Easter Sunday surprised us by actually being sunny. The world still was asleep from our long winter, but the sun shone, enhancing our hope. I slept in as long as I could, but I was still not satisfied with my talk, so I struggled staying awake. I showered and got ready for the day and finalized my talk. I felt mostly good about it, but I will say that, though I have this odd love of preparing and giving a talk, I have never felt more inadequate for a topic. The Church sent a special letter this year about Easter, shortening our two hour block of meetings to one, and asking that the sacrament program be extra focused on the Savior and His atonement and Resurrection. A few days after the letter was sent, my bishop approached me to ask if I would speak on Easter. We had been on the fence about spreading our return trip from our cruise over two days, attending church services on Easter Sunday in either Las Vegas or St. George, but when Bishop asked me to speak, I knew that we needed to drive the whole distance in one day.
I spent weeks reading about the Plan of Salvation, and I reviewed all my favorite atonement chapters and verses. I paid extra attention to the talk by Elder Gary E. Stevenson on Saturday morning's session of General Conference where he talked about finding ways to celebrate Easter more. He quoted a New Testament scholar: N. T. Wright suggested: “We should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts. … This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of Matthew and Luke, nothing else. Take Easter away, and you don’t have a New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity.” Heading into our cruise, I had that at the forefront of my mind, and we tried to be sure to talk about the Easter week every night at dinner, and in the 6 or so weeks I had to prepare this talk, I was painfully aware of the breadth and scope and depth of the topic of Easter. Thus, Easter Sunday dawned, and I still felt like my pathetic attempt wasn't enough. I tried to not waste any words while still keeping my talk engaging for the congregation. I still think about my talk, analyzing it and wishing I could somehow say more, but as I headed to church on Sunday, I felt mostly good about it. There were only two speakers, me and our former Bishop, whose talk was amazing. We also had four musical numbers. It was a really good meeting, a feast for such a special day.
We never got a family photo of us in our Easter best, so I had to settle for a selfie with Michael and our cruise photo that my mom took.
After church, Gabe, Rachel, Brian, and I colored eggs. Michael conveniently disappeared for the activity, which honestly made me sad. Brian had boiled the eggs that morning.
After a long week of indecision and multiple texts back and forth, we moved the Easter celebrations from my house to Lea's house. We rolled eggs
and tossed the ones that were still good enough to toss.
Then, there was the great peeling efforts (of the eggs, not our sunburns or Shayne's basketball court), and Julie got the white sauce cooking. Since Julie can't have gluten, sugar, or dairy, she was just going to have the pulled pork, broccoli, and green beans that Lea made for those that don't like Egg Stuff, but that didn't seem acceptable to me, so I whipped together a gluten free, dairy free, sugar free version for her. She said it was good, but I'm always skeptical.
We headed home after visiting for a while, and I found this on our porch, left by my neighbor Beatris. She said that the color made her think of me. I do like a pretty package.
I love Easter so much because I love Jesus, my Savior and Healer so much. Each year it means more to me, to us.
Here's my talk (generally, I use an outline when I speak, but this time, I felt the need to write it all out so I made sure to keep my word waste to a minimum):
Why We Need A Savior
During fall break in 2018, we went up to Idaho to help my parents with some wiring on a new addition and home remodel. While Brian was over at my parents’ house wiring, I was working on sewing Halloween costumes at my Grandma’s house, and our kids were playing out in her big, beautiful yard. Somewhere in the middle of a seam, Rachel, who was 5 at the time, comes to me and says, “Mom, Gabe is stuck.” Gabe was 2, and a very busy boy, so this wasn’t really that surprising (and probably not surprising to many of you here today). After failing to get more information from my 5 year old about what she meant by “Gabe’s stuck,” I headed out to the yard to see what kind of trouble Gabe had gotten himself into this time. I turned into an area of Grandma’s yard that bordered the horse pasture and there was Gabe, hanging from the barbed wire fence, twisting, turning, and unsuccessfully trying to free himself. I quickened my steps, assured myself he was okay, quickly snapped a picture, and arrived at his side. I simultaneously held him and untangled his sweatshirt from the barb that it had caught on, trying to hide my laugh as I comforted him in his distress.
I’ve thought of this incident several times over the years, and I have felt there is a lesson here for all of us.. Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, each one of us is “stuck” and we each require Someone’s help to get us unstuck. No matter how we metaphorically kick our legs and wriggle around, we cannot free ourselves from physical death that will one day claim us all, nor can we save ourselves from the spiritual death caused by our sins. Both types of death have disqualified every single one of us from returning back to our Heavenly Father, and we can only overcome them with the help of Someone else.
Jacob, the brother of Nephi, taught (2 Nephi 9: 6 ) For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.
(vs 7) Wherefore, [there] must needs be an infinite atonement.
Lehi taught “Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.” (1 Nephi 10: 6)
Lehi further taught “And the Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.” (2 Nephi 2: 26)
Prophets from the beginning of time up until now have either prophesied or testified about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and these words are recorded in all four standard words. Everything in this gospel hinges on this one event. Joseph Smith taught, “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”
Understanding this, I’ve struggled for the past six weeks to narrow down what to say today. I kept thinking about what John wrote at the end of his gospel: “There are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written (John 21:25).”
President Spencer W. Kimball said, “No matter what we say of Him, it is still too little.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 7.)
Easter has been my favorite holiday since I was a child because of the peace it brings to my heart. This is the holiday that commemorates and celebrates the most important event in history: the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which includes His taking upon himself our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, His laying down of His life on the Cross, and His resurrection from the grave three days later. I am so grateful for His perfect life that allowed Him to offer himself as a sacrifice on our behalf, as the “Lamb unblemished and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19)
Alma taught the people of Gideon, “And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.” (Alma 7:11)
Through the Atonement of our Savior, I have found strength and hope for good things in this life. On Easter just eleven years ago, I woke with a broken heart. Earlier that January, Brian and I were devastated after I miscarried for the second time. I felt hopeless that I would ever be able to have more children, and while I was so grateful for our oldest son Michael, I felt completely broken over the losses of those babies. The pain was almost debilitating. The thought of risking that pain again was more than I could handle, but as I attended Easter services that Sunday, my heart pondered over everything the Savior went through for me. The Spirit whispered reassurances to my battered soul and filled my heart with enough hope that I knew with His help, I could try to have another baby. Through every one of my freak-outs in my subsequent two pregnancies, He was with me, strengthening me and taking my fears in His loving hands so I could carry on. Because of Him, I have a beautiful, kind daughter, and another incredible son.
Going back to Alma:
“And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.” (Alma 7:12)
Each year, I find myself looking forward to the resurrection daily. I came into this world with an imperfect body as I was born with my hip out of place. As a toddler, I had to have surgery to correct it. Once a year, I had a check-up with my orthopedic surgeon, which always involved getting an x-ray and looking at how my hip was holding up. In my late 20s, my hip started giving me grief again, and at the age of 31 (and just five months after having my last baby), I had a total hip replacement. Of all the bones in my body, I have looked at my hip joint the most, and I must say that I am quite bummed every time I see my hip x-rays now and see where part of my bone was cut off to be replaced by an artificial spike. I greatly anticipate having a perfect left hip for the first time after I am resurrected. I’ve even started a list of resurrection goals! I’m sure many of you can relate.
Almost four years ago, I lost my dad quite unexpectedly to a heart attack. It was just under two months before his 60th birthday. During the four hour car ride to my Mom’s house the night he died, Brian and I turned to the Savior. Did we really believe what we’d been taught our whole lives? Would my dad really live again? Our hearts were filled with a gentle peaceful comfort, and the Spirit reassured us both that death was not the end, that because our Savior was resurrected on that first Easter morning, we would see my dad again. My heart still aches from missing him, but I find joy that “death is conquered, man is free. Christ has won the victory.”
Alma further taught, “Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance,” (Alma 7:13).
Each year, I find more and more ways that I lack when it comes to living the gospel. I have hurt others with my words, I’ve yelled at my kids, I’ve neglected my ministering assignments. I haven’t done enough with the talents the Lord has given me. The list goes on and on. Paul’s words “For All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” burn in my soul, and I know that without the Savior, I am nothing. I rely on His grace daily. My heart warms as I recite “I cherish the gift of repentance” along with the young women each week. Each year, The list of Hymns that I can’t make it through without getting choked up increases. The Sacrament becomes more essential, more meaningful. I know that I am nothing without my Savior, and because of Him, I can one day be everything I wish I could be now.
In closing, I want to share some of my favorite words from the Doctrine of Covenants. As I read these words, picture yourself standing before the Father at the last day. I always picture the Savior’s arm around my shoulder.
“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” (D&C 45:3-5)
I know that Jesus lives, that He loves us, and that through Him, we can return to live with Our Loving Heavenly Father one day.
After lunch, we headed to Gabe's first soccer game. 
After the game, Gabe got to open his package from Grandma. I video messaged him opening it so my mom could watch him open it, so I don't have any pictures, but my mom got him a new swimming suit and swim shirt. She noticed Gabe needing a new swimming suit too! 
Gabe had lots of fun. 
Brian mostly kept up with Gabe. 
I decided that if you just spent an hour jumping at Airborne each day, you'd probably get in shape super fast! 
Brian was super proud of being able to cross this pit using these nets. 
I jumped in this foam pit after Brian. It was really hard to get out. I guess I should work on some pushups before I try this one again! 
She used her own money to buy him a little Squishmallow in a green van. 
The next day, after church, we had a Saville family dinner to celebrate Gabe. He got to open presents from Nana and Papa. 
He was so excited to get a BYU hoodie, BYU shirt, and his own package of Golden Oreos, which somehow Papa discovered he loves. 
Earlier in the week, we went to the store before I could ask Gabe about the kind of cake he wanted. I figured I was safe getting a yellow mix, a chocolate mix, and a rainbow chip mix. When I finally asked him, he said, "Lemon!" So, I went back to the store, picked up a lemon cake and some lemon pudding, lemon frosting, and Brian and I made this cake. I made the cake part; Brian made the frosting and frosted it. I added the writing, balloons, and pathetic soccer ball, football, and game controller. We thought a green would still fit with the lemon cake. 
The next morning, Gabe put on both new tops from Nana and Papa. 
