27: “He Is Risen” (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20–21)

Tammy 0:12

After Jesus Christ voluntarily gave His life on the cross.,His body was taken down, carried to the tomb to be prepared in spices and oils, wrapped in linen, and then placed in the tomb. Now, just to make sure that the apostles didn't come and steal Jesus's body to fulfill the prophecy of rising again on the third day, a stone was rolled in front of the tomb and sealed in place. Guards were set over the tomb to keep watch for three days and if anything happened to Christ's body, the guards would be in trouble, or "Danger Bay", as I like to say. Our study of Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20-21 will tell the story of all that happened at the tomb, as well as those who would be witnesses of what James E Talmage calls "the most memorable Sunday in history."

Welcome to the Sunday on Monday Study Group, a Deseret Bookshelf Plus original brought to you by LDS Living, where we take the Come, Follow Me lesson for the week and we really Dig into the scriptures together. I'm your host, Tammy Uzelac Hall. Now if you're new to our study group, we want to make sure you know how to use this podcast so follow the link in our description. It's going to explain how you can best use this podcast to totally enhance your Come, Follow Me study, just like my friend Sherry Pearson who, by the way, left us an awesome review about the Be Not Afraid episode. So thank you, Sherry. It was so nice of you. Now another incredible thing about our study group - and it's my favorite thing - is each week we are joined by two of my friends, so it's always a little bit different. And today is 100% different. I have two friends you've never met. I've been dying to get them on the podcast, they've been reluctant. Right, ladies? A little bit nervous?

Myrna 1:50

Yes. That's putting it mildly.

Tammy 1:54

Okay, these are two of the finest woman I know. Their names are Carolyn Ray and Myrna Clark. And you will not believe how we became friends. So we just have to tell the story because it's the greatest story ever told. Okay, guys, what is it? How do we know each other?

Carolyn 2:08

So, this happened probably about nine years ago. I was in the temple. And I had a family name that I had finished my session but this other family name I had was just very strong on my mind, needed to have her work done that day. And I was in the bathroom and someone came out of the bathroom stall and asked, mentioned she was doing an endowment. So I asked her if she had a family name - she didn't. So I asked her if she would mind doing mine. She asked me, she said she had an interest in doing family history, but didn't know how to find names and asked me how I found names. And I told her recently that my mom had a terminal disease. And while she was sick, I told her if I needed to do this work, that when she got to the other side, she needed to help me. And shortly after she passed, names have been flying at me ever since pleading to have their work done. So Holly helped me do that, which is a friend of Tammy's. And then we met a couple times after that at the temple, and then we started going to lunch and

Tammy 3:11

And we've been friends ever since. And that's why "Temple Tuesday" is our favorite day of the week.

Carolyn 3:15

That's right, Temple Tuesday.

Myrna 3:17

Yep

Tammy 3:17

One of my favorite memories of the two of you is, they had so many names to be done that they would actually stand outside of the gate of the Temple, like solicitors, and they'd come up to people and say, Do you have a name? Would you mind doing a family name? And they would just hand out their cards to people. And so that's one of my favorite memories of you. But yes, for years we have met at the Temple and that's how we met. That is our friendship right there.

Carolyn 3:40

At the Temple; Temple Tuesday, every Tuesday that's

Tammy 3:42

There it is. And those of, you know, those of you who listen, you know Holly. Holly is friends with everyone. Oh, totally. Yeah, of course you met Holly in the bathroom and became instant friends. So these women, I just adore you so much. And I just can't think of two better people to talk about the content. And I like how James E Talmage calls it "the most memorable Sunday in history." That, by the way, involves so many women, it had to be you, just you two who are just so busy doing God's work on this side of the veil. That's what I think is so cool about the connection to all of this. So if you want to know more about my friends, you can find their pictures and their bios which are going to be in our show notes. I highly recommend you go check it out because they're adorable. And that is going to be found at LDS living.com/sunday On Mondays. So, everyone just grab your scriptures, your scripture journals and something to mark with and let's Let's Dig In to the most memorable Sunday in history.

Okay, you two. This is just a fun question. Tell me what are you doing around 6am on a Sunday morning?

Carolyn 4:47

Trying to sleep a little bit longer until the alarm goes off at 7:30.

Tammy 4:52

Do you have morning church?

Carolyn 4:53

Nine o'clock. Bright and early.

Tammy 4:55

Same, same.

Myrna 4:57

Twelve o'clock for me so I can sleep in.

Tammy 4:59

Yeah. Nice, okay, if you could sleep in, if your body'll let you - my body will not let me sleep in because I'm old - but if you could sleep in how late would you sleep in for?

Myrna 5:08

Nine or ten.

Carolyn 5:10

Eight is the latest problem - my body won't let me sleep in either.

Tammy 5:14

Oh, yeah, I know. I always am jealous of people that can sleep in till like noon.

Myrna 5:19

Oh. Haven't been able to do that since I was a teenager.

Carolyn 5:23

Totally. No, that's totally true. My teenagers do it all the time. 'Get outta of bed, what's your problem?' Yeah , I know, totally.

Myrna 5:47

How can you sleep in so long?!

Tammy 5:31

That's exactly it. I want us to be kind of thinking about this in our minds. Like 6am on a Sunday morning. Because it's a pretty significant aspect to the story we're going to tell. In fact, we're gonna go to two scripture references. The first one is John 20:1. Turn there. Myrna, will you please read verse 1.

Myrna 5:50

"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Tammy 5:51

Okay, highlight "when it was yet dark." Okay, keep your finger there for just a minute. And let's just quickly turn - you can either go to Mark 16:1-2, or Luke 24:1. They both say the same thing.

Carolyn 6:13

I've got Luke.

Tammy 6:14

Great. Carolyn, will you please read for us Luke 24:1.

Carolyn 6:18

yes. "Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them."

Tammy 6:27

Thank you. Okay. So very early in the morning, and then right here back in John where it says it was yet dark. Many scholars believe it was around six o'clock in the morning. So that's pretty early to be, I mean, they were already up before then. So I, what, 5? I', thinking it's a very, it is very early in the morning. Now let's find out who was there. So we want to read some important names. And that is going to be found in Mark 16:1-2. Can you read that for us, Myrna.

Myrna 6:58

Sure. "And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, may had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun."

Tammy 7:15

Awesome, thank you. So there it again, supports around 6am. The sun is starting to rise and these women have gathered around the sepulchre. They have come to finish the job that they started the night before when they were anointing the Savior's body. Now they arrive at the sepulchre, and turn with me to Luke 24:2-4. And I'm just gonna tell everybody right now a heads up, we are all over the place because we are in every gospel - all four of them. So we'll take it slow, but it's worth reading these. So again, we're going to turn to Luke chapter 24. And we're going to look at verses 2-4 to see what these women saw. Carolyn, can you read that for us please.

Carolyn 7:55

Yes. "And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed therabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:"

Tammy 8:09

Okay, now just look at verse four. What word describes how these women were feeling? It's a great word.

Myrna 8:16

perplexed.

Tammy 8:16

What does that mean? Describe that for me.

Myrna 8:19

What in the world? What is going on?

Tammy 8:25

Confused? I think that is awesome. For sure. And in fact, I'm even writing that next to my scriptures. What in the world? Yeah, that is exactly what they're experiencing because His body wasn't there. And then they're probably going through in their mind, Wait a minute, He did say this is going to happen. Did this really happen? Or did someone take His body? They're going through every emotion; were we tricked? Was He stolen? They're feeling all the feels. And then we have in verse 4. Look back at that verse. It says, "behold, two men stood by them in shining garments." What do you think those two men were in shining garments?

Carolyn 9:02

Angels

Tammy 9:03

Excellent. Angels. Now, you, I'm gonna recommend you do this next year scriptures: cross reference - we're not going to turn there, you're just gonna want to right next to verse 4 - Matthew 28:2, and then John 20:1. And then next to those put J S T. If you turn to those references, and you read them, and then you look down below at the Joseph Smith Translation, it will corroborate the story that there were two angels at the tomb. Because when you go back and read Matthew and John it will say one angel, but then Joseph Smith fixes that. Okay, so they see two angels. Now, let's read what the angel said to the women. Bracket off verses 5-8, and here we go. Myrna, hit it.

Myrna 9:49

"And as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words."

Tammy 10:11

Oh, highlight verse 8. There it is. How do you think when it says, "And they remembered his words", what effect do you think that had on them feeling perplexed?

Myrna 10:21

It brought comfort to them, because as soon as they remembered, they knew. They knew what had happened.

Tammy 10:29

Yeah, that's exactly what happened. And so as a result of that, then, Mary will run. So Mary ran to Peter and John to tell them what she and the women saw. And that is found in John 20:2. Now one of the things we want to remember, there's four different accounts of this whole experience. And so if you read each account, they kind of are like, did you notice that they're kind of cut and paste differently? A little bit? And you're kind of like, Wait, now what happened first? So your best bet is to read "Jesus the Christ", that's going to give us the probably our best accounting of what happened when. So just know that. Okay, so we just have to go to John 20:4, because it might be the best verse about Peter and John going to the sepulchre. And I actually shared a funny meme this week with Carolyn and Myrna about this moment, and you guys, will you just describe it because it's so funny.

Myrna 11:21

Okay, so Peter is telling John, "Don't write it. Don't you dare write it." And John,

Tammy 11:29

and he's running behind Peter, right? Peters in front of John.

Myrna 11:32

He's of course faster. And he's like, they both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And then his friend's all "curse you all."

Tammy 11:42

Peters yelling, 'why?' I just think that's awesome. Like whoever wrote this - John, actually not whoever - John's writing and John's like, alright, we ran together but I outran Peter.

Carolyn 11:52

So funny,

Myrna 11:53

because we know who's fast.

Tammy 11:55

We know who's fast. Exactly. So he outruns Peter, and they come to the tomb. And we have verses 5-8. Bracket those off - it tells us what they saw. Verse 5 (John 20) says, "And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, he forsaw, and believed" There it is; so they see and believe in the words. Now, Myrna tell me what you're thinking. I loved watching Myrna shake her head, like

Myrna 12:40

I cry, I just can't explain and express what they must have been thinking and feeling at that time and how I would have been like, perplexed. And I don't know, it's just, can't imagine what they went through. Their Lord and their Savior and their Master is no longer where they thought that He was. And it had to have been terrifying for the, for the moment.

Tammy 13:08

Exactly. And for in that moment, when they saw what they saw, I appreciate so much verse 8: "and believed." Like they believed. Verse 9: "For as yet they knew not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. 10: Then the disciples went away again unto their own home." And so they leave. And we have these amazing witnesses. So we first have the women. Then we have these two men who believed. And in the next segment, we are going to add more names to this witness list that we're going to create this entire episode. We'll do that next.

Segment 2 13:42

.....

Tammy 14:03

So I want to know from both of you, this is a tender question: What would it mean if someone called you 'their beloved'?

Carolyn 14:12

When I think of the word, beloved, beloved, to me is like a very, like you're worthy, that you're clean that...I would love to be called someone's beloved, I would love to be called, Christ call me beloved.

Tammy 14:30

Oh, I'm writing all these things.

Myrna 14:32

I had an experience back when I was in high school. And I wasn't sure if I should share it, but I'm going to. I did track in high school, and my dad would give me a blessing. And this particular blessing said that Heavenly Father or Jesus, Jesus would be at the trackmate and that He would be, and I, when I was like trying to - Carolyn and I were talking about beloved and what that meant to us. And I remembered that in my journal and I, that's what it means to be beloved, that He is there for you, that He loves you, that you are the most important, that He will take time to be there when you need Him to be there. And that's, that's what being beloved means to me is knowing especially that my Savior will be there when I need Him, and even when I don't think I need Him He's still there.. I just have to believe that He is there and know that He is there, even when I don't think He is. And I know we all feel that way.

Tammy 15:48

I want for every young woman to hear what you both just talked, described with the word beloved, especially in light of the Young Women's theme. And in the new one, It starts out with. "I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parents with divine nature and eternal destiny." I mean, you both just testify to the truthfulness of that phrase right there. This word is so beautiful, and I wanted us to be thinking about it as we look at John 20:11. Let's go there. John 20:11. And we get to learn a story about someone who is beloved. And I like how you said that, Myrna: of Jesus Christ, of Heavenly Parents. John 20:11, here's how it starts. "But Mary stood without at the sepulchre". Circle the word 'Mary', because the word Mary means beloved. Isn't that wonderful?

So she's at the sepulchre; Peter and John have left, but she stays behind. And as she stays behind - we're going to read her story. Now Mary was, and I highly recommend if you have not already listened to this, on Apple podcasts, if you go on the search type in Sunday on Monday, and up will come the Unnamed Women of the New Testament series. And this year is Camille Fronk Olson, she's my guest host. And she talked exclusively about Mary Magdalene. And it was such a great episode. And she taught us that. Mary Magdalene was referred to as "The apostle to the apostles", that she was known as Mary Magadal, which is "Mary the great or Mary the tower." She had a lot of authority, she had a great relationship with the apostles and the disciples. They have left the tomb; here she is staying without, she held back. And as she held back, she sees two angels in white sitting, in verse 12, again One at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus was laid. And then they speak to her personally. Carolyn, will you read verse 13 for us.

Carolyn 17:49

yes. "And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She sayeth unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

Tammy 17:59

Thank you. And then she turns, in verse 14, and says.

Carolyn 18:03

"And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her,Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."

Tammy 18:25

Now pause for a second. Circle the word 'woman' in verse 15. And we learned this last week, that the word 'woman' is a term of endearment. It's, it is again, it ranks right up there with beloved, actually,

Myrna 18:39

I used to, like, don't call me woman. Right? Why are you calling me woman? Because, he's 17 now, but he would be like "Woman!" And I would like, "You do not call me woman.

Tammy 18:52

Your son called you that?

Myrna 18:54

Yeah. He calls me Myrna too, half the time. But

Tammy 18:58

Well, now when he calls you woman, you can say, "Thank you, thank you." The most beloved name you could call your mother or any other woman in your life. And so then the Savior says, Woman to her; He's not saying, Hey, woman. He's, it is this term of beloved endearment.

Myrna 19:13

I didn't know that. So that's good to know.

Tammy 19:16

I know it's really helps the story, doesn't it?

Myrna 19:18

Yeah.

Tammy 19:19

Okay. Then here we go, Myrna. Read for us verse 16 and 17.

Myrna 19:22

"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabonni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God.

Tammy 19:41

Alright, verse 17, you're going to want to underline "Touch me not. "We're going to reframe this whole interaction between Mary and Jesus Christ. We want to underline "Touch me not". We're going to reframe this interaction between Mary and Jesus because it's so beautiful in Greek. The phrase "Touch me not" in Greek means to "cling or to grasp." Now, here's what's really cool. It is translated in the present tense form. And so the prohibition isn't Don't touch me. It's not an individual act. What He's saying is, don't continue to touch me. Don't keep clinging on to me. I gotta go.

Myrna 20:18

I didn't know that. And I just, it almost changes the whole thing for me,

Tammy 20:24

tell me what changes it.

Myrna 20:27

I don't know. It, I didn't realize that it meant cling to, because we do want to cling. I mean, He's our savior, we want to cling to Him. If I was Mary, I would have been, you know, don't leave me and, and He's like, I have stuff to do, Woman, you know, in a loving, kind way. You gotta let me go.

Tammy 20:47

Carolyn.

Carolyn 20:48

I mean, it did change the way that He was lovingly telling her that I've got things to do. And I'm sure she did just want to cling to Him. I wouldn't a wanted to let go. Right?

Tammy 21:01

And I think for me, the implication is, is that it wasn't Him saying, Well, you can't touch me. They had been embracing. We don't know for how long, but long enough for Him to say, Okay, now I gotta go. I think that's pretty awesome. I'm trying to think of when someone's hugged me for a long time. I've been like, Alright, that's enough. You know,

Myrna 21:17

Back off Barbie.

Tammy 21:18

Yeah. (laughter) How much time did they get? We don't know. But we know it was enough for the Savior to say, Okay, woman, my beloved. Now I gotta go. And so that ends that interaction right there. Verse 18, "Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her." Okay. Now, meanwhile, something we need to add to the story is, quickly turn to Matthew 28:9-10. Because Peter and John ran back to say the body is gone. But what about the other women who were there that saw the angels? While Mary went and got Peter and John and went back to the tomb and stayed, the women were doing something else. And that's found in Matthew 28:9 and 10. Myrna, read that for us.

Myrna 22:03

"And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said,Jesus unto them, Be not afraid. go tell my brethren and that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me."

Tammy 22:20

Okay. So now these women got to see Jesus Christ, they are witnesses that He really is resurrected. So we just

Is this after Mary's held on to him.

Yes, this is after Mary. So Mary's the first person to physically witness Jesus Christ as the resurrected Lord and Savior. Then these women are the next ones to recognize Him as resurrected Lord and Savior. And then you want to turn to Luke 24:11. And look how the men responded to the women testifying of what they saw. Luke 24:11. And Carolyn, read that for us,

Carolyn 22:57

"And their words seem to them as idol tales, and they believed them not.

Tammy 23:03

Hmm. Now, why do you think why do you think they did not believe them?

Myrna 23:10

Because it was probably so unfamiliar to them. They, I mean,

Carolyn 23:17

and would they have believed that the woman got to see Him first?

Tammy 23:20

Right. You're both absolutely right. And to add to that, also, women as witnesses were not valid in the court of law at this time. There's no way you would take a woman's word as truth. And so that was the culture at the time. So we had Professor Ross Baron on last year, he did such a phenomenal job. He was with Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt, and he taught me something about this. This is what he said. He says, "All four gospels show Mary Magdalene ,Salome, Joanna, Mary- the mother of James and Joseph, and other women disciples accompanying the Savior to His death, anointing and burial, viewing the empty tomb, and experiencing the risen presence. Scholars agree that this is compelling evidence to the truth of the text. And I'd never considered this before. He says "The reason why this whole story has to be true, is because if this text were written by overzealous men, they would never have included the witnesses of women from this time of society." Isn't that powerful?

Carolyn 24:21

Wow.

Myrna 24:22

Yeah.

Tammy 24:22

Yeah. So here they are not only witnesses of His life, death, burial, but also of His resurrection. And so the accounts of these women are true. 100%. That gives me chills.

Myrna 24:34

Oh, yeah. Women are amazing.

Well, and I thought of you two, because we as women, and also women who have daughters and daughters-in-law and granddaughters and family members, I just wanted to know like, what does this important truth teach you? Or what could you teach them that would empower them as women in the church today?

I think there's such a stigma about how women in the church today are not valued. And that's simply not true. From my experience. I know, you know, there's other experiences, but I see the way the prophets love their wives, and women are important. They love and they nurture and they are amazing.

Carolyn 25:20

Yes, I feel the same way. I want my girls to know that they are beloved, that they are amazing that Heavenly Father values them, and Jesus values them. And they're important to the work.

Tammy 25:33

Amen. And as you both were speaking, for the first time, I thought that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ value the witness of women. They value what we see, they value our perspective, they value what we have to say about the things we see. They value our voice. That's, I mean, our Prophet has said that many times, that they, that the church needs strong women, women who...

Myrna 25:54

Think about those women that serve missions. They are witnesses just as much as the elders.

Tammy 26:02

Oh, absolutely, you two. So good, so good,

Myrna 26:06

and a lot cuter than elders.

Tammy 26:08

There's that. Except for me on my mission. I don't think I counted as cute.

Myrna 26:12

I bet you did.

Tammy 26:13

Oh, my hair was real, real short. I'll tell you what, shaved up the back, ladies. So okay, we have these incredible female witnesses of the most memorable Sunday in history. He is not here, He is risen is what they said. And in the next segment, we're going to dive into the doctrine of the resurrection.

Segment 3 26:29

.....

Tammy 27:09

Okay, you two. When you were young, I want to know, what did you know about the resurrection? Or what did you believe?

Myrna 27:16

All I knew is that every Easter we would, as I had quite a few brothers and sisters, and we would have to put on the resurrection story.

Tammy 27:26

Oh, you did?

Myrna 27:26

Yeah.

Tammy 27:28

What would you play? Explain that to me.

Myrna 27:30

We just, we just did. I'm specifically remembering when we were in Texas ,my dad was in the Navy. And everybody had a part to play. Everybody got to and we got to take turns. I think my brother Josh was a baby. So of course, he got to be the baby.

Tammy 27:45

And you acted out the resurrection?

Myrna 27:47

We acted out the resurrection. Yeah.

Tammy 27:49

Oh my gosh. Tthat's pretty cool, I've never even heard of that.

Myrna 27:52

We had music. Yeah, it was just neat. I mean, I don't think as a child, I mean, that I fully understood what the resurrection was. Because I don't think it was until I was in the MTC and on my mission that I fully understood what the resurrection was and what it meant to me.

Tammy 28:12

But as a kid, you knew what happened.

Carolyn 28:14

So cool.

Tammy 28:16

Okay, Carolyn, what about you? What did you know or believe as a kid?

Carolyn 28:18

You know, I don't know if I knew very much about the Resur, I mean, I knew that Christ had come back. So I do with my grandbabies now, and my kids. I do try to teach them more exactly what that does mean that He has His body and He's living and that we get that same chance and we will be resurrected. But I don't know as a kid if I really understood all that either.

Tammy 28:39

No, it didn't actually make sense to me until all my mission. Myrna, did you do the 'glove thing', where you put a glove on your hand, and then you're like, you take the glove off. The glove's your body and your spirit still. lives. And then your hand goes back in the glove at the resurrection. Now that's, when I was like, Oh, so that's how it works? Sure. Okay. Well, for those of you who are thinking, Yeah, that's a fun conversation to have with family members or friends: "What did you know as a child about the resurrection,?" because we're gonna do a deep dive into a study of the resurrection. In our show notes, we have all of these scriptures listed. You can go there, copy it, print it off, put it in here at John chapter 20. Or you can write these as we go through them, but here's what you want to know. So this will be sort of fast. We're going to look at the Scripture references and read them - Facts about the resurrection. Okay, so Carolyn and Myrna are going to help me teach these really cool facts about the resurrection. We're each going to take one and give you the Scripture reference and then we're gonna read it.

Myrna 29:33

Jesus was the first to be resurrected. This preparing the way for all others. And that's First Corinthians 15:20.

Tammy 29:41

Okay, we'll turn there and let's read that.

Myrna 29:43

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Tammy 29:49

Thank you. Okay, Carolyn, next fact.

Carolyn 29:52

So Matthew 27:52 and 53. Many were resurrected after Jesus's Resurrection.

Tammy 30:01

iOkay, this is so cool. You have to turn to Matthew chapter 27. Look at this. I wonder how many times people have read this and just read over it. It's so cool. And then when you get there, Carolyn, go ahead and read it.

Carolyn 30:13

"And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."

Tammy 30:24

Wow. Now next to those two verses, I'm going to give you some cross references. Put Helaman 14:25. You can also read about this in Third Nephi 23:11, as well as Doctrine and Covenants, section 133:54-55, all about those who were resurrected after the resurrection of Christ. You know, somebody asked me on Instagram today if Lazarus was resurrected. I thought that was such a good question. And the answer is no. No one was resurrected prior to the resurrection. Lazarus was simply brought back to life. So all the stories you hear about people being brought back to life in the New Testament were not resurrected, not until after the Savior was fully resurrected did that happen.

Okay, here's your next one. Because the Savior overcame physical death, He secured a resurrection for all the children of God. You can read about that in Alma 7:12, let's go there, I'll do that. "And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; And he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh, how to succor his people according to their infirmities." So at the beginning right there He will take upon Him death that He may lose the bands of death for all His people. So everybody gets resurrected. No matter what you do in your life, you get resurrected. Okay, here's the next one. Go ahead Myrna.

Myrna 31:52

Everyone who has lived will be resurrected. Alma 11:42. "Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death,; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death."

Tammy 32:07

There it is, circle "all". All shall be raised. Awesome. Go ahead. Next one, Carolyn.

Carolyn 32:12

K. D & C 93:33 and 34 says: "For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fullness of joy; And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy." So we cannot receive a fullness of joy when the spirit and body are separated.

Tammy 32:33

So true. Okay, the next one is The resurrection was brought about by the power of God. That is found in John 5:21. Let's go there. John 5:21. And it says, "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will " Okay, Myrna.

Myrna 33:01

Resurrection restores every limb and joint to its proper and perfect frame. Alma 11:43 44. And it says, "The Spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form: both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time, and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. 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: and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good, or whether they be evil."

Tammy 33:51

That was a long verse. What did you get out of that Myrna? I noticed a little smirk.

I was just concerned about the right side of my hair that needs to grow back. (laughter)

Last time I saw her she said she was balding on the right side. Guess what, Myrna, you're getting all that hair back Myrna.

Yes, It'll look good, Yeah.

Yeah. So funny.

Myrna 34:14

But no, I think it's amazing. And I like the part where it says "whether they be good or whether they be evil." So we're gonna remember the good things that we did too, and that's what they're concentrating on is our recollection will be on the good things and not the bad things.

Tammy 34:31

You're totally right. Well, and in Alma 34:32 says this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God. But then I like verse 33. ".....If we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness...." It's like that's what this life's about. Just improving our time while we're here, preparing to meet God, taking care of stuff so that we can remember all the good. And the bad will just be behind us, blach. We don't need that. You know, we just have to finish this discussion with this quote from Elder Christofferson in 2014. Here's what he had to say about the resurrection. And it's so powerful. Carolyn, will you please read this quote for us from Elder Christofferson?

Carolyn 35:08

"Consider, for a moment, the significance of the resurrection in resolving once and for all the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth, and the great philosophical contests and questions of life. If Jesus was, in fact, literally resurrected, it necessarily follows that He is a divine being. No mere mortal has the power in Himself to come to life again, after dying, because He was resurrected, Jesus cannot have been only a carpenter, a teacher, a rabbi, or a prophet. Because He was resurrected, Jesus had to have been a God, even the Only Begotten Son of the Father. Therefore what He taught is true, God cannot lie. Therefore, He was the creator of the earth as He said. Therefore, Heaven and Hell are real as He taught. Therefore, there is a world of spirits, which He visited after His death. Therefore, He will come again, as the angel said, and reign personally upon the earth. Therefore, there is a resurrection and a final judgment for all. And that was by Elder Todd Christofferson.

Tammy 36:10

Thank you, I love the therefores.Therefore, what He taught is true. God cannot lie. That is just a powerful witness to me of the resurrection, and it is real, it really did happen. And I think all of us can be witnesses of that in our life. And we're hoping for it to be true too, especially those of us who have lost loved ones, like, Oh, we're counting on it, right? How has this sunk into you in your thoughts and in your own life - the feeling of a resurrection?

Myrna 36:42

So my sweet sister passed away a little more than three years ago, and I have some siblings that aren't active in the Church. And as I watch them struggle because they don't, they don't remember what we were taught as children about resurrection, and that we will see Danielle again, and that we will be able to take her in our arms and love her again. And it breaks my heart, that they don't have that. And it comforts me to know that I do have that. And my parents that have passed away, I mean, I will see them again. My cousins that, we will get to be with them again. And that is a great absolute comfort to me knowing that they're waiting for the resurrection, and that we will get to see them again. It's, I'm thankful, I'm thankful that's the knowledge I have as being a member of the Church and knowing that and having that knowledge.

Carolyn 37:46

Yeah, I can't imagine not knowing that I'll see my mom and dad again. That brings a lot of comfort.

Myrna 37:52

Carolyn and I have talked a lot about how, after our family members have passed away how grateful we are that we have that knowledge, because we see friends that don't have that knowledge, and it's just heartbreaking.

Tammy 38:05

It's a good way to put it, it is heartbreaking. Because it just, it's over, it ends. There's nothing else. So I appreciate you both sharing that; I didn't even prep you with that. And I know you've both experience a lot of loss in your life. And so thank you for bearing witness to us that you have a testimony of the resurrection. And I want to add to Elder Christoffersons, Therefore, Carolyn and Myrna believe it is true. So it is - the witness of women.

Myrna 38:32

Therefore it is

Tammy 38:34

Therefore it is. Thank you so much for your witness. I'll add, we're gonna add you to our list. Okay, so here's who we have so far. We have Carolyn and Myrna, the guards, we have two angels, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James Salome, Joanna, Peter, John, they all can testify that Christ's body is gone, and so in the next segment, we're going to add more names to this witness list.

Here, we're halfway through; anybody have to go to bathroom, get a drink, anything?

Carolyn 39:11

I think I'm good.

Myrna 39:12

I think I'm good.

Tammy 39:31

Okay, so this one was a big ask, this question I had you think about. Are you ready to do this? This is the biggest question of our episode. You both are like, and I knew it was when I wrote it down. But I really wanted to know this from you. So, what evidence have you seen in the lives of others that Jesus Christ really does live?

Myrna 39:53

My mother-in-law is an amazing woman and I have seen her faith over the years in her Savior. So my cousin, Dustin's cousin, is Mark Mabry and he does Reflections of Christ. And I was talking to my mother in law one day, and she was, it was almost Mother's Day. And she was like, I have always loved this picture that Mark does and, and I, and it's a huge picture and it would take up her whole wall. And she has such a strong testimony. And I thought to myself, Okay, let's, she's got a lot of kids. She's got 11,12 kids.

Tammy 40:33

Oh, wow.

Myrna 40:33

So I got everybody together. And we got her that picture for Mother's Day. And her reaction to it, and the faith and love that she has for the Savior. It just, she's had a hard life. I mean, nobody has easy lives. But she has such a simple testimony and such faith in our Savior, that it is a testimony to me of our Savior. And I'm thinking back a few weeks ago when we were talking about Mosiah 3:19. And that is just an amazing scripture to me. You don't see as what He inflicts upon us, as a child. I don't remember exactly how that scripture goes. But we have to let Him do what He wants to do with us. That's what we're here for. I mean, if you let Him lead and guide you,

Tammy 41:25

Well, I think, well, in as you're talking I'm kind of like, Oh, well, right there. Myrna's my witness that Jesus Christ lives. Thank you. You are a witness of that to me. Awesome. What about you, Carolyn?

Carolyn 41:37

So when I, when you asked us this, the thing that came to my mind was when my mom was sick. And of course, this is a huge event in my life. This was before she even knew she was terminal. But she just handed everything over to the Lord, and just trusted that His will - and we were like fight ,fight - and she was, she fought. But she said she was never felt so much comfort than when she just gave it to the Lord and said, you know, whatever You want to happen, I'm good with it. And I mean, through my mom, my mom was very Christ-like, and she was a great example. And she, for most of her life was a single mom with eight kids and took care of us. And never questioned, I mean, she was so faithful to the Lord. And she was a great example of seeing the witness.

Tammy 42:26

Wow, thank you. Thank you, both of you. I wanted us to be thinking about this, like who in our lives is a witness that Jesus Christ lives? Are we that type of witness to the people in our lives? It's a really great question to kind of just think about what - does it mean to be a witness? I mean, we know what the word witness means, but it's really important. Bcause sometimes, especially in the story I'm going to share with you, let's turn to Luke chapter 24. There were two people who didn't even realize they were having a witness until they have the witness. It's a pretty cool story. Turn with me to Luke chapter 24 and we want to look at the section heading first and foremost. So we read a little bit already from Luke chapter 24, but the section heading says, "Angels announce the resurrection of Christ." We know that, but here it says "He walks on the Emmaus road." So this is the story that we've heard of as "The road to Emmaus." And we're going to read what happened in this narrative. It is such a fabulous story. We want to read this story in Luke 24:13, and we're each going to take a turn reading a verse, and I'm going to kind of interject some cool things. So we'll start with Myrna, then we'll go Carolyn, then we'll go me. Okay, so let's all read this together, Myrna will you start.

Myrna 43:34

13: "And behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs."

Carolyn 43:42

14: "And they talked together of all these things which had happened."

Tammy 43:45

Okay, now pause. Where it says "about threescore furlongs", look down at the footnote a, that says "the distance here indicated is about 7 1/2 miles. So that's how far they're walking. And they talk together of all the things that have happened, meaning. And I'm just imagining this, like me with my friends, say, Can you believe what happened? I mean, Jesus was crucified, and then His body is not the sepulchrer. Like, I love telling stories, one of my favorite things, so I'm imagining me with you guys: 'Did you hear His body was not there? I mean, these women were telling us this is the craziest story.' So these two people are talking. And then we come into verse 15: "And it came to pass, that, while they communes together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them."

Myrna 44:24

16: "But their eyes were holden that they should not know him."

Tammy 44:27

Now what do you think that means? Their eyes were holden. You can even look at the footnote. It gives you another word right there. In Greek, it's 'restrained'. What do you think's going on?

Myrna 44:38

I think Carolyn and I were talking about this the other day, and I think its Heavenly Father or Jesus didn't want them to know who He was just yet. He wanted them to perhaps feel Him, before they could see who He was. Because you know, He's gone now. We have to rely on our feelings, the Holy Ghost. And I think that that's what He was like, wanting them to, was to feel the Holy Ghost saying, Hello.

Tammy 45:09

Okay, let's continue the story. I like that. Keep going then in your reading.

Carolyn 45:13

So verse 17. "And he said unto them, What manner of communication are these that ye have one to another as you walk, and are sad?"

Tammy 45:22

18: "And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?" Now mark the name Cleopas. Here's what you want to know about this. So Cleopas by all accounts, many scholars say that Cleopas is the husband of Mary, who was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Now, that's weird. Two sisters were named Mary? Yes. Camille Fronk Olson writes in her book, as well as other scholars, it was very normal to have two sisters named Mary at this time. Talk about confusing, right?

Myrna 45:57

Yeah

Tammy 45:57

Crazy. So we have Mary, the mother of Jesus, and then Aunt Mary, to Jesus, who was married to a man by the name of Cleopas. And so some scholars believe that the two who walked on the road to Emmaus were a husband and wife, talking to each other about all the things that had happened to their nephew, who they loved. 'Can you believe this? This is crazy. His body wasn't there.' And so Jesus says, You seem sad, like what what's going on? And then they say, What? You don't know, you haven't heard? In fact, they then recount everything that happened in verses 19, 20 and 21. But I do love so much in 22, 23, and 24. They even say, And even certain women of our company made us astonished that were very early at the sepulchre. Don't you love they're counting their witness right there. And these women told us they weren't there. It's the craziest story. And then they're talking to Him. And as they're talking to Him, they have this experience.

And we're gonna go to this right now, in Luke 24:31 and 32. As they continue to talk, they come into a house with Him in verse 29. "...they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. " So they invite Him in, come in, stay with us. Now, here we go, starting in verse 30. That's what we're going to read, verses 30-32, We'll each take a verse. Go ahead, Myrna.

30: "And it came to pass as he sat at meet with them, he took bread and blessed it and brake and gave to them.

Carolyn 47:21

31: "And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Tammy 47:26

32: 'And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" Okay, Myrna. There it is, tell me about that verse.

Myrna 47:39

He wanted them to be able to know that they needed to rely on the Spirit, because He wasn't going to be there for them to be like, This is our Savior, the Spirit is what is left for us to - not left - but for us to rely on is the Spirit. And, you know, burning in the bosom.

Tammy 48:01

That's exactly it. This burning is the Spirit that they're feeling. I mean, when you consider a burning in your bosom versus a visual witness for you, does one play out stronger than the other?

Carolyn 48:14

Well, I definitely know that feeling of the burning in the bosom. I know when Heavenly Father wants me to either open my mouth or say something or I mean, I feel it right in my chest. so, I understand that. And that's,, you know, I know that that's my Heavenly Father talking to me.

Tammy 48:31

I'm writing that right next to there, "I know that's my Heavenly Father talking to me." Hold please.

Myrna 48:37

So I want to share a story about, I've only had the burning in the bosom one time.

Tammy 48:43

Okay

Myrna 48:44

I served the first year of my mission in Scotland and loved it. I had begged Heavenly Father, please don't make me go stateside. Please, please, please, please, please. And so He gave me my way. But my dad also gave me a blessing that said that there was somebody I needed, that I had promised that I would find and teach. And so, so then I served the last few months of my mission in Pocatello, Idaho, where I found my friend.

And so my, in between going on missions, I hadn't seen Dustin, my husband now, in a long, long time, because he had gone on a mission, I had gone on a mission. But my dad gave me a blessing that said that I would know if I was supposed to marry Dustin and what I was supposed to do by the way I had taught on my mission. And one of the scriptures that we taught was Doctrine and Covenants 9:8,9. And I, one day was praying, because I, Dustin - I had met him at the airport - and I was like, I don't want to go back on a mission. I, you know, I want to just stay home and get married. And I was praying, and the burning in the bosom - I've never felt it other than that one time in my life and I knew that I was supposed to marry Dustin, and at the same time I was supposed to go back on mission,

Carolyn 50:03

finish your mission

Myrna 50:03

finish my mission in Idaho. Yeah. So I've never had that experience - the burning in the bosom again, but I had it that time so that I can testify about that. And I tell my kids all the time.

Tammy 50:15

Wow! Great stories; I really like this because there really is something about that burning in your bosom that is the strongest witness of all witnesses. And you're right, it doesn't happen all the time. There's so many ways you can feel the Spirit. Thank goodness for Galatians, I can't wait till we get there. There's so many different ways. And one of the ways is that burning. And it's hard to describe, isn't it? But you know it.

Myrna 50:40

I wouldn't be able to describe it today. And I can imagine that that's what those two walking on the road to Emmaus felt. They probably just didn't understand what it was. And you're absolutely right. It's the Savior. That's what we need to recognize. That's what we need to look for now, because He's not going to be around us all the time.

Tammy 51:01

Oh, I like that. That's what we need to recognize. And you're right. That's the most important thing is recognizing what it feels like and how the Spirit speaks to you. And if you were the two on that road, how would you have felt? Oh, that's so good. So we have these two, then. These two are witnesses. They go in and they tell the Elevem, Hey, we just saw Jesus by the way, He ate bread with us. Isn't that interesting that they didn't recognize Him till they partook of bread. The connection there with Sacrament and everything is powerful. And look at the reaction of the disciples. Turn to Mark chapter 16. And Carolyn, will you please read verses 12 and 13.

Carolyn 51:01

12: "After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them."

Tammy 51:10

Okay, did the Eleven believe these two witnesses? No, they didn't. So in the next segment, we're going to find out if they get another chance and if they'll end up believing.

Segment 5 52:00

....

Tammy 52:16

Okay, we just finished reading in the book of Mark verses 12-13. We're going to stay in Mark, and let's look at Mark 16:14. And Myrna, can you please read for us Mark 16:14.

Myrna 52:32

"Afterward he appeared unto thy eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen."

Tammy 52:44

Oh, happy meeting or sad? Yeah, you're in a little bit of trouble, that word 'upbraided' right there means to charge with something wrong or disgraceful. It's to reproach or to reprove with severity. Yikes. Okay,

Carolyn 52:59

I wouldn't want to have been in their shoes.

Tammy 53:00

No, no. So He reproves them. They're upbraided because they would not believe. But then He spends the rest of the evening at this meal, tutoring the apostles. Turn to Luke chapter 24. Let's just look a little bit at this. Luke 24:36-40, just bracket those off. And this is beautiful, because He comes to them and says in verse 36, highlight where it says, "peace be unto you." Like peace be unto you, and then He says, Why are you troubled, in verse 38? Why do your thoughts arise in your hearts? And then Carolyn, read verse 39.

Carolyn 53:42

"Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me have."

Tammy 53:50

Thank you. And so they become witnesses of Him being a resurrected being. Turn the page, and in Luke 24:45-48, bracket that off and just write in big letters, WITNESSES. He says to them, You are witnesses this day of this experience. Look at verse 48. You're witnesses of these things. And then H charges them. He says, Because of your witness, here's what I want you to do. Now turn with me to John chapter 21. And get your pens out because I'm going to have you guys mark your scriptures. This is so fun. All right, John chapter 21. Here's what He wants them to do with their witness. And we're going to look at verse 15,16, and 17 and that's it. You've heard it so many times before, but there is a new way. We're going to read this with the Greek. Okay, verse 15 says, "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" Now the word "these" means all the other apostles in the room and everybody. He's like, Do you love me more than all these men? And Peter "saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou know that I love thee. He said unto him for Feed my lambs. So underline "Feed my lambs."

Verse 16 "He saith unto him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He said unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he had said unto Him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all these things; thou notice that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Okay, Feed my sheep,feed my lambs. Here's what you want to know. In verse 15, where it says the word feed, that word in Greek is Bosko B o s k o. And it means a pasture or nourishing, feeding him His word. That's what it means when He says, Feed my sheep, He's saying I want you to nourish them in a pasture. And then the word for lambs in verse 15, it really is meaning little lambs with gentle intentions. He's specific by saying lamb and not sheep right there. It's the Greek word arnion - A R N I ON.

Okay, then in 16, He says it again. Underline Feed my sheep. Now it's different though. The feed right here is the Greek word poi mano, P O I M A I N O. Now those of you listening, we'll have this in our show notes. You can go and look it up and mark it. But what this specifically means is "shepherding or tending the flock" - has nothing to do with feeding in a pasture. It means watching over the flock. And then the word for sheep, in verse 15, is the Greek word PROBATON, and it means 'adult sheep'. And then you go to verse 17. And it says at the end, Feed my sheep. And He goes back to the word Bosko. Take them to the pasture and nourish them with My word. And then the sheep is the adult sheep right there. Okay, now, I want us to look back at verse 15. And as I read this out loud, I want you to put your own name in there. And then consider yourself Peter in verses 16 and 17. 'So when they had dined, Jesus saith unto Myrna, or Carolyn or Tammy, son of your father's name, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, or she saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knoweth that I love thee. And Jesus said unto her, Feed my lambs.'

Okay, I have to just share this with you. It's one of my favorite things right now. So there is a professor, he's brilliant. His name is Russell A Barkley. He's a Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology and I recently listened to a talk he gave. It was super long, and I had it on fast speed, because that's what I do nowadays. I listen to anything at 1.0, right. So I'm listening to him and he gets to this part. Now, this man has paid the price to know everything about children with ADD, ADHD, anything at all. And he said, this: "Your child is born with 400 different psychological traits that will emerge as they mature. Your child is not a blank slate on which you get to write; your child is a genetic mosaic of your family line." Then he says, "You are not the engineer, you are the shepherd." And I was struck to hear a professor even bring in the shepherd analogy. It's what caught my attention.

He says, "You do not get to design the sheep, you get to design the pasture, as your parents. Your only job as a shepherd is to lead them to the very best pasture possible. Shepherds are powerful people, they pick the pastures in which the sheep will graze and develop and grow. Shepherds determine if the sheep are properly nourished and protected from harm." And then he says, "Now, while the pasture is important, remember, it doesn't design the sheep. No shepherd is going to turn a sheep into a dog." And it made me think of the scripture in Moroni 6:5, where it says that the people who joined with the saints were remembered and nourished by the good word of God.

So modern-day shepherds, today, all of us, we lead the sheep to be nourished by the good word of God, which is what everybody needs in order to grow. And the best field for any of us that we could ever hope for is the gospel of Jesus Christ. So now you go back to this analogy, Feed my sheep. And you think about everybody in your life. And I think about my own children. I mean, this struck me because I realized, that's my job. I am the shepherd, I am not the engineer. That's God's job. He has engineered them. And so I can, I can do that. I can feed His lambs. I can take them to the best pasture possible. And I'd love to know some of your thoughts. And I asked you to kind of think about how have you been fed? Like, How did someone provide for you? What are you thinking.

Myrna 59:42

Well, I have great parents. I have four parents. My parents divorced when I was young, and I've learned my dad married my mom. I don't like to say 'step' but he's my father. Let's say non-biological dad. And He wasn't perfect by any means, but he taught me so much and made me who I am today. I mean, I just learned so much from him.

Tammy 1:00:15

I think that's pretty awesome. It sounds like a really great pasture.

Myrna 1:00:19

You know, it wasn't a perfect pasture, but it was a learning experience. My dad really taught me and made me who I am today. And it's all boiled down to also your free agency, how you react, and to the pasture that you're placed in.

Tammy 1:00:42

Absolutely.

Carolyn 1:00:45

This kind of reminds me when my kids, especially my oldest, when he was graduating high school. I thought, Have I done enough? Have I taught him enough? This is it. Have I fed him everything that he needs? Is he gonna love Heavenly Father? And I think as parents, we're always wanting to make sure that they're in a good pasture and that we've done what we can for him. And since then I've realized that just because they graduate, turn 18, you get to keep teaching them. He's now 35. I'm still teaching him.

Tammy 1:01:16

Well, you're still leading him to the pasture, aren't you?

Carolyn 1:01:18

And it's just the mom's job, whether they want it or not?

Tammy 1:01:21

Well, I think that's what's so cool about this analogy of being a shepherd and feeding sheep. I mean, the shepherd never gets a day off. He never, he will shepherd those sheep until they die, that's the reality. And they will give, in fact, I was surprised to learn that shepherds will actually give their own lives for their sheep. That's how much they love the sheep in their flock. Yeah. It's like the Savior is so smart when He uses this analogy of feed my sheep, feed my little lambs, nourish them, and then protect my older lambs. Isn't that interesting? Right what you just taught us Carolyn, feed my little lambs. And now look what you're doing in verse 16. You're doing the other, the 'poimaino' feeding, you're shepherding. You're tending your older flock of kids. Because it's easy to feed little kids sometimes, right? I mean,

Carolyn 1:02:08

much easier.

Tammy 1:02:09

you can just, All right, kids, here's the pasture. You got teenagers, like, I don't like it here.

Myrna 1:02:13

The grass is grosser.

Tammy 1:02:15

Oh, 100, yes. Why aren't we in that pasture over there? That's exactly, that's perfect.

Myrna 1:02:22

I want that pasture.

Tammy 1:02:23

I still do that today and I'm an adult. Oh, it's awesome. So kind of be thinking about this analogy. And maybe in your own life, just consider the pasture that you were fed with, and the people that are shepherding you and then who you are shepherding. And it doesn't have to be children, it's anybody who falls under your sphere of influence. What role are you playing as a shepherd in their lives? And what pasture are you taking them to? And that's kind of just something to be thinking about. What does your pasture look like? And I like how you said, Myrna, it wasn't a perfect pasture, but it was the right pasture for you. And you've learned a lot from it. So, thanks for sharing that. Okay, so we have this example that the Savior has given to feed His sheep. And then in the next segment, we will see the Savior doing exactly what He taught the people to do.

Segment 6 1:03:06

.....

Tammy 1:03:23

Here we go. Everyone turn to Third Nephi, chapter 11. We just cannot finish talking about the resurrection without including this chapter, Third Nephi chapter 11. Okay, in Third Nephi chapter 11, we ha, it starts in verse 1: "It came to pass, but there was a great multitude gathered together of the people of Nephi round about the temple, which was in the town bountiful. They're sitting around looking at everything that had just happened, all the destruction, the earthquake, everything, and they're amazed at the change that had taken place. And as they're sitting with each other and they're talking - in verse 3 - turn there. "It came to pass that while they were conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven;" Now this is such a great part of the story because it says, "they cast their eyes around about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice. Nevertheless, notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center." There it is Myrna. What are they feeling right here in this moment?

Myrna 1:04:30

Probably that burning.

Carolyn 1:04:32

The Holy Ghost.

Myrna 1:04:33

The Holy Ghost, yeah, he's just like, helloooo.

Tammy 1:04:37

In fact, in verse 3, it even says they looked around and they couldn't see anything. Like they're looking for a visual witness. They're not gonna get it. I like how you taught us that Myrna that maybe the Savior is wanting to feel before they see so they, it pierces them to the very center. That, and I like how it says right here after that, "insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake." Wow, powerful stuff. "It did pierce them to the very soul and did cause their hearts to burn." There it is. And verse 4,"...it came to pass [that]again they heard the voice, and they understood it not." And verse 5:And again the third time they did hear the voice and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came." And then Myrna, will you pleas read verse 6 and 7.

Myrna 1:05:26

And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard;, and it said unto them: Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name - here ye him."

Tammy 1:05:39

There it is. As a resurrected personage He comes to visit the people in the American continent. And by the way, I did not know this happened until I was in the MTC. So everybody teach this, this is the pass you want to take your kids to. Make sure they know this story. But isn't this powerful that the Savior really is, when He's saying Feed my sheep, then he says, By the way, I'm gonna go ahead and do that. And I'm going to feed my other sheep on the American continent, and let them have the same experience that you had ; that burning in the bosom. What does that teach us about our Father and about Jesus Christ,

Carolyn 1:06:11

That He's concerned about all of us, and He wants all of us to have the same chance.

Tammy 1:06:16

Absolutely,

Carolyn 1:06:18

And His Son's doint that for him.

Myrna 1:06:20

And He's no respecter of persons. He loves you, whether you have long hair or short hair. He loves you.

Tammy 1:06:29

He absolutely, He and you are His favorite, every one of you. Yes. So they get to have this awesome experience. They get to witness that He is the Resurrected Savior. And this whole story is phenomenal. We love it so much. I mean, look at verse 8 they see a man descending out of heaven, He's clothed in a white robe. In verse 15 He says to the multitude, and tells them to come forth, and to feel the prints of the nails in His hands and His feet just like He did for the eleven, right? They get to touch Him and feelHhim. And we love this story. And then verse 17, going back to this word right here, and this, this is what happened in Jerusalem before He was crucified. And I love how it's happening now, after He's resurrected. Carolyn, will you read verse 16 and 17.

Carolyn 1:07:15

16 "And when they had gone forth, and witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying, Hosanna Blessed be the name of the Most High God, and they did fall down at the feet of Jesus and did worship him."

Tammy 1:07:28

Thank you. And we learned a couple of weeks ago that the word "Hosanna" means "save now". "Save us now." Isn't that beautiful? Ah, so let's just end with these last two quotes, one from Elder Eyring, and one from Elder Holland about their feeling of the resurrection. And Myrna will you please read Elder Eyring's quote, and then Carolyn Elder Holland's?

Myrna 1:07:51

Elder Eyring: "I am a witness of the resurrection of the Lord as surely as if I had been there in the evening with the two disciples in the house of Emmaus on Emmaus road. I know that He lives as surely as did Joseph Smith when He saw the Father and the Son in the light of a brilliant morning in a grove of trees in Palmyra. This is the true Church of Jesus Christ."

Carolyn 1:08:14

(Elder Holland) "I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal living Son of our literal living God. I bear witness that He was literally resurrected from the tomb. And after ascending to His Father to complete the process of the resurrection, He appeared repeatedly to hundreds of disciples in the old world and the new. I know He is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah who will one day come again in final glory to reign on Earth as Lord of Lords and King of Kings."

Tammy 1:08:40

Thank you. Now I know you two have talked about this, so I want you just to answer this last question: When have you felt the Holy Ghost bear witness to you about the reality of Jesus Christ?

Myrna 1:08:52

I think for me, it was when I was on my mission. So I read a storyin the Ensdighn about a girl that had a testimony. But then her brother was talking about how he had this fabulous manifestation of, of how he gained a testimony and knowledge of the gospel. And she was like, Well, why can't I have this great, fabulous experience? And all of a sudden, the thought came to her, 'Because you already know. You don't need that witness because you already....' And that's the way I was. I mean, you study, you study, and sometimes you just know and sometimes you have to keep studying to find that sure knowledge that you have a testimony of the gospel.

Carolyn 1:09:35

And I don't think mine was some big, you know, huge miracle or moment. It's just been a little bit here a little bit there strengthening and growing. I haven't always made the right choices in my life, but I've never doubted. I've always had faith. In fact, my patriarchal blessing, over and over says I will have faith, I will have faith. And I have never questioned it, I've Known it's true. It's, I've tried to, you know, instill that in my children that it is true.

Tammy 1:10:09

Well, and I know it's true from both of you, because I think you have been witnesses for me and for all of my friends. Meeting you that day in the temple was just divine. There's no other way to explain it. And the friendship that has come of that, doing temple work, I mean, there's no greater witness of Jesus Christ than doing work for people on the other side of the veil. And how your story just, the way that you've been doing work and how much work you've put into it, I think you both have been witnesses to me of the reality of our Savior, Jesus Christ. So thank you to both of you. Thank you. I love you both.

Myrna 1:10:44

We love you.

Carolyn 1:10:44

We love YOU.

Tammy 1:10:46

That's the end of our episode. See how easy that was? Now they're breathing. I now want to start recording now. Now they're like, Oh, that was easy.

Myrna 1:10:55

Yeah, now we can re-record, everything.

Tammy 1:10:57

Re-record. For sure, for sure. Okay, so just take a minute and gather your thoughts. Is there one part that stood out to you or something that struck you from our discussion today? What's your takeaway?

Carolyn 1:11:06

I loved when we talked about Feed my sheep. I didn't realize, you know, Feed my lambs. When I read it. I just read sheep, or, you know, but that it's the little ones and the adult ones. And that's, that really stuck out to me that I want to remember that. I mean, He wants us teaching everyone.

Yeah. And you're doing it.

And I love the little ones; I need to be a little more better at teaching the big

Tammy 1:11:31

Sure is tiring.

Myrna 1:11:34

And I think my takeaway would be how we do need to rely on the Spirit to feel and to know that our Savior loves us, and that we are beloved daughters of God, and that I am a beloved daughter. I mean, just, He loves us all.

Yeah, that's an amazing word.

Tammy 1:11:52

Absolutely. Beloved. Yeah, I loved the discussion on that word, beloved. And I also loved, and I didn't even know it would go in this direction, but I love how we - especially Myrna when you brought that out - that the role of the Holy Ghost, because we live in such a world right now where it's all about knowing and seeing and having proof, that we don't give enough credit to the feeling of the Holy Ghost that bears witness in our hearts. Like, this is true. And that's important right now. Because knowing versus feeling, we don't want to have feelings be witnesses, we want to be able to see it and know it. And so yeah, my mind is spinning.with that. I'm really grateful that you brought that up, and that we had that discussion. So thank you to both of you, the beloved. I have you quoted in my scriptures, both of you. So ladies, I love you. You & &rnyrna & Carolyn're awesome.

Myrna 1:12:44

Love you!

Carolyn 1:12:44

Love you

Tammy 1:12:45

Thank you for doing this. Well, of course, oh my gosh, how fun was this discussion? I want to know what you're learning, and I want to know what questions you have. So if you haven't already joined our discussion group on Facebook or Instagram, go do it. It is a great place to share what you're learning, ask questions, comment on other people's questions are on what other people are learning. It's really awesome. And then at the end of the week, on a Saturday, we post a question from this episode. So comment on the post that relates to this lesson and share your answers and thoughts.

You can get to both our Facebook and Instagram by going to the show notes for this episode on LDS living.com/sunday on Monday and it's a great idea to go there anyway because it's where we're going to have the links to all the references we used today, as well as a complete transcript of this entire discussion, and a glue-in for this episode. So go check it out. The Sunday on Monday Study Group is a Deseret Bookshelf Plus original brought to you by LDS Living. It's written and hosted by me, Tammy Uzelac Hall and today our fabulous awesome study group participants (and brave) study group participants were Carolyn Ray and Myrna Clark. And you can find more information about my friends at LDS living.com/sunday on Monday. Our podcast is produced by Cole Wissinger and me. It is edited by Hailey Higham and recorded and mixed by Mix At Six Studios, and our executive producer is Erin Hallstrom. Thanks for being here.

We'll see you next week, and you better remember that You Are God's Favorite.

Carolyn 1:14:01

I haven't ever missed an episode. Love it, Love it.

Tammy 1:14:04

Oh, I love you guys.

Carolyn 1:14:05

In fact, I kept wishing I had heard the episode on THIS one so I'd be able to DO this one. (laughter)

Transcribed by https://otter.ai