Easter Program #1

( I have left out part of the original narration because it was part of a missionary journal entry and I don't have permission to use it on my web page.)

Let us now explore the atoning mission of our savior through music and the unique scriptural record we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been blessed with.

When in Our Music (choir)

We are all familiar with the story of Job, whom the scriptures describe as a "perfect man," an "upright" man, who was wealthy and had many children and the respect of all who knew him. The Lord allowed Satan to take all that away and then to afflict him with physical misery. Upon reading the Book of Job (The Holy Bible) one comes to realize that the proverbial patience of Job does not seem to include good cheer and never complaining. In fact in Job 3:11 he complains that he had not "died in the womb" or at birth. But complain as he might he did not curse "God and die," which was the course his wife suggested he take in Job 2:9 . Job made an interesting comment as he replied to his wife's suggestion. In verse 10 he says, "shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" The verse then goes on to say "In all this did not Job sin with his lips."

To top it all off a group of friends came to visit him and "comfort" him. The Book of Job consists mostly of the words of "comfort" these friends offer him. Job and his friends enter into a debate over the cause of his afflictions. Job insists on his uprightness and on the unfairness of his suffering. His "comforters" contend that he must have done something to deserve this. It is interesting to note that people often quote the words of these "Job's comforters" when they quote from the Book of Job. It would be wise to make a practice of tracing the scriptures back to find out who is speaking and then "consider the source" before quoting them. The Lord later tells these friends, "My wrath is kindled against thee, ... for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath]." ( See Job 42:7 ) By the way, Job repents of his complaining "in dust and ashes." ( See Job 42:6 )

Finally, towards the end of the book, the Lord answers Job and says among other things:

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding....
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? ( Job 38:4, 6,7 )

All Creatures of Our God and King (Congregation p. 62)

So the earth was created and Adam and Eve were placed in a beautiful garden and then they made a choice and lost it all. We don't know what they did or didn't know as they left the security of the Garden of Eden and went out into the world on their appointed mission to bring their future family into an arena where they could be tested and prove themselves. Did they know the plan when they first left the garden or was that one of the memories left behind on the other side of the veil? According to Moses it was after "the sons and daughters of Adam began to divide two and two in the land, and to till the land, and to tend flocks, and also ... begat sons and daughters" that

4 ... Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them,... (See The Pearl of Great Price; See Moses 5:2-4 )

... This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.

And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will. ( See Moses 5:5-9 )

The Book of Moses goes on to say in the twelfth verse:

12 And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. ( See vs 12 )

And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: Believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish. ( See vs. 13 )

But then Seth was born and finally a righteous line began to be raised up before the Lord. Adam and Eve lived and watched these things for hundreds of years. One wonders how they must have felt as they waited on the Lord both here on earth and in the Spirit World for the plan to unfold. The scriptures tell us that down through the ages all was not well with the children of Adam and Eve.

15 And the children of men were numerous upon all the face of the land. And in those days Satan had great dominion among men, and raged in their hearts; and from thenceforth came wars and bloodshed; and a man's hand was against his own brother, in administering death, because of secret works, seeking for power. ( See Moses 6:15 )

After many generations Enoch was born. We are told that while he was still a "lad" the Lord called him to teach the people. One has to wonder what constitutes a "lad" at this time in which people were living to be hundreds of years old. We know that Enoch was 430 years old when he and his city, the city of Zion, were taken from the earth. ( See The Doctrine and Covenants 107:58-59 )

Enoch was given some visions. In one of them, found in the seventh chapter of Moses:

25 ... he saw angels descending out of heaven; and he heard a loud voice saying: Wo, wo be unto the inhabitants of the earth.
26 And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.
27 And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.

28 And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people [those whom the Holy Ghost hadn't fallen upon], and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, ...
29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
31 ... naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst weep?

32 ... Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency;
33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;
36 ... and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great wickedness as among thy brethren. ...
41 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook. ( See Moses 7:25-41 )

When Jesus Wept (choir)

Enoch also saw in vision the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

54 And it came to pass that Enoch cried unto the Lord, saying: When the Son of Man cometh in the flesh, shall the earth rest? I pray thee, show me these things.
55 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Look, and he looked and beheld the Son of Man lifted up on the cross, after the manner of men;
56 And he heard a loud voice; and the heavens were veiled; and all the creations of God mourned; and the earth groaned; and the rocks were rent; and the saints arose, and were crowned at the right hand of the Son of Man, with crowns of glory; ( Moses 7:54-56 )

Our knowledge of and faith in the Savior's atoning sacrifice and resurrection gives us the ability to face the challenges of everyday life and those of a more horrific nature with hope and courage. These very challenges when successfully met teach us and others that this hope is real.

The Book of Mormon in Mosiah 24 tells of the escape of Alma and his people from the land of King Noah only to later be put under the authority of Noah's wicked priests when they were captured by the Lamanites. When the Lamanites had defeated King Noah's army and enslaved his people, these men had abandoned their families and later had joined with the Lamanites. These priests forbade Alma's people to pray under punishment of death. Maybe they knew to fear the power of the prayers of a righteous people. ( See James 5:16 )

11 And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
12 And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, ...
14 And I will ... ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. ( Mosiah 24:11-15 )>

Twas in the Breaking of the Bread (choir)

Let us return to Enoch and his vision in Moses chapter 7. Enoch receives a marvelous promise after he witnesses the Lord's atoning sacrifice. In this promise lies our hope as we witness the events of the latter days as they unfold before our eyes.

58 ... Enoch wept and cried unto the Lord, saying: When shall the earth rest?
59 And Enoch beheld the Son of Man ascend up unto the Father; and he called unto the Lord, saying: Wilt thou not come again upon the earth? ...

60 And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah;
61 And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve;

62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.
63 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;
64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest.
65 And it came to pass that Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last days, to dwell on the earth in righteousness for the space of a thousand years; ... ( See Moses 7:58-65 )

The world is so full of the wounded, we all carry wounds, seen and unseen. But we have been promised there will be healing.

No matter what the wounds there is power in Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice to heal them. Christ gave us two great healing gifts, repentance and forgiveness. The process of repentance allows us to heal from the wounds we have inflicted on ourselves through sins and simple mistakes and because of the traditions of our fathers. Through a willingness to be obedient to the Lord's commandment to forgive others, all others, we can be healed of the wounds inflicted by another whether it be through carelessness or ignorance or deliberate vicious brutality. Listen to the beautiful scriptural promises.

In Isaiah (The Holy Bible) chapter 53 verses 5 and 6 we read:

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

The scriptures present us with two mutually exclusive paths. The teachings of Korihor found in Alma chapter 30 exemplifies one path.

12 And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor,... began to preach unto the people that there should be no Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying:
13 O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come.
14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.
15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.
16 Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.
17 And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.
18 And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms�telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof. (The Book of Mormon; Alma 30:12-18 )

16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.
17 Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.
19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. ( 2 Nephi 31:16-20 )