is that each of us has a spiritual check made out to each of us worth an infinite amount of spiritual dollars, thanks to our Savior. Because of Him, and His atoning sacrifice, we have unlimited spiritual potential. As Nephi says in the Book of Mormon, “I glory in my Jesus!” Because of Him, we can each have happiness in this life, despite the sorrows, and eternal life in the life to come. I know He lived, and He lives again. Joseph Smith saw Him, and restored His gospel to the earth. His prophet, Thomas S. Monson, lives on the earth today and speaks for Him. Thank you, Jesus. Happy Easter!