Through the merits of Jesus Christ we will all be resurrected. “both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame,” (Alma 11:44). This is a gift promised to all of us and it accomplishes the first half of God’s work and glory to bring to pass the immortality of man” (Moses 1:39). We receive this gift because of Jesus Christ, all of the works of God are accomplished through Jesus Christ even that of the resurrection. Jesus Christ had power over death because of his divine sonship and he also had the capability to die because of his mortal mother. With this he paved the way for the resurrection of all. We see Jesus testify of this in John 10:17 when He says “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” This simple statement testifies that Jesus knew and understood his role in the resurrection, Jesus knew that he had the ability not only to die but also to rise again in triumphant glory. Jesus was the first one to be resurrected with a perfected and immortal body, although others had been raised from the dead no one had been resurrected. He was our example in that regard and perhaps some of the most reassuring verses of scripture teach us of this when Mary seeking Jesus in the tomb hears the words of an angel saying “He is not here for he is risen” (Matt. 28:6).
We have other examples of this in the scriptures which paint for us a wonderful image of how glorious the resurrection will be. One such example revolves around the story of Lazarus. Lazarus was a sick man who had had some exposure to the ministry of Jesus Christ, we don’t know too much about him before this story but we know that Jesus loved him and his sisters Mary and Martha. Upon hearing that Lazarus was sick Jesus testified among his disciples that “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby,” (John 11:4). Still, Jesus knew that Lazarus would die and he even foretold this to his Apostles. Upon arriving at Bethany, the town in which Lazarus resided, he found out that Lazarus had lain in the grave for four days. As soon as Martha, Lazarus’ sister, heard that her savior was near the town she ran out to meet him saying that if he had been there her brother Lazarus would not have died. Nevertheless she humbly accepted that her brother Lazarus would rise in the resurrection. To this Jesus comforted her by saying “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 11:25-26). To this Martha again testified that she knew Jesus was the Christ, the son of God knowing that with those credentials all things are possible. With that miraculous setting Jesus made his way to the tomb of Lazarus with a procession of many people anxious to see what the outcome would be. Upon having the stone removed from the tomb he commanded Lazarus to come forth from the tomb. As the scriptures say in John 11 “and he that was dead came forth” (John 11:44). I know that Jesus Christ brought back Lazarus from the dead and that the same power used to accomplish that miracle will be exercised at the time of our resurrection.
I also know that our actions today are very important in regards to the resurrection. Speaking of this Alma said to his son Corianton “If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness….Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness,” (Alma 41:6,10). We cannot suppose that at the time of our resurrection that all of our mistakes will be forgotten or that we will magically be perfect. In fact we will be even more burdened with our sins at the time of our resurrection if we do not repent in this life, “even a perfect knowledge of our guilt and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment” (2 Nephi 9:14). Fortunately God loves us and has promised that as “we repent we will be forgiven and the Lord will remember them no more,” (D&C 58:42).
May we all live our lives in such a way that we can look forward to the resurrection. Where we will be filled with the knowledge of enjoyment and will rejoice with God and all of our loved ones. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
There was a bit more to it but this is the condensed version. I hope you like it.
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