Day 294 - Sunday, April 16, 2017

Today the world will celebrate Easter remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Easter, like Christmas, has become a mix of very sacred remembrances and peculiar worldly traditions.  Christians will gather in churches and families to feast, attend church services and hunt Easter eggs.  In the Philippines, Holy Week has its own unique form of worship and celebration. 

Last week we saw religious figures being carried through a town on top of carriages.  In our mission, we observe the most striking feature of Holy Week in the Philippines – Filipinos publicly whipping themselves.  Some not only whip themselves but also have their feet and hands nailed to a wooden cross.  Tourists come from all over the world for the sight!

While we respect the devotion and sincerity of our Filipino Catholic brothers and sisters in celebrating Easter, we know there is a better way.  Our Easter celebration should center in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its glorious reality.  He became “the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20).  He truly rose from the tomb the third day.  In very deed he was, “the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25).  He broke the bands of death for all of us. Easter should remind us that we, too, will be resurrected.  Our spirits will be reunited with our bodies, never to be separated. 

Dear Ones, may God help us, as His Covenant people, “to arise and shine forth” and be a standard for the nations and a light to the world, as the Lord has commanded us (D&C 115:5). May our Easter commemoration help do this!  Happy Easter! I know that my Redeemer lives!

Tandaan mo mahal kita,

Sister Clark

(Article for Ang Tinig)