The Tomb Was Not Empty

This morning my thoughts turned to things being empty.

It began when I had to use a Q-tip to scrape for any remaining foundation in my makeup bottle.

And then simultaneously noticing that it’s also time to buy new facial powder. (First world problems, I know).

And then it made me think about the empty salsa bottle I threw away after dinner last night.

And the newly opened bag of dried mangoes I passed around to my family. . . that came back empty when I placed my hand inside to grab a few.

It also made me think of how I feel when I discover an empty container of milk left in the fridge.

And my thoughts when I walk past an empty, abandoned house.

Then I thought about how we tend to describe the tomb on that Easter morn.

We describe it as empty.

The Empty Tomb.

Except, it wasn’t.

The tomb was NOT empty.

No, empty is not the word the gospel writers used to describe the sepulchre that morning the stone had been rolled back from the door.

Empty would mean that the tomb contained nothing.

But that is not true!

Luke wrote that Peter “beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves” (Luke 24:12) while John emphasized “the napkin, that was about [Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself” (John 20:7).

Doesn’t sound like an empty tomb to me.

Mark wrote that, upon entering, “they saw a young  man  sitting on the right side” (Mark 16:5) who declared, “Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).

Definitely not empty!

And then when Mary, weeping outside the sepulchre, stooped down to look in, she saw “two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus has lain” (John 20:11-12).

No, Jesus did not leave the tomb empty.

He left the tomb filled.

Filled with testimony of His divine mission.

A rolled stone.

Linen.

Angels.

And a folded napkin.

So that everyone who entered into that tomb would also come out filled.

Filled with the utmost assurance that He was not there because--

He is risen.

Covenant Ministering

Thursday night, as I was pondering President Nelson's prophetic invitation for us to fast this Sunday, I found myself in Mosiah 18.

You know the chapter--where Alma sets forth the covenant of baptism.

I pondered on that covenant each of us has made:

Willing to bear one another's burdens--

Willing to mourn with those who mourn--

Standing as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.

Then, as I continued to read, I wondered why I had never before connected THE specific blessing that comes with this type of covenant ministering. . .

It is that God "may pour out (pour out!) His Spirit more abundantly upon [me]!"

POUR, To flow; to issue forth in a stream, or continued succession of parts; to move or rush, as a current.

Covenant Ministering allows God to pour out His Spirit

more abundantly

upon me and upon those to whom I minister.

"Verily this is a mission for a season, which I give unto you. Wherefore, labor ye in my vineyard. Call upon the inhabitants of the earth, and bear record, and prepare the way for the commandments and revelations which are to come. Now, behold this is wisdom; whoso readeth, let him understand and receive also; For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power." D&C 71:3-6

Gasping for Air

Today was the first time our family had the privilege of administering the sacrament in our home. It was beautiful, sacred, special experience. I am learning that talking, teaching, and sharing about Christ in our home-centered experiences leads to more intimate, more holy experiences with each other and with the Spirit.

During my sacrament experience today, it was brought to my mind how essential breathing is. In the beginning, "the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7).

By His breath we are living souls. And in our living, breathing is the very essence of our mortal existence.

Interesting, isn't it, that one of the most severe symptoms of COVID-19 is the difficulty to breathe?

The virus the entire global population facing right now is now known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)?

Severe. Acute. Respiratory. Syndrome.

This is why our prophet is lovingly inviting us to #HearHim--because Christ is the reason we breathe.

He is the reason why deep, meaningful breathing can calm us and bring us peace.

He is the reason why we gasp desperately for air when we're winded or weak or anxious or fearful.

Breathing is not just a blessing. Breathing is essential to our existence.

Christ is not just a blessing. He and His power is essential to our eternal existence.**

"When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do.

"When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you. And then you will understand the deep meaning of words we sing in the hymn 'The Spirit of God':

The Lord is extending the Saints’ understanding. …

The knowledge and power of God are expanding;

The veil o’er the earth is beginning to burst.

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with His power, which is available to every earnestly seeking daughter or son of God. It is my testimony that when we draw His power into our lives, both He and we will rejoice." - President Russell M. Nelson

I am a witness that His power can be ours when we daily breathe to #HearHim.


(**I have a friend who is a respiratory therapist. She taught me this about breathing: "Breathing is something that happens automatically yet, you can control breathing to some degree. You can't hold your heart like you hold your breath. You can't control your digestive system or easily change your endocrine. Thus, we unconsciously count on Christ and yet, we also control how much we let Him in.")

Becoming New in Christ

This week I listened to THIS TALK by Elder Dale G. Renlund, and it has left me pondering about the sacrament and my covenants.

Elder Renlund quoted President Russell M. Nelson saying:

I made a covenant as I partook of the sacrament that I would be willing to take upon me the name of Jesus Christ and . . . to obey His commandments. Often, I hear the expression that we partake of the sacrament to renew covenants made at baptism. While that’s true, it’s much more than that. I’ve made a new covenant. You have made new covenants (italics added).

Whoa. The sacrament is much. more. than. renewing. covenants.

Much more.

So I have been thinking about that. About Jesus being the New Covenant and how I can make a new covenant with Him each and every week.

Each Sabbath, as I give to Him my offering of my righteous desires coupled with my carnal tendencies, I can become new.

When taken worthily and with real intent, the sacrament is The Way I become a new creature in Christ.

This means that in partaking of the sacrament, the things of the world slowly--ever so imperceptibly slow-- start to become less and less important to me, and the things of God--the very things of eternity--start to become more and more important to me.

The sacrament not only helps me to become more like Him, it is my cry to Him that I need Him to give me the ability to live His doctrine--especially the "endure to the end" part--with Christ-like determination.

And He does.

He gives me what I need.

What an amazing covenant I have made.

Small and Simple Things

This evening I had the opportunity to participate in our Relief Society Christmas Program entitled, Women Who Knew Christ. I was asked to play the part of the mother of Mary. As I practiced my part, there was a phrase from Luke 1:35 that jumped out at me:

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Had I read correctly? Did the angel just refer to the Son of God as a holy thing? And right then Alma 37:6-7 was brought to my remembrance:

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

Yep. The very Son of God was born by and in and to small and simple circumstances.

Compared to how a king would have been received.

Compared to how birthing accommodations are today.

Compared to what can be announced to the world in real time on social media.

Yet, in His small and simple way, He continues to confound the wise and brings about the salvation to many souls.

I share my witness with King Benjamin that "there is no other name give nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."

Doctrine and Covenants 25 Chiasmus

Tonight, I took a look at Doctrine and Covenants 25 as President Nelson invited us to do on Saturday. And I decided to look at it with a chiasmus eye. And really, I don't know much about chiasmus, except that it is AWESOME. But here's what I discovered. It is quite powerful when I read it in first person, taking the liberty to liken "husband" to "God," and thinking about "hymns" more in line as "preparations" for the upcoming April 2020 General Conference and beyond.

 1 God speaks to all—all who are covenant-makers and keepers of the gospel

    2 If you are faithful, you will receive an inheritance in Zion

       3 Your sins are forgiven. You are an elect lady. Called by the Lord.

         4 Murmur not about the things you have not seen

            5 Speak consoling words in the spirit of meekness

               6 Be a scribe

                  7 You are called under [God’s] hand to expound scripture/exhort

                      8 Receive the Holy Ghost to write and learn much

                      9 [God] will support thee; all things to be revealed according to faith

                  10 Lay aside the things of the world

              11 Make a selection of hymns [spiritual preparations]

            12 Song of the righteous is a prayer unto Him, a blessing upon heads

         13 Lift up your heart. Cleave unto your covenants.

      14 Be meek. Beware of pride. Soul delight in/glory given to [God]

   15 Keep commandments. Receive a crown of righteousness.

16 My voice unto all

What are you learning as you study the 25th section of the Doctrine and Covenants?

Tidbit Tuesday: Talking About Family

We talk a lot about families. Sometimes in bitterness, you will want to say ‘all this talk about families, but I don’t have a family, and …, ’ stop there! Don’t add that extra phrase, ‘I wish they would stop talking so much about families.’ You pray that we do keep talking about families; about fathers and mothers and children and family home evening, temple marriage and companionship and all of the rest, because all of that will be yours. If we stop talking about it, then you, among all others, will be the losers.

-James E. Faust quoting Boyd K. Packer