Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families
April 15–21. Easter: “O Grave, Where is Thy Victory”
I have been trying to nail down a daily Come Follow Me habit. I wake up, grab my iPad, and go through my bookmarks on the Gospel Library each morning, but for some reason, my Come Follow Me bookmark doesn’t get the proper attention. I feel I need to be upright and focused when I go through these scriptures and have a means to record my impressions. So I reason with myself that I will find time later on, and then the day starts. I am mostly doing good things, to do with my Church Service mission, exercising, helping friends, etc., but committing time to Come Follow Me is just not happening. I tried downloading an app to remind me and, of course, I added a few other things that I ought to be doing. That was too stressful. It has been a wake-up call for me, because I admit I was feeling pretty good that each morning I would go through my bookmarks: scriptures, general conference talks, etc. But doing the same thing I have been doing for years is no longer enough. I need to improve—go farther along the iron rod.
This week’s lesson includes suggested daily reading. So, although because of the nature of my Church Service mission, I cannot necessarily pick an exact time each day, I will commit to sitting down with Come Follow Me, the scriptures, and my journal and work on those scriptures each day this week. And to keep me honest, I will add to this blog entry each day with my thoughts.
Sunday: Triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:6–11)
Just over a year ago, I walked where it was likely this triumphant procession marched. But I also walked down to the Garden of Gethsemane and in the area where the tomb is thought to have been located. The Savior knew as He rode, seeing the branches laid down for him and hearing the shouts of the multitude acknowledging his divine, messianic identity, that those voices would soon be shouting “Crucify him!” Because of what happened in Gethsemane, His mortal self did not know that He would overcome the trials of Gethsemane and the cross. I think that always, now, as I take the Sacrament, Elder Holland’s words will echo:
Brothers and sisters, this hour ordained of the Lord is the most sacred hour of our week. By commandment, we gather for the most universally received ordinance in the Church. It is in memory of Him who asked if the cup He was about to drink could pass, only to press on because He knew that for oursake it could notpass. It will help us if we remember that a symbol of that cup is slowly making its way down the row toward us at the hand of an 11- or 12-year-old deacon.[1]
The Savior did not know if He could do this, especially as His Father withdrew from Him. But we knowthat we can endure to the end, because we have the gift of repentance, and of knowledge that the Savior will never leave us alone. We do not have to do this alone, because He did. For us.
This is the second recorded time that the Savior cleansed the temple. Dr. Andy Skinner pointed out to me that walking through the streets of Jerusalem at that time, the lined route led to either the Antonia Fortress or the Temple. The people thought He was the chosen Messiah who would come to overthrow their oppressors and free them, starting at the Fortress. Instead, He turned to the Temple and instead of revolting against mortal rulers, He reclaimed His House. (See D.Kelly Ogden and Andrew Skinner, The Four Gospels, Verse by Verse, 456.) This tells me that, as Jeremy King testified to us yesterday, that we should work on submitting our will to His. The end the Savior saw as He made that critical turn toward the Temple and away from the Fortress, was the mission the Father had given Him. Our ultimate goal is not earthly, but celestial glory. We talked in Relief Society about recognizing the Spirit. In this turmoil-tainted world, His is the one clear voice we need to carefully listen for. I believe the gift of discernment will help us tune out all those conflicting voices and find our path away from earthly things and towards celestial.
Tuesday: Teaching in Jerusalem (Matthew 21–23)
I’ve always kind of felt sorry for the Fig tree that the Lord cursed, but reviewing all the parables and instructions in these chapters, I see that it has to do with Matthew 23:37 and the comparison with whited sepulchers. It pretended to be something that it wasn’t—showing off its leaves and not concentrating on the fruit which is what the measure of its creation was. In today’s society where we create online personas, game avatars, edit our journals to show what we want our posterity to think about us—how close are we to showing who we are? Maybe it comes down to what Elder Uchtdorf said:
What I am asking is that you always look for opportunities to bring up your faith in natural and normal ways with people—both in person as well as online. I am asking that you “stand as witnesses” of the power of the gospel at all times—and when necessary, use words.[1]
Wednesday: Continued teaching (Matthew 24–25)
My take on today’s reading is that the Lord was preparing His disciples not only for His own atoning sacrifice, but also His resurrection and Second Coming. And not only His own disciples, present with Him during this time, but all His disciples through the ages down to our time. President Kimball taught us that the parable of the 10 virgins applied specifically to the members of the Church in these last days. And maybe the parable of the talents ties in with that. Keeping oil in our lamps through doing what we all know to bring us closer to the Savior is akin to recognizing what the Lord has blessed us with and using it to build up His Kingdom on earth. And as the early disciples passed that message on through the scriptures, so we also pass it on to our families and all those around us, if necessary with words.
Thursday: The Passover and Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26)
There is so much artwork, music, and literature surrounding this chapter of Matthew. I am sure that images come to your mind as well as favorite hymns and orchestral music—all helping us to somehow feel part of what went on. Do we see Judas sneaking out of the upper room during the Last Supper—have we had any feelings that he might do something to harm the Savior? Do we understand what the Savior said to us “the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.” And “one of you shall betray me”?
There is more for us to experience and ponder, but will sleep overcome us? Today we have the advantage and the great joy of knowing that the Savior completed His Atoning Sacrifice and rose from the dead so that we might also live eternally. We don’t have to experience the utter devastation of His disciples and followers—His family and friends—for those days He lay in the tomb. But it might help us to contemplate what our lives would be without Him and His Spirit to guide us through what President Nelson called this sin-soaked world.
Friday: Trial, Crucifixion, and burial (Matthew 27:1–61)
Growing up in the Church of England, in England, Good Friday was/is a public holiday, as is Easter Monday. As I remember, typically there would be a 3-hour service at Church, from 12-3pm where you could drop in and stay as long as you like, singing Easter hymns, observing silence, having scriptures read to you. Today, in an increasingly secular society, Good Friday in England is mostly observed by eating Hot Cross Buns—I’ve seen some here in Utah, but they are so small and also iced—the only resemblance is the cross on the top of them. Why am I thinking, or even blogging about this? To me, it indicates a dilution, a secularization of what Easter really represents. Coincidentally it is also the first day of the Jewish holiday of Passover—Pesach. A holiday maybe more strictly observed.
My point, I think, is that although we cannot share in His pain and suffering, we can imbue the forgiveness, the renewal, the hope, and the joy that resulted into our own lives and souls. And we can, as we promise each Sunday as we take the Sacrament, always remember Him—with profound gratitude.
Saturday: Christ’s body lies in the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66) while His spirit ministers in the spirit world (D&C 138)
I will not lightly forget President Ballard’s moving talk in last October’s conference on D&C 138, especially since he wrote it before his wife died, but delivered after she had passed on. We all have loved ones on the other side of the veil who may not have had the chance to accept the Gospel in this life, but, because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, now have that chance as we do our part and seek them out. As I have said, I am on a Church Service Mission with FamilySearch, and although we put an average of 30 million new records on FamilySearch each month, those records must be found by their relatives on this side of the veil. It has never been easier to take a name to the temple. Just log onto FamilySearch, and click on Templeand then Ordinances Ready, and then the ordinance you wish to do—FamilySearch will find one for you. If anyone needs help with this, we have wonderful people at the Family History Center by Dixon Middle School, or check our Ward Temple and Family History consultants on LDS Tools and contact one of them. Or me.
Sunday: The appearance of the resurrected Christ (Matthew 28:1–10)
It is fitting that I end this week of posting with the greatest message we could have, that He is risen. His Atoning Sacrifice enables each of us to repent and be forgiven—to be renewed as we take the Sacrament each week—to continue unimpeded on our journey towards the Savior of the World, day by day, week by week. Always learning, always striving to improve, to do what our Prophet has asked us and increase in spirituality, ability to receive revelation—to be more aware of the needs of those around us and less concentrated on ourselves. There is always something we can do to keep moving forward on the path of truth, keeping our eyes, minds, and hearts looking towards Him. I so testify with gratitude in my heart for this knowledge and practice. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
