Getting Real and Saying It Like It Is

I know I can be honest
I imagine sitting on my couch with my friend and honestly sharing from my heart. I know I can be honest because I'm just saying what *I* think. People are told not to talk about certain things because the other person might not believe the same. I think anything can be discussed as long as I speak for myself. I love people and never want to hurt them. I believe in freedom and know that everyone has beliefs. I don't say things to convince anyone to think like me but to just express myself.

I love being Christian
With Easter being this weekend I reflect on why I'm Christian not Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Atheist, New Age or something else. I'm Christian because I believe that only through Jesus Christ can I have eternal life (my greatest desire). I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I believe that it is the only church that has the authority to give me the ordinances I need to have eternal life.

Easter is my favorite holiday
I thank Jesus Christ (in words that don't adequately express my feelings) for suffering, for atoning, for dying on the cross, and for rising from the tomb on the third day...all for me. I have no friend (except Jesus Christ) who would do those things for me and who would provide a way for me to have eternal life.

Jesus Christ wants me to have eternal life
He suffered not only for my sins but also so that he could perfectly empathize and comfort me when I suffer. He will make up the difference for me when I face God at the final judgement. God The Father said, "No unclean thing can enter heaven". There's no way that I could ever enter heaven because I'm an imperfect human and unclean (fallen). But Jesus Christ said that if I believed in him (a perfect human and a God), (tried my best to) keep the commandments, got the ordinances I needed, and remained faithful to the end I'd get eternal life. He also said that if I did those things he'd make up the difference between me and God The Father and be my advocate (plead to God on my behalf).

I love Jesus Christ's words
He said: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (Isaiah 1:18-20).

I'm a fallen human being-like scarlet, red like crimson and he's a perfect God-pure, as white as the snow, like wool. On one hand, if I believe in Him, want it, keep the commandments, get the ordinances I need, and remain faithful to the end I'll have eternal life. On the other hand if I don't believe in Him, rebel and don't care I won't have eternal life. Either way, the choice is mine.

Christianity will get me my goal
Jesus Christ's actions at Gethsemane, at Calvary, and at the tomb showed me that He wants me to have eternal life. I'm grateful for such a gift and I love Him. He's my savior and has redeemed me from the effects of the fall.

My Greatest Hope

Today is Easter. Many people open gifts, eat candy, search for eggs, and think of the Easter Bunny. I wonder how many people think of Jesus Christ and the gift He gave us. He gave us the gift of immortality. He gave the gift to all people - whether or not they believe in him. To be saved and rise again when we die, what a gift!

I want to live with God in eternity, and I believe that I will. Some people don't believe in God, and that's okay with me. I accept them and hope they will accept me. I believe the scripture that says, "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11) and look forward to His return happening one day.

I believe with all my heart that Jesus is the Messiah, and the Savior of the world. I thank Him for suffering for me so that I can be resurrected and live with God again. I celebrate Jesus Christ today.

He is Risen!

Easter is definitely my favorite holiday. I love it because I'm thankful  for three things, namely that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins, that He willingly gave his life on the cross, and that He rose from the tomb.

His resurrection gives me hope that one day I will be resurrected too. I  believe that when I die, my body will be buried in the ground but my spirit will go to heaven. If Jesus hadn't been resurrected and hadn't overcome death, then when I died that would have been it - my body and spirit would have gone to the grave. Thanks to His resurrection, my spirit can now go to heaven.

What a gift! Thank you Jesus for doing that for me. "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me" is part of a song that my church sings and is how I feel today.

I am a Christian even though some people say that I'm not. They say that Mormon's aren't Christians for various reasons but I know that I am. I believe in Jesus Christ; that He's the Son of God; and that He will return again to rule the earth. I believe what Christian's believe and celebrate Jesus Christ today.

The Bible says Jesus said: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). All human beings were dead. Lucifier said to Eve that she would not die when she ate the forbidden fruit but he lied. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and brought death upon themselves and us. We needed someone who could break the bond of death and that's what Jesus Christ did. He overcame death and we will too: meaning that when we die we will go to heaven instead of just going to the grave.

Jesus said: "I lay down my life, that I might take it again; No man taketh it from me but I lay it down myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again" (John 10: 17-18). He did what he said he would and it makes me believe the other things He said. He never said 'because I was resurrected, so shall you,' but throughout His life He talked about how people would go to heaven. For example, He said "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2) and He told the thief on the cross "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). If people didn't go to heaven He never would have indicated such a thing.

I'm thankful for Jesus Christ's example. I want to emulate him and am thankful that his life is documented in scripture. I feel grateful that he suffered for my sins in Gethsemene, died on the cross at Calvary, and rose again.