Encounter at the Empty Tomb
Open talk in Gospel LibraryIdeas for Opening the Lesson
- Invite class members to imagine the women approaching the tomb before sunrise. Ask them to briefly consider what those women may have felt—grief, confusion, love, and devotion. Then explain that President Uchtdorf used that scene to teach how disciples moved toward Christ even when they did not yet understand everything.
- Begin by writing on the board: “He lives!” Ask class members what difference it made that we could speak of Jesus Christ in the present tense. After a few responses, introduce the talk as a testimony that the Resurrection was not only a past event but a present reality that changed disciples then and could change us now.
- Show or describe the contrast between darkness and dawn. Invite the class to think about times when they moved forward in faith before receiving answers. Then connect that idea to Mary and the other women, who went to the tomb in darkness and were met with the light of the Resurrection.
- Ask the class to listen for two invitations from the empty tomb account: to “come and see” and to “go quickly and tell.” Have them briefly discuss what each invitation meant for early disciples and what it might mean for us in our homes, callings, and daily discipleship.
- Start with a personal reflection activity: invite class members to silently answer, “What have I seen, felt, or experienced that helps me know Jesus Christ lives?” After a quiet moment, explain that President Uchtdorf invited all disciples to become witnesses of the living Christ through spiritual experience and faithful action.
Topics
Move toward Christ in darkness
President Uchtdorf described how Mary and the other women went to the tomb carrying grief, unanswered questions, and sorrow. They did not go because they understood everything or expected a miracle. He taught that they went because they loved the Savior and knew that when the world was dark, the best place to go was toward His light.
They came because they knew when the world is dark, the best place to go is toward “the light [that] shines in … darkness.”
- What impressed you about the women going to the tomb even though they did not understand what was happening?
- How have you tried to move toward the Savior during a time of grief, confusion, or unanswered questions?
- Why is love for Jesus Christ sometimes a stronger motivator than having every answer first?
- What practical things can we do when life feels spiritually dark but we still want to walk toward Christ?
- How can this example help someone who is struggling with faith, loss, or uncertainty right now?
- What does it look like in daily life to choose the Savior’s light over fear or discouragement?
Testify that Jesus Christ lives today
President Uchtdorf emphasized that Jesus Christ was not merely a historical figure. Because of the Resurrection, disciples could speak of Him in the present tense. He taught that the living Christ actively guided, comforted, listened to, and strengthened His followers now.
Because of what happened on that Sunday morning, we can speak of Jesus Christ in the present tense. He lives!
- How does it change your discipleship to think of Jesus Christ as living and active today?
- What experiences have helped you feel that the Savior guides, comforts, or listens to you now?
- Why is it important that our testimony include not only who Jesus was but who He is?
- How can we help others feel that the Resurrection is a present reality and not only a past event?
- What fears or doubts become different when we truly believe that Christ lives?
- How has your relationship with the Savior become more personal as you have come to know He lives?
Trust Christ to overcome every obstacle
President Uchtdorf taught that the Resurrection declared Christ’s power over death and, therefore, His power to help with every challenge we face. He said that because Jesus Christ conquered death, He could also conquer danger, confusion, and doubt. The message of the risen Christ offered hope that no obstacle was beyond His redeeming strength.
Because Jesus Christ conquered death, surely He can conquer any danger, confusion, or doubt we face.
- What obstacles in life are easier to face when we remember the Savior’s Resurrection?
- How have you seen the Savior help you with confusion, fear, or doubt?
- Why does Christ’s victory over death give us confidence in His power over other struggles?
- What can we do to rely more intentionally on the Savior’s strength instead of only our own?
- How can we bear testimony of Christ’s power without minimizing the reality of people’s pain?
- What would it look like this week to trust the risen Lord more fully in a personal challenge?
Accept the call to witness and share
President Uchtdorf highlighted the angelic invitations to “come and see” and to “go quickly and tell.” He connected those invitations to the Savior’s command to preach the gospel and taught that disciples today were also meant to encounter the reality of the Resurrection and then share that witness with others. He said that this work continued throughout the world through word and deed.
We must encounter the empty tomb, experience the reality of what it means, and, in turn, share that witness with others.
- What do the invitations to “come and see” and “go quickly and tell” mean in your life right now?
- How can we become more effective witnesses of Jesus Christ in natural and loving ways?
- What experiences have helped you share your testimony of the Savior with someone else?
- Why do you think the Lord often asks us to witness first and then to testify?
- How can we help our families and ministering assignments feel the joy of the risen Christ?
- What fears sometimes hold us back from sharing our witness, and how can faith help us move forward?
Live as lifelong missionaries and disciples
President Uchtdorf invited disciples to serve missions when possible and to embrace lifelong missionary discipleship through daily acts of courage, humility, service, and love. He taught that living the message of the risen Christ often spoke more powerfully than words alone. He emphasized steady devotion in everyday life rather than occasional dramatic moments.
It may well be that our consistent, courageous, and humble acts of service and love for God and His children will speak far more eloquently and powerfully than we ever could through words alone.
- What did President Uchtdorf teach about the connection between discipleship and missionary work?
- How can ordinary acts of service become a testimony of the risen Christ?
- What does lifelong missionary discipleship look like in your current stage of life?
- How have you seen quiet, consistent goodness influence others more than words alone?
- What is one courageous or humble act of discipleship you feel prompted to do this week?
- How can we help our quorum or Relief Society become more intentional about living as witnesses of Christ?
Step forward before all answers come
President Uchtdorf acknowledged that some hesitated to commit fully because of unresolved questions about life, the gospel, or the Church. He taught that, like Mary and the women at the tomb, disciples could still move forward in faith, courage, and humility. He promised that as they walked toward the Savior’s light, understanding would eventually come and darkness would give way to eternal light.
But, like Mary and those with her that morning, even when things seem dark, we step forward in faith, with courage and humility, and walk toward the Savior’s light.
- Why is it important to know that faith can move forward even before every question is resolved?
- How have you experienced greater understanding after choosing to act in faith first?
- What is the difference between honest questions and withdrawing from the Savior?
- How can we support people who are trying to stay close to Christ while working through unanswered questions?
- What does courage and humility look like in a season of uncertainty?
- How has the Lord brought light to you gradually rather than all at once?
Let Christ change your heart daily
President Uchtdorf taught that coming to know the reality of the Resurrection changed disciples. He said that the witness that Christ was risen inspired people to take His name upon them, receive the Light of Christ more fully, and experience a mighty change of heart. He testified that Jesus Christ and His restored gospel brought strength, guidance, joy, and happiness in this life and in eternity.
Those words will change us. They will inspire us to take upon ourselves the name of Christ. And from that moment on, the Light of Christ will begin to bloom within us.
- How does a testimony of the risen Christ lead to a mighty change of heart?
- What does it mean to let the Light of Christ bloom within us?
- How has the Savior changed your desires, choices, or attitudes over time?
- In what ways does taking upon ourselves the name of Christ affect everyday decisions?
- How have you seen the restored gospel bring strength, joy, or direction into your life?
- What daily habits help you stay open to the Savior’s changing power?
Become a personal witness of Jesus Christ
President Uchtdorf acknowledged that modern disciples had not stood physically at the tomb with Mary. Still, he asked what they had seen, felt, and experienced spiritually. He testified that each person could become a witness of Jesus Christ through sacred spiritual experiences and earnest seeking, and that such a witness would make all the difference in life.
No, we were not with Mary on that blessed Easter morning. We did not see what she and the other women saw. But we can ask ourselves: What have we seen, felt, or experienced?
- What spiritual experiences have helped you become a witness of Jesus Christ?
- Why is personal spiritual experience so important in developing testimony?
- How can we recognize the quiet ways the Lord has already revealed Himself to us?
- What can we do to seek a deeper personal witness that Jesus Christ lives?
- How can sharing our own experiences strengthen faith without comparing testimonies?
- What difference has your witness of Christ made in your life?
Additional Discussion Questions
- What do you think President Uchtdorf most wanted the Saints to feel about Easter and the Resurrection?
- How does the image of dawn in this talk deepen your understanding of hope in Christ?
- What can we learn from the fact that the first witnesses of the Resurrection were faithful women?
- How can we make the reality of the living Christ more central in our homes?
- What phrases from this talk would be especially helpful to someone in grief?
- How can we teach children and youth to seek Jesus Christ among the living rather than think of Him only as a historical figure?
- What role do love and reverence play in helping us stay close to the Savior?
- How can our quorum or Relief Society better reflect the joy of the risen Lord?
- What invitation from this talk feels most urgent for you personally right now?
- If you were to summarize your witness after studying this talk, what would you say about Jesus Christ?
