Week of Mini Devotionals to focus on Easter

Hello! Hello!  It has been a VERY long time since I posted anything other than crafts; however, my thoughts have turned to this upcoming Sunday.  As I was studying my scriptures this morning, I had the impression that it would be spiritually beneficial for my family to focus on the Savior's Atonement and Resurrection in our family scripture studies this week.  All at once everything came together.  I began writing it down and hope that it can help you make this coming holiday more meaningful.

My family covers a broad range.  I have a teenager, an older child and a young one.  Due to this, all of our scripture studies and spiritual learning try to incorporate something for each level.  Please feel free to modify these mini devotionals/scripture study sessions to accomodate your needs.

The whole idea of this project came about from an Ensign (LDS magazine) article I read.  It is titled, Because He Lives, by Elder Russell M. Nelson. Unless noted otherwise, all quotes are from him.

DAY 1:
"This Easter season gives each of us a personal opportunity to discover His sacrifice, embrace His teachings, and share His joy.

DISCOVER HIS SACRIFICE: "During that first Easter season two millenia ago, the Lord suffered unspeakable agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross as He took upon Himself the sins and pains of all humankind."

* Video of His suffering in Gethsemane.  (lds.org/bible-videos?lang=eng).  Click on the arrow that says, "View All."  Choose the video titled, "Jesus Suffers in Gethsemane."

*"The Savior Himself has tuaght that this great sacrifice was for a purpose."
*Read D&C 19:16-19 (can access this online at lds.org >scriptures> Doctrine & Covenants).

DAY 2:

* Two options: Watch New Testament scripture stories of the last week of His life at scripturestories.lds.org (for younger children)  OR watch Bible Videos about events during the last week of His life at lds.org/bible-videos?lang=eng.  (Older family members)

*Read Alma 7:11-12 (found in the Book of Mormon.  You can also find this online at lds.org>scriptures>Book of Mormon).

DAY 3:

EMBRACE HIS TEACHINGS: "With the understanding that comes from discovering the power of His Atonement, we ask ourselves, 'What shall we do?' First, we need to be baptized. 'Likewise, we also need to embrace the Savior's teachings'."

*"Christ came not only into the world to make an Atonement for the sins of mankind but to set an example before the world of the standard of perfection of God's law and of obedience to the Father.  In His Sermon on the Mount, the Master has given us somewhat of a revelation of His own character, which was perfect...and in so doing has given us a blueprint for our own lives" (Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, quoted in March 2015 Ensign article, 'Put On The Armour of Light').

*Watch either the scripture story version or the bible video version of The Sermon on the Mount (see above for online sources).

DAY 4:

*Matt 5:1-6

*"Indeed, embracing His teachings- and helping others do so- is the great work of these latter days.  That is why we have temples- to bring the fullest blessings of the Atonement to faithful children of God.  That is why we respond to our own calls from the Lord.  When we comprehend His voluntary Atonement, any sense of sacrifice on our part becomes completely  overshadowed by a profound sense of gratitude for the privilege of serving Him" (El. Nelson).

DAY 5:

SHARING HIS JOY- "As we follow this pattern on discovering the power of the Savior's Atonement and embracing His teachings, we experience the joy that comes from striving to be more like Him.  As we do so, we naturally want to share our joy with those we love, inviting them to discover His sacrifice, embrace His teachings and share in His joy."

*Watch the movie "He Lives".    HeLives.mormon.org.

DAY 6:

*Watch the scripture movie of the Resurrection (two options shown above).

*Read John 20:11-16

*Read D&C 76:22-24.

It is my hope that we might all be able to focus more on our Savior this week and reflect upon the supernal gift of His Atonement and Resurrection.  I know He lives.  Because of this, I know each of us will live again, too. 

Thanks for stopping by- Dari