Lazarus

A couple years ago, as I was listening to one of the short talks during our ward Easter program, I had a new thought about Lazarus.

When Jesus left for Bethany after Lazarus died, he told his disciples that Lazarus was dead, then said, "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him ." (John 11:15) His disciples had already had many opportunities to see his power and believe in his divinity, so I think there was something more going on here.

Another excerpt I think illustrates my idea comes later in the same chapter, when Christ was speaking to Mary.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:23-26)

It is not long after this that Christ raised Lazarus from the dead.

Well, the thought that came into my head about this story is that here, Christ is very clearly showing his power over death. In fact, he comes straight out and says, "I am the resurrection and the life." Just a few days before the crucifixion, he is showing his disciples that when he dies, that is not the end. He can and will be back.

Easter Sunday

A while ago, I made a post in which I talked about my envy for other religions that have special services on Christmas day or Christmas Eve. Well, I feel like today, being Palm Sunday, would be an appropriate time to follow up on that.

First, I found an old entry at the Feminist Mormon Housewives blogs on a similar topic.

And the Waters of Mormon blog had a post not too long ago that questions why Christmas emerged to be the main Christmas holiday of the year instead of Easter. After all, Easter celebrates the atonement, which is what Christianity is all about, and Christmas celebrates the birth of a baby. This birth was needed for the atonement to take place, after all, but the focus is more on the birth than on what the birth eventually brought about.

Well, I think he has a point. And I think that is actually a good reason for things to shape up the way they did. On Christmas, we make it a point to think about Christ more than usual. But the focus is largely on family, as fits with a celebration of a baby.
And we usually do not hold church services.

But on Easter, we go to church for the full three hours. And that seems appropriate for the more religiously significant holiday.

Chopsticks

When I eat Chinese takeout, I always use a fork. It's just easier that way, and ease is usually the point when I have takeout.

But when I eat in a Chinese restaurant, I always try to teach myself how to use the chopsticks, and I usually have a decent amount of success. I open the chopstick package, position the sticks according to the instruction on said package, and then flounder around with them until I get it working about halfway through the meal. So I finish eating with relative ease and go home. But the next time I go, I can't remember how I did it last time. Why is that?

Anyway, I went to a Chinese restaurant today. And I got a fortune cookie that actually contained a fortune: Your talents will prove to be especially useful this week. Much better than the advice fortune I got last time I had take-out. It said something like "You should leave your home to refresh your energies." At the time, I was on my lunch break and wishing I could go home early and take a nap to refresh my energies.

Prophets

I got the new Ensign yesterday- the special edition focused entirely on Christ. Of course, you could say they are all about Christ, but the articles in this one focus specifically on his life, ministry, and atonement. Also included in the envelope was a smaller magazine commemorating the life of Gordon B. Hinckley. I opened that one first. After spending a decent amount of time flipping through the pages and reading bits here and there, I set it down and picked up my Ensign.

In the moment between magaziness, as my eyes went from the picture of President Hinckley on one cover to the picture of Christ on the other, it really struck me that the feeling of the two magazines were much alike. And the thought that came to me was that President Hinckley's, and all the prophets', main mission was to direct souls to Jesus Christ.

Love

The first time I fell in love, it was through the internet.

My mom forwarded me an email she got from her brother, telling about how Cousin* went into labor, and Little Boy Cousin was born. I don't remember all the details in the email, but I think there was a basketball game involved in the story. But the important thing was the overwhelming feeling I got when I read Little Boy's name. Right then, I realized that it really is possible to love somebody you have never seen before.

Other baby cousins have come since them, and I love them all, but Little Boy Cousin is always going to be special because of that moment I had in the computer lab at the dorms.

*Names have been changed because I wanted to.