we have 9am church so we got ready, talked for a minute about the resurrection and then had a quick search for easter baskets before church.
vivian found her basket full of baby food and one box of nerds. she went straight for the candy and then straight to sadie, where she put it in sadie's hand and obviously wanted her to open it.
max got some cool new church socks conveniently right before church.
abe and kai both got new ties and a few treats.
it was an extra special easter watching abe pass the sacrament and he also gave a talk in sacrament meeting. he did so well and it was neat having conversations this week with him about the atonement for prep for his talk. my mom came to watch abe speak and she brought easter lunch:)
here is abe's talk:
Abe atonement talk
Introduction: Happy Easter, my name is Abe Tullis. I was asked to talk about the atonement of Jesus Christ.
One article that stood out to me when I was preparing for this talk was from Last general conference. Elder Boyd K. Packer of the 12 apostles told a story about when he was in Samoa in 1971. He was there to organize a new stake on Upolu Island and attend the Samoan stake conferences around the area. He took a small plane to the island called Savai’i 13, miles away from Upolu to visit a conference. The plane was parked on a grassy field and would stay there until the next day when he would return to Upolu. When they were scheduled to leave Savai’i it was raining. The plane could not take off from the wet grass so they decided to go back by boat. They did not realize that they were heading right into a ferocious tropical storm at Upolu Island. It was dark and they could not see. To get to shore they were to go through a very dangerous, narrow passage was marked by two lights. When one light was directly above the other it meant the boat was facing the right way and they would enter the passage safely. That night, only the top light was lit because the 2 elders waiting there to meet them had fallen asleep and forgot to turn on the lower light. This made the passage unclear and it would be almost impossible to make it to the shore without it lit.
To me the shore in this story represents the celestial kingdom, without the atonement or the light we can never make it. Because Jesus atoned for our sins, it makes it possible to return to shore.
However, The atonement is not just to make it possible to repent, but it can also be an example to us, and empower us to be better. Elder Bednar said, “ I frankly do not think many of us “get it” concerning this enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement. Brothers and Sisters, the gospel of the Savior is not simply about avoiding bad in our lives; it also is essentially about doing and becoming good.”
I would like to share with you two things that I am trying to do to apply the atonement to my life that will give me power and strength.
The first is obedience.
Before Jesus felt misery and bled from every pour he said, “Father, if though be willing take this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.” When he performed that dreadful task at Gethsemane he showed obedience. I know the atonement was a difficult thing for the Savior, but he did it because His Father asked him to. The third article of faith it reads, “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.” In this short description of the atonement it says that we must be obedient. I think that if we think about what Jesus did that night, then we can all be more motivated to follow those laws and ordinances, and to follow our leaders, parents, friends, etc.
Jesus was also merciful to us during the atonement. He did not just say if we sinned, we wouldn’t be able to live with him again. Instead, he sacrificed so we could live with him again. Another way I can apply the atonement to my life and have power is when other people’s choices affect me, I can also be merciful, like the Savior. If somebody is being disrespectful to you, you should still be able to treat them nicely, don’t reject them or mistreat them in return, show mercy, and do what you can to help them. I know that if we follow his example we may return to heaven and live with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and our families eternally. I know that Jesus did suffer for our sins and sorrows and that that atonement is the only way to make it to shore. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
