Mighty and Marvelous Missionary Matthew: Easter Weekend

Happy (Late) Easter Weekend to my family and friends,

With another busy week behind me, I find myself grateful to be able to have the opportunity to have a little down time today. What an opportunity it is as well to be able to enjoy General Conference on Easter weekend! Moreover, not to leave out, listen to our new Prophet as well. This wonderful time of the year, and resurfacing my thought from last week on the atonement, this time of the year we celebrate the wonderful Resurrection of our Savior. In my 20 years of life, this is the first year I have really caught a grasp of the meaning of our Savior’s resurrection.

As I referred to the Expiatory Sacrifice of our Savior last week, Christ suffered and was crucified for the sins of the world, giving each of God’s children the gift of repentance and forgiveness, and only by His mercy and grace can anyone be saved. This week I would like to focus on the completion of thus said atonement. His subsequent Resurrection prepared the way for every person to overcome physical death as well. In short, Jesus Christ saves us from sin first and secondly death. For that, He is very literally our Savior and Redeemer.

Resurrection is the reuniting of the spirit with the body in an immortal state, no longer subject to disease or death. Our Master was the first to resurrect on this earth. Paul teaches us in 1^st Corinthians this principle: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” In proof that he was restored both limb, joint, and spirit into perfection; the savior gives a reinforcing witness to his disciples as recorded in the book of Luke: He said, "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have”

It is important to have an understanding and testimony of the resurrection so that we too may have hope and perspective as we experience the challenges, trials, and triumphs of life. That, retouching on the Apostle Paul’s prophetic discourse on the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” We can find comfort in the assurance that the Savior lives and that through His Atonement, "he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory"

I close today with some of my favorite scriptures. These that come forth from the prophet Joseph Smith in the 76^th section of The Doctrine and Covenants:

“ ¹⁶Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man:

¹⁷And shall come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the resurrection of the unjust.

¹⁸Now this caused us to marvel, for it was given unto us of the Spirit.

²⁰And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness;

²²And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

²³For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

⁴¹That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

⁴²That through him all might be saved”

I too bear testimony “that He lives”, and that he rose on the third day, Easter Sunday, which we have the opportunity to commemorate this weekend. That through him and by him we too will live, all who have passed. He has taken away the sting of death and given every one of us hope for an eternity without death, with those of our loved ones: Family, Friends, and all. In the name of him who lives, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope that everyone enjoys their Easter weekend with their friends and family! In addition, that those serving as well in other missions all around the world may feel of the joy of this great season in helping others come to a knowledge of a living Savior. Here are some photos from my week, thanks to all those who write me, I love hearing from you all! With Love and until next week,

-Elder Matthew Arscott

Missão Brazil Curitiba Sul