Bro. Wilson is firmly of the opinion that Latter Day Saints- who of all people have the truth and know what the Atonement and Resurrection really means for us- in fact do the least of all the Christian denominations to celebrate Easter. And he's right- it's really quite tragic. Ever since we got too old to do Easter egg hunts (and especially not having any time off from school at BYU), it hasn't even felt like a holiday to me. Just a few talks in church and some chocolate bunnies. So this year we all have tried to find ways to make this meaningful, and I for one know I can never go back.
It started with Palm Sunday, which was awesome. Little did I realize that we had only scratched the surface of the joy and excitement that Easter is greeted with here. On Friday we convinced security to let us out into the Old City (we normally can't on Fridays) for the procession of the cross. Unfortunately we were actually too late. We saw just the very tail end of the procession heading away from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and followed it to Terra Sancta (Father Angelo's monastery) where it dispersed. Bur Friday night we watched "To This End Was I Born," the church movie about the Crucifixion and Atonement, and held a testimony meeting afterward. One thing that came to me that night is that Christ died for us, but He also lives for us. We sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," and the second verse is all about the things He does for us that He couldn't if He weren't alive: "He lives ...to comfort me when faint, ...to wipe away my tears, ...to calm my troubled heart."
That is the message that we claim to focus on as Latter Day Saints, but I think we spend a lot of time on the Atonement and Christ suffering for our sins and the pain He bore. But He did all of that so that He could be with us here, and now- not just to suffer alone in Gethsemane. I think that Elder Holland's talk in conference really brought this point home- because Christ walked alone, we will never have to. He rose from the grave so that He could succor us as a living comfort and aid, and that to me is the sweetest, most beautiful gift we can ever receive.
And because of this, we ought to celebrate! The preacher at the Garden Tomb began the service this morning by saying, "As you can see, my friends, the Tomb is empty- for He is risen!" And everyone cheered! Like I said, I can't even begin to describe the feeling of rejoicing and celebration that was there this morning. Most of the service consisted of singing contemporary Christian songs, and the words rang so true that I could hardly listen to what I was singing because I would get all choked up, and everyone was so exultant that I couldn't help but look to Heaven and laugh in sheer jubilation. Guys, this is the most glorious, joyous thing we could ever know- that Christ lives and because of that we too can live with Him in glory forever, through His atoning sacrifice and the price He paid for our sins. That's what we don't do enough in our church, is rejoice!
We left the Center this morning at 4:30 to be sure that we would get in- we heard that last year people were turned away, and there was only standing room inside. Turns out we were practically the first ones there. But it was so worth it. We got the best seats, right in front of the tomb, where we could see the band and where the TV cameras were pointed, but most of all where we could look upon the empty tomb as the sun rose. We also met some Born Again Christians from Southeastern University- they were the ones ahead of us in line, about 20 kids. They're on a similar study abroad program here- Southeastern is a private religious university kinda like BYU- but they do all their classroom experience in the States and then they're only here for 5 weeks. It was neat to talk to them and kinda swap stories and stuff. They actually leave in like, 3 days. We still have a little over a week.
I find that the most rewarding experiences are the ones you have to sacrifice for- like getting up at 4 and waiting almost two hours in the dark. And I can't imagine missing that. It was absolutely unlike anything I have ever felt before. The reason I wanted to go at sunrise instead of to a later service is because the women who were the first to see the empty tomb were there "early, while it was yet dark" (John) "at the rising of the sun" (Mark), and I wanted to have that experience of seeing the empty tomb at the dawning of the first day of the week. I never imagined how existence-altering it would be. I wish you could feel what I felt today. There's no way to describe it. Guys, we Mormons are kind of missing out.
Oh, speaking of Mormons, lol, the kids we met were telling us that people in the Old City are always greeting them as "Mormons!" as well. One of the guys was telling us that he could not convince this one shopkeeper otherwise. "Blond hair, blue eyes- Mormon!" I had actually wondered about that. I mean, I know we stand out, but we don't have a monopoly on the light of goodness that surrounds those who are living righteously in the best way they know how. It's still pretty neat that the Church has such an outstanding reputation here, tho. And such a significant presence. But ya, I thought that was funny.
Well, in other news, we visited the Herodion on Thursday. It is where Herod the Great is supposed to be buried, and the remains of his summer palace are at the bottom. The fortress itself is a literal manmade mountain. And apparently the walls at the top used to be 90 meters high- they're only about 50 feet, now. It was really windy. And there was a cistern. There's always a cistern. This one did have some pretty impressive white steps carved out of the inside of the mountain leading down to it. I'm not sure if those were built by Herod, actually, tho... Well, one of our teachers told us that archaeologists are discovering that the sections of the retaining wall around the temple that need repair are the later structures, built by Muslims, while the ones that date back to Herod are still sound as ever. So you never know. He was definitely good at what he did, even if he was a pretty nasty guy.
Saturday we watched the rest of General Conference. Also, today after the service (well, first I came back and took a nap, but then) we went over to the YMCA to ring the bells there. Lol, it was pretty cool. They had a whole selection of simple songs we could play. I played the bottom hand (easier part...) of Minuet in G with my roommate Stephanie (who played the top hand). And she still totally did it way better than me. We didn't really get a chance to practice, so it was just straight sight reading, and I'm not even that good at piano, never mind that this was no piano. It was all arranged like a piano, but it was levers that you had to press down instead of keys. So you couldn't rely on your fingers to get you to the right place once your brain figures out what note it is- your brain (the thinking part) has to do all the work, and I'm sure most of you have figured out that brains aren't that good at coordinating with muscles... Well, basically I was terrified, and I totally screwed up, lol- I got lost and had to stop and try to pick it up again. And then I missed the last note but they were like, "Hit the G!" so I did and there was a random bell at the end. It was great. We also got to ring the time at noon- they had us all line up and each ring one stroke, it was pretty neat. And one of the guys had written out the Harry Potter theme and totally played that on the bells. It was pretty sweet. And then we went to *Joseph Smith*'s shop and watched Shelby do 170 pushups. This guy gives students who can do 100 (70 for girls) a coin from the time of Christ. Shelby was going for 200, which would have gotten him two oil lamps from that time period as well, but he's not quite there yet. I think he's gonna still try to get to it before we leave tho. And 170 is in fact the record, so I was definitely still impressed.
Well, Christ lives! I would like to challenge each of you to try and find a reason to rejoice this Easter. It will change the way you think of it.
I have felt the Spirit of what you have written and am so thankful to have read it this early Easter morning. You have made this the best Holiday that I have had in a very long time, thank you. We do take so much for granted and need to remember the Savior and all that He has done for us, not just on this Easter morning, but every day and hour. Our trials make us feel so alone, yet we can know that He has born our griefs and has not left us alone even though we often so easily forget Him. I love you, Happy Easter. Love, Mom
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