Alive in Christ

Trust in the literal and universal Resurrection

President Oaks teaches that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a pillar of faith and that the universal resurrection of all mankind is certain doctrine. This truth gives meaning, hope, and eternal perspective to mortal life.

On this glorious Easter Sunday, I have chosen to speak first about the Resurrection, which is a pillar of our faith.

The literal Resurrection of Jesus is the subject of so many scriptures that it is settled doctrine for believers of the Bible and Book of Mormon.

For us, the universal Resurrection is equally certain.

The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form. …

Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous.

• The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to Christian faith.
• The doctrine of resurrection is taught clearly in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
• All people will be resurrected, not just a select few.
• In the Resurrection, spirit and body will be reunited in a perfect form.
• The universal Resurrection is settled doctrine for Latter-day Saints.

• When has your testimony of the Resurrection brought you peace or hope?
• Have you had an experience at Easter, in scripture study, or in worship that strengthened your witness of the risen Christ?
• How has belief in life after death changed the way you view mortality?
• Is there a moment when the doctrine of resurrection became more real to you personally?

Let the Resurrection change how you face mortality

The doctrine of resurrection changes how we view suffering, physical limitations, death, and family life. President Oaks explains that mortal deficiencies are temporary and that eternal reunions give strength and perspective.

I wonder if we fully appreciate the enormous significance of this belief in a literal, universal resurrection.

The conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity changes the whole perspective of our mortal life.

It affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality.

It gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love.

It signifies that mortal deficiencies are only temporary!

It also gives us the courage to face our own death or that of loved ones—even deaths we might call premature.

Our belief in the Resurrection also encourages us to fulfill our family responsibilities in mortality.

It helps us live together in love in this life in anticipation of joyful reunions and associations in the next.

• Belief in the Resurrection changes our perspective on life and death.
• This doctrine gives strength during physical and emotional trials.
• Mortal limitations and deficiencies are temporary.
• The Resurrection gives courage in the face of death, including unexpected loss.
• Hope in future reunions should motivate love and faithfulness in family relationships now.

• How has the gospel helped you endure illness, grief, disability, or another mortal challenge?
• Have you felt comfort about a loved one’s death because of the promise of resurrection?
• What family responsibility feels more meaningful because families can continue beyond death?
• When have you felt eternal perspective help you through a temporary hardship?

Love your adversaries as children of God

President Oaks teaches that the Savior’s command to love extends beyond neighbors to enemies and adversaries. He emphasizes that every person is a beloved child of God and that disciples must learn to see others that way.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us how to relate to one another.

The great commandments in the law, He taught, were to love—God and neighbor.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Today we might say that we are commanded to love our adversaries.

All mortals are beloved children of God.

There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for one’s fellowmen.

• Jesus taught love for God and neighbor as the great commandments.
• The parable of the good Samaritan expands the definition of neighbor.
• Christ’s command goes further by requiring love for enemies.
• In modern terms, disciples are commanded to love adversaries.
• Seeing others as children of God changes how we treat them.

• Have you ever had to work with, forgive, or serve someone who opposed or offended you?
• When has the Lord helped you see someone differently—as a child of God rather than as a problem?
• Can you share a time when showing kindness softened a difficult relationship?
• What experience has taught you that loving others does not depend on their behavior?

See others through Heavenly Father’s love

Through the story of the nurse caring for a difficult patient, President Oaks shows how divine love can transform contempt into compassion. Seeing others as children of God can become a life-changing spiritual experience.

She felt an almost electric current of love from our Heavenly Father to this man.

She saw him as a child of God.

She testified that being brought to see a despised enemy like this as a child of God was one of the great spiritual experiences of her life.

For me, this was a lesson I needed to learn about our Heavenly Father’s love for all His children.

That lesson can transform all of us to see each other as children of God who belong to each other.

The world in which we live would benefit greatly if men and women everywhere would exercise the pure love of Christ, which is kind, meek, and lowly.

It has no place for bigotry, hatred, or violence.

It encourages diverse people to live together in Christian love regardless of religious belief, race, nationality, financial standing, education, or culture.

• Spiritual transformation can come when we see someone through God’s eyes.
• Even people who seem difficult, offensive, or unlovable are children of God.
• The pure love of Christ removes bigotry, hatred, and violence.
• Christlike love helps diverse people live together in peace.
• Learning to see others as belonging to God can transform our relationships.

• Have you ever felt your heart change toward someone after prayer or spiritual prompting?
• When has the Lord helped you feel compassion for someone you previously judged harshly?
• Can you share an experience serving someone who was difficult to love at first?
• What moment taught you that God loves people you struggled to understand?

Balance covenant faithfulness with Christlike love

President Oaks explains that following Christ does not mean surrendering truth or covenants. Disciples must remain faithful while also living peaceably and lovingly with those who do not share their beliefs or values.

Each of us can strive to follow our Savior in His teachings about how to relate to one another.

This does not mean surrendering our values.

The covenants we have made inevitably position us as devoted participants in the eternal contest between truth and error.

We balance our various responsibilities.

This balancing is not easy.

But as followers of Christ, we should seek to live peaceably and lovingly with other children of God who do not share our values and do not have the covenant obligations we have assumed.

In a democratic government we should seek fairness for all.

In countless circumstances, strangers’ suspicions or even hostility gradually gives way to friendship when personal contacts produce mutual respect.

• Christlike love does not require abandoning gospel truth.
• Covenant discipleship places us in a world where truth and error are contested.
• Balancing conviction and compassion can be difficult.
• Followers of Christ should treat others with peace and love even amid differences.
• Fairness, respect, and personal relationships can reduce suspicion and hostility.

• Have you had to stand for gospel principles while still showing love and respect to others?
• When has a respectful conversation helped bridge differences in beliefs or values?
• Can you share a time when someone misunderstood your beliefs and mutual respect improved the relationship?
• What experience has taught you how to be both faithful and kind?

Choose to become a peacemaker

President Oaks calls disciples to follow Jesus Christ by becoming peacemakers in speech, service, family life, and society. Peacemaking is an active expression of discipleship and a mark of the children of God.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that we should “pour forth love” to all people.

We love him, because he first loved us.

We can follow the example of Jesus Christ, who is our role model, by choosing to love others—even if they show little or no love toward us.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Peacemakers! How it would change the world if followers of Christ would forgo harsh and hurtful words in all their communications.

In general conference, President Russell M. Nelson challenged us “to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always.”

• Peacemaking begins with choosing love because Christ first loved us.
• Jesus Christ is the perfect example of loving others.
• Peacemakers avoid harsh and hurtful communication.
• Being a peacemaker is a defining trait of the children of God.
• Disciples are specifically invited by living prophets to choose peacemaking now and always.

• When have you seen kind words prevent or heal conflict?
• Can you share a time when you chose not to argue and felt the Spirit guide you?
• Who has been a peacemaker in your life, and what did you learn from them?
• What personal experience shows that peacemaking requires intentional choice?

Build peace through service, family care, and missionary work

President Oaks gives practical examples of peacemaking, including healing relationships, serving others, caring for children, reducing suffering, promoting understanding, and inviting all to repent and come unto Christ.

A bishop who seeks to heal a troubled marriage or resolve a personal controversy is working for peace.

Young men and women are peacemakers when they forgo the temporary pleasure of self-gratifying activities and involve themselves in service projects and other acts of kindness.

Persons who seek to reduce human suffering and persons who work to promote understanding among different peoples are also important workers for peace.

So are faithful mothers and fathers who lovingly care for their own children or shelter foster children and raise them in righteousness rather than leave them to be scarred and twisted by the sins of others.

Our missionaries seek to be peacemakers.

By inviting all to repent and come unto Christ, our missionaries are working for peace by helping individual men and women come unto Christ and experience “a mighty change” of heart and behavior.

• Peacemaking includes helping resolve marital and personal conflict.
• Youth can be peacemakers through service and kindness.
• Efforts to relieve suffering and promote understanding are works of peace.
• Parents and caregivers build peace by raising children in righteousness.
• Missionary work is peacemaking because repentance changes hearts and blesses society.

• Have you participated in service that brought peace or healing to someone else?
• Can you share a family experience where love, patience, or repentance helped resolve conflict?
• When have you seen parenting, ministering, or foster care become a work of peace?
• What missionary or ministering experience showed you that the gospel changes hearts?
• How have you seen small acts of kindness reduce suffering or build understanding?

Forgo contention and use the language of peacemakers

President Oaks closes by urging disciples to avoid harshness and hatred in families and relationships. Followers of Christ should deliberately use peaceful words and methods as they seek holiness through Him.

My brothers and sisters, as followers of Christ, let us follow Him by forgoing contention and by using the language and methods of peacemakers.

In our families and other personal relationships, let us avoid what is harsh and hateful.

Let us seek to be holy, like our Savior, in whose holy name, the name of Jesus Christ, I testify, amen.

• Contention is incompatible with following Christ.
• Peacemaking requires both peaceful language and peaceful methods.
• Families are a primary place to practice Christlike communication.
• Harsh and hateful behavior should be rejected by disciples.
• Seeking holiness includes becoming more like the Savior in relationships.

• What experience has taught you the power of gentle words in your home?
• Have you ever needed to repent of harsh speech and seek reconciliation?
• Can you share a time when choosing a peaceful response changed the outcome of a conflict?
• How has the Savior helped you become more patient or holy in your relationships?