Sunday Series: Easter

Now I know it's late at night and I'm cutting it a bit close, but to be honest, there hasn't been much of a chance to blog today. Between conference and various instances of socialization with other humans, I've been booked. But I have time now, so here goes.

Easter Sunday is a miracle.

It wasn't emphasized as much this year, perhaps because I moved out, or because I didn't go to family dinner (I hadn't heard if it was happening or not until too late). Yet it was also more important, if only because I'm living on my own. I feel that over the past couple months, I have developed a stronger relationship with my Savior. This has happened through many small improvements and changes in my life, concerning scripture study, media time, taking good classes, etc. I've come to understand a few things.

Firstly, the Savior does know and love us individually and personally, like that one friend you've known your whole life. He loves us each so much, again individually and personally. This isn't a blanket love, like "I love the people in Europe!" or "I love my ward!" No, He loves you. If you were alone on this Earth, He still would have come. He would've died and risen again, suffered in the Garden, to save you, personally.

Secondly, Christ is always with us. It brings to mind the song "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." He is, in fact, behind you and before you and His angels are round about you, as the scripture says. I believe those people who say that we would be shocked to see what legions of angels are protecting us. Christ is always there and He will never leave. He will bless you with what you need.

Third, that the Atonement is about both little and big things. It is both the small changes in my life, and the big course corrections after making a wrong decision. He doesn't care what the world thinks of me, only whether or not I am trying to change. The General Authorities spoke about this in conference, how a Saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.The Lord doesn't care if we've stumbled or wiped out or fallen off a cliff. He will lift us up if we let Him. That is so marvelous to me, that no matter how I mess up, if I genuinely repent, I can be forgiven, and I can truly change.

There are quite a few mistakes in my past that I regret, that I perhaps never fully rectified, or that I didn't handle as I should. But this Easter Sunday, I know that they can be made right through faith. I can change. I will be able to say "Yes I was, but I am no longer" about who I used to be. That is the most marvelous thing about Easter and the Atonement is the potential for change.

Change is marvelous. Sometimes in this world I think we insist too much on seeing people as they were, as if they have not changed. I think we can have trouble recognizing true differences in hearts and countenances. Yet change is at the core of our being. No one stays the same for long. No, they will change, one way or another. The only time change slows is when we are given over to the adversary. Satan wishes only to keep us from growing, where Christ and our Father want us to become so much more.

This is my testimony this Easter Sunday: that because of the Atonement, we can truly change. We can leave our pasts behind us, and the Lord will remember it no more. Improvement occurs when a heart is willing to accept Christ's all-encompassing love.