Sunday Night in Highland, April 26, 2009

Great Grandmother Amy turned 93 on Saturday and Owen Valentine Clark is now eleven. Lots of food and cake and fun!

Three days after beautiful Easter Sunday!

A foot of snow on the ground in Highland by Wednesday. The mountains are packed. Pray for a slow melt this Spring!

Easter 2009 at the Valentine Home in Highland

Zane looks for Easter eggs!
Chris, Marilyn and kids in Easter best!
Jonathan, Gina and the fashionable girls with their little brother.
Grandma Valentine fills the house with flowers!

Easter Sunday

SUNDAY



HE IS RISEN!

Jesus Christ "came into the world 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; that through him all might be saved (D&C 76:41-41)

The great sacrifice he made to pay for our sins and overcome death is call the Atonement. It is the most important event that has ever occurred in the history of mankind. "... all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement." (Alma 34:9) Because He lives, we too shall live again.



Happy Easter!

xoxoxo Mom and Dad

Easter Week - Saturday

Saturday of Easter Week . . .

Additional Information: Crucifixion was one of the longest and most painful types of death. The pain got worse the longer the person was on the cross.

In Psalms there is a prophesy that states 1) the Messiah's garments are to be divided among the people and 2) lots would be cast for his robe.

Jewish men wore five articles of clothing and according to Roman custom, became the property of the soldiers who performed the crucifixion. The four soldiers each took a piece of clothing. In the case of Jesus, the robe, woven of a single piece of cloth, apparently was of excellent workmanship, and for this the soldiers elected to cast lots to see who got it.

Jesus' body was in the tomb. The Savior was in the spirit world preparing for the gospel to be taught to the spirits in prison.

Additional Info: The spirit and the body constitute the mortal soul. A spirit can live independent of a body, but the body cannot live without the spirit.

In the resurrection, the immortal spirit is reunited with the same body of flesh and bone it possessed as a mortal, with two major differences: The union will be permanent, and the body will not be subject to aging and death.

For families with small children: All of the things at our Easter celebration should remind us of Jesus and the Resurrection

Eggs and Chicks:

Birds lay eggs that hatch into baby birds. We paint the Easter eggs bright colors in remembrance of Jesus. The eggs remind us of new birth.

Bunnies, lambs:

New birth-the lambs remind us that Jesus was the pure sacrifice. . ." he is brought as the lamb to the slaughter. " He is the Lamb of God.

New shoes:

At Easter time many people get new shoes. This attention to our feet reminds us of the Last Supper and the washing of the feet. It can remind us to always be of service to one another.

Easter grass:

The grass in our Easter baskets reminds us of Jesus kneeling on the grass in the Garden of Gethsemane praying to his Heavenly Father. We should always pray.

Easter Dinner:

Our Easter feast reminds us of the Last Supper or Feast of the Passover.

Wooden Basket:

The wooden basket reminds us of the wood cross that Jesus died on for us. He forgave the people who were so cruel to him, even Judas his friend who betrayed Him. We should forgive everyone.

Even our Chocolate candy:

Our candy reminds us of Jesus' sweet love for us.

Easter occurs in the spring when we see the miracle of life return after the long winter: tiny brown buds become blossoms, a dry bulb becomes a flower and the sun becomes warmer. The sun rises every day and we can depend on it just as we can depend on the Son of God.

Easter Week - Friday

About midnight, Jesus was taken into Jerusalem, first to Annas then to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. He was mocked and maltreated, denied by Peter, tried and condemned by the Jews. He was taken before Pilate, then Herod and returned to Pilate, who condemned him and delivered him up to be crucified.

It was the custom to release one prisoner during the Feast of the Passover. The crowd chose to free Barabbas, a convicted robber and murder.

Jesus was taken to a hill called Golgotha or Calvary to be crucified. He was offered a drink of medicated vinegar to ease the pain, but he would not drink it. The Roman soldiers drove nails through his hands and feet and placed his cross between two criminals. As the soldiers finished their awful task, Jesus prayed with great mercy, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." He asked John to take care and protect his mother, Mary. At noonday, darkness covered the land. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsake me?" Jesus atoned for us by suffering in Gesthemene and by giving his life on the cross. Heavenly Father had to let him do it alone. Jesus gave up his life, it was not taken from him. The Roman soldiers cast lots for his robe.

He was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

Today is called Good Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday or Black Friday.

Hope this is a Good Friday for you.

xoxox

Mom and Dad

Easter Week - Thursday

On Thursday of Easter Week . . .

This night Jesus went to the upper room in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. This was the last supper. Jesus knew that he would soon be put to death. As they ate, Jesus said, "One of you which eateth with me shall betray me." The disciples were sorrowful and asked him one by one, "Lord, is it I?"

Jesus prepared the first sacrament and gave it to his apostles. He told them to eat in remembrance of His body and blood that would be shed.

After they had eaten, Jesus washed the feet of each of his apostles. Some refused to let him wash their feet, not understanding the significance of the act.

"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you." How do we serve our fellowmen?

Jesus led his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. He was alone; all the disciples had fallen asleep. He was filled with sorrow. Knowing that the time had come when he must suffer great agony to atone for the sins of the world, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." He continued to pray. . . and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus knew that the betrayal was at hand. Judas had plotted with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus, having agreed to lead them to him if they would pay thirty pieces of silver. Judas betrayed him with a kiss. Peter, trying to protect Jesus, cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant.

Additional information: Jesus' last mortal miracle was to restore Malchus' ear.

Wednesday Easter Week

On Wednesday of Easter Week . . .

We have no record of what occurred on this day. He went to the temple each day to teach. The Lord delivered some of His most profound lessons at this time while dealing with his distractors. These included the chief priests and elders who repeatedly questioned Him about his authority.

People were starting to separate themselves from Christ.

Christ does not abandon us, we are the ones who leave Him.

"At times we may be tempted to think the Savior is oblivious to our trials. In fact, the reverse is true; it is we who need to be awakened in our hearts to His teachings. Use your ingenuity, your strength, your might to resolve your challenges. Do all you can do and then leave the rest to the Lord." (Joseph B. Wirthlin)

Additional information: The word Easter occurs only once in the Bible (Acts 12:4) and then would be better translated passover. The word comes from Eastre, a Norse goddess whose pagan festival was observed at the spring equinox. There is no real connection between the festival and the celebration of the resurrection. Jesus, being the Lamb of God, was crucified at passover time and is the true Passover. Passover thus became a springtime anniversary, and has come to be called Easter.

Tuesday of Holy Week

On Tuesday of Easter Week. . .

As the Savior entered Jerusalem, the scribes and Pharisees asked Him where He had received His authority. He preached to them, discussed authority, and called them to repentance. Interestingly, the chief priests questioned Jesus in an attempt to find fault with HIm at the same time that the Passover lambs for the year were being checked for faults.

There were many things he taught that day:

He cursed the fig tree and the tree withered away soon thereafter. The cursing of the fig tree may symbolize a demonstration of the Lord's power over things of the earth. In addition, the house of Israel, like the fig tree, had been called upon to produce good fruit by observing and keeping all the commandments of the Lord. But it was largely barren.

He taught about faith, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

He related the parable of the widow's mite. I love the explanation of this parable that states that in the accounts kept by the recording angels, figured out according to the arithmetic of heaven, entries are made in terms of quality rather than of quantity, and values are determined on the basis of capability and intent. The widow gave all she had. It was not the smallness of her offering that made it especially acceptable, but the spirit of sacrifice and devout intent with which she gave.

Additional info: This was the day Judas arranged the betrayal of Christ.

Easter Week, Monday

On Monday of Easter Week . . .



In Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, Jesus went to the temple and found moneychangers doing business there. He drove them out as he had done once before, over-turning their tables and chairs. "It is written," he said, "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

The term "thieves" as used here comes from a Greek word which also means "revolutionary" or "insurgent." Because the temple leadership in this period was notoriously corrupt, the Savior's rebuke may have been directed in part at them for allowing, and likely profiting from theses activities. For more than two centuries the high priests had been political appointees rather than members of an appropriate priestly family. Jesus's condemnation of the leadership might suggest that He was unmasking them as false authorities who had usurped power over the sanctuary and were misusing their assumed positions.

After he had cleansed his holy house, he healed the blind and the lame who came to him there. Children, seeing what Jesus had done, cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David."

Additional Info: The chief priests were guardians of the temple and were profiting from the temple business, it was a source of their income, their fortunes. They were very angry at Christ's actions. The children that sang Hosanna were not infants but children of the kingdom, members of the Church who knew who Christ was and what he was doing. His wrath of indignation was followed by the calmness of His gentle ministry and that's when the blind and the lame came to Him to be healed.

Hi Family,

It's Easter week!

For many Christians, "Holy Week" describes a season of observance that begins with Palm Sunday and ends on Easter morning.

The Easter story tells of His love and atonement for us. Each day this Easter week, I'll share what Christ was doing and what it means to us.

I've added some new insights this year.

PALM SUNDAY-Jesus was returning to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. As he rode a colt toward the city, large crowds gathered to honor him and to spread clothing and palm branches on the ground in front of him. It was a triumphal entry. The followers rejoiced and cried out. "Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." This triumphal entry provides a joyful prelude to the many sad events that would intervene between this point and the miracle of the empty tomb. It represents one of the few times during His mortal ministry when Jesus was recognized as the king He is.

The triumphal entry also serves as a symbol of Jesus's Second Coming, allowing us to look forward to the day when He will return in glory and all will accept Him as king.

Additional info: For centuries it was the custom for a king to enter a city seated on a donkey as a symbol of peace. That would be in opposition to an army entering on horses with the intent of conquering. The palm leaf was waved as a symbol of victory. Seeing Christ enter Jerusalem in this manner was very threatening to the Sadducees and Pharisees. Zechariah had specifically foretold that the messianic king would come in this fashion.

Love, Mom and Dad xoxox