I'm going to use a questionnaire  to see what they know about the last week of Jesus' life found in the  1994 April New Era (Jesus' Last Days).  One the back of this questionnaire will be a list of ideas to make Easter more meaningful, also found in the New Era (April l995 Issue).

My other reference material came from "The Easter Story" by W. Cleon Skousen,  published by The Ensign Publishing Company in l966.

(For my family, I have an Easter basket full of  eggs with a scripture reference in each.  The eggs are numbered  so we'll  know which day to open that egg.)

Day of Anointing

Saturday
- Jesus is anointed in Bethany by Mary.  Reference: Luke 7:37-38 44-46

Do we "anoint" others - in word and action?

Day of Popularity

Sunday
- Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph.  Reference: Luke l9:35-38     

Would we be one of those who cheered as Christ rode into the city or would we ask, "Who is this?" (Reference: Matt 2l:l0-ll)

Day of Authority

Monday   
- Christ curses the barren fig tree and cleanses the temple.   Reference: Luke 19:45-46

Think about why He had to cleanse the temple....think about what me might need to "cleanse" in our own lives....Would Christ feel welcome and comfortable in our presence and in our homes?

Day of Conflict

Tuesday
- Jesus teaches in the temple and on the Mount of Olives - Matt 21 & 25

Show your family the video "What Think Ye of Christ" from the Family Home Evening Video - It is beautiful and moving.  After watching, ask your family the same question Christ asked the Pharisees was "What think ye of Christ?.... "

Day of Rest

Wednesday
- Jesus probably spends a day of rest with his friends at Bethany. 

Today I've been giving a lot of thought to the Savior and trying to give greater meaning to the Easter message. Today is the "Day of Rest" in Jesus'  Last Days - a day probably spent with friends.   I think of all the times in my life when I've been greatly troubled, in need of solace; where do I go???? When my heart is most troubled I can say I turn to the Lord...and I want to be in the temple. A few years ago I struggled w/great pain in my heart over something that I felt was hurting one of my children. I couldn't sleep, I wasn't hungry in a temporal sense, I was very emotional, my heart very heavy....no one could comfort, except the Lord. My thoughts and prayers were continually pouring out to the HIM...and He did comfort. Comforted in "sending" friends my way...sending peace to my heart...sending "rest" in my knowledge of the gospel.

My reason for sharing this is to pose a question....Do you think the Lord has a heavy heart at times, knowing one of His children needs help, and He turns to us. Do we reach out with the hand of friendship to those who need comfort, in need of "rest"? Do we listen to the prompting of the spirit when they come and follow through?

Would the Lord have come to our home that last Wednesday to "rest". Do we seek the Lord when we need to "rest" from the world. And even more than this, do we provide a place of "rest" for those who have the need???? Do we labor diligently to persuade others, especially the young women we have stewardship over, to seek the "rest" of God?

The word "rest" will always have greater meaning for me after today.
Read Jacob l:7 today....I'd love to hear your thoughts.....

The Day of Fellowship

• He prays in the Garden of Gethsemane
  
• He finds the Apostles asleep
  
• Around midnight, Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, and Jesus is arrested by the chief priests, scribes, and elders.
  
• Peter denies

There were others things that happened this day also.

When I woke up this morning my heart was sad to know what today and tomorrow would entail in His life!  And yet I know the greater purpose in His sacrifices and what we have been taught by Him who loved us so much and was willing to give so much in order for us to return to Heavenly Father.

A verse that jumped out at me this morning; Matthew 26:45, Christ finds His disciples asleep and says, "Sleep on now, and take "your" rest:  behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners".  After yesterday and understanding "His rest", this verse hit me hard.  Are we seeking our  own "rest".  A good friend sent a message last evening that made me think also about the type of "rest" I seek in the things I choose daily.  Do I choose the "rest" that brings me closer to the Savior or do I choose a worldly rest?

There are many things to ponder today....do we serve everyone, even those who we know are our "enemies", would we have stayed awake???? Would we have denied?  "Do" we "deny" each day in the things we choose?

When I read that Judas betrayed with a "kiss", which to me has always been an endearment, I wonder why a kiss?  Do we "betray" Christ with a kiss as we partake of the Sacrament on Sunday but then during the week forget about the sacred covenants we've just renewed....until next Sunday

I love the YW theme, "We will stand as Witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places as we..... let us be an example of this and especially to the Young Women of our wards and stakes!  Let us remember the Savior and be an example!  Let us not deny or betray in our words, thoughts, and actions.

When we partake of the sacrament, do we think about Christ, do we pay attention to the words and renew and remember the covenants we made at Baptism?  What are those covenants?

Are we willing to Say "Thy Will Be Done"?   

An angel from heaven appeared to Jesus, "strengthening him". Heavenly Father will also send help to us when we need to be strengthened.
Reference: Luke 22:43-44

Do we betray Jesus?  Do we deny Him in the things we say and do? 

The Day of Suffering in the Last Days of Christ

Friday
- At Sunrise, Jesus is officially condemned   by Caiaphas and the Jewish Sanhedrin 
Reference:  Luke 22:61
- Jesus is taken to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate about 6:00 a.m.
Reference: Luke 23:1
- Pilate sends Jesus to Herod
Reference: Luke 23:4-7
- Herod returns Jesus to Pilate, who releases Barabbas and delivers Jesus to be crucified.
Reference: Luke 23:11
- Jesus is crowned with thorns and mocked
Reference: Matt 27:29
- Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross to Calvary.
Reference:  Matt 27:32
- Soldiers part Jesus' garments
Reference: John l9:23
- Darkness lasts from noon to 3:00 p.m.
Reference:  Luke 23:44-45
- Jesus Dies: Luke 23:46
- Jesus' side is pierced with a spear.
Reference:  John l9:34-35

Have you been thinking all week about Christ and the sacrifices me made for us?  Last evening at dinner we discussed with our children the events of the day and of the day coming up.  To think that as we were eating dinner, Christ was partaking of the Last Supper and that the events of the evening were beginning to take place.  When we awoke this morning,  Christ had been taken before Annas, Hanan, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin...  On to Pilot, Herod, and back to Pilot...and would continue to suffer this day "for us". 

Are we willing to Stand as Witnesses of Christ and give of our material wealth to building the Kingdom of God.  Would we have stayed by His side and watched and waited while he suffered?

My thoughts are many and I won't share them all, but one thought that has come repeatedly this morning....It was Christs' own people who said to "Crucify! Crucify Him!" Him"    What are we saying today as members of His church?   What message do we send to the world when we don't keep the commandments, speak poorly about our leaders; ward, stake, or general. When we don't support them or follow their counsel?   When we don't stand up for the truth....speak out when needed...stand for truth and righteousness....because we don't want to offend, or we know we will be criticized for our stand. What are we telling our children when we don't keep the covenants we made at baptism?  What are we telling them when we do °Ü°

We must be true followers of Christ!  We must be a light to the world that shows the way back to our Heavenly Father!   We show can show our love for Him by being faithful, for defending the faith, by being "true to the truth"  (study the words of the hymn "True to the Faith" on page 254) giving our lives for the truth if needed.  Let us remember Christ this day and the  events that took place. I have only touched briefly on the events of the day....there is so much more.  My heart is full today...fuller than it has ever been as Easter morning approaches.  May your be also!!!!  Let's take the time to study the events of today by ourselves and with our families.  Later in this day as the hour approaches when Jesus cries, "It is finished!" let us remember that our work is not finished....we have yet much to do.

I love you all-Let's be strong and faithful!~~°~~~

Day of Silence

Saturday
- Guards are placed in front of the tomb.

Day of Triumph

Easter Sunday

- How would the women roll back the stone?
- Tomb Found empty
- Angels appear and gave the message, "He is risen, He is not here"
- Mary is first to tell the Apostles-but doesn't give the full message - only  "He is not here.
- Most of the Apostles did not believe her, but Peter and John run to the tomb. Mary is close behind.
- They too find it empty and leave.
- Mary in her grief mistakes the Lord for a gardner.
- Jesus calls her by name
- She runs to tell the others-this time with the full message - HE IS RISEN!

Can we imagine the pain that all who loved Him must have felt as they waited so that they could return and properly take care of the body of Christ. This small group of women, as they approached the garden whispered among themselves, "Who should roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? Reference: Mark l6:3

(As we serve, do we sometimes whisper asking, How can we ..... I'm so busy trying to keep my grades up, participating in school activities, mutual nights, and I want to serve well in my calling as class president, but how can I do everything?????"

Only when they drew near were they able to perceive in the dim light that someone had been there before them. The stone was rolled away! The tomb was dark, but suddenly the interior was illuminated by the presence of two glorious personages in shining garments" Reference Luke 24:4

The women were so frightened they bowed down to the earth trembling and panic-stricken. Then they heard the words: "Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified; he is risen, ....
Reference: Mark l6:6

They were instructed to tell His disciplines. Mary Magdalene was the first to reach the apostles. She had been so frightened by the experience at the tomb ....the thing which impressed her most was the tragic declaration, "He is Not here!. She completely missed the testimony concerning the resurrection.
Reference: John 20:1-2, Luke 24:10-11

(Do we sometimes miss the message?  Do we listen when our Bishop speaks, or when our Stake President counsels us?  Do we listen &  "hear"   the counsel given at General Conference ?)  (Do we sometimes refuse to "believe" just because we haven't heard it ourselves?

Meanwhile John and Peter raced toward Golgotha while Mary Magdalene followed. Peter entered the tomb first, John then followed...the saw the empty crypt....but they saw no divine messengers. Mary watched John and Peter as they slowly came out of the tomb and departed. Reference: John 20:3-6 John 20:7

Left alone, Mary could not contain her grief. For some reason, even while weeping, she felt constrained to look once again into the tomb. She did not enter but peered through the entrance. Suddenly she saw two personages.....they spoke to her "Woman, why weepest thou?"
References: John 20:ll-l2

(Do we remember to look to the Lord in times of need?) (Study Hymn 129-"Where Can I Turn for Peace")

The messengers could have said more, but they did not. Someone else had come into the garden.....she assumed he must be the gardener.

(Do we recognize the Lord's presence in our lives? The calm we feel when we pray and we are comforted?) (Study Hymn 124-"Be Still, My Soul"

"Sir, she said, "if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away." Reference: John 20:l5

The soft tone of his voice carried a message of tenderness and love: "Mary." Startled by the shock of recognition, Mary gasped out "Rabboni!" She who had loved Him so much, she who had been healed by Him, was the first to whom He appeared. - Reference: John 20:l7

(I love so much this verse which tells us He knows each of us and will call us by name and to have thought of how glorious it would have been for Mary to have once again been in the presence of the Lord! Study Hymn #113 - "Our Savior's Love"

.....For the second time that early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene ran with all speed to the house where the apostles were staying. But this time she had the full message: "He is risen! He is risen" Reference: John 20:18 Study Hymn 199 - "He is Risen"

(Do we share the message, "He is Risen" with others? Do we run with full speed to spread the gospel message or do we think someone else will do it for us if we don't get there first.?) (one of my favorites -Study Hymn 219-"Because I Have Been Given Much"
He is not dead! His is risen! He is the first fruit of the resurrection. Without Him, life for all men would end at death.

If we are faithful to the end, if we will remember, we will understand His love for all of us, and our love for Him will grow deeper and deeper.

Have a wonderful Easter Day watching or listening to conference with your families!!!! Study Hymn 200 - "Christ the Lord is Risen Today"  Alice Gifford - 1999

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