The message of Easter is one of hope. No matter what our pain, no matter what our burdens, no matter what we have faced or will yet face, because of Jesus Christ, we can have hope!
Because Jesus Christ died and was resurrected, we, too, will all live again. Resurrection is a free gift given to all who have lived or who will yet live on the earth. The sting of death can be swallowed up in Christ. “Jesus Christ…is the Son of God, … and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.” (Mormon 7:5)”[T]here is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.” (Mosiah 16:8)
Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven of our sins when we repent.
Because of His infinite Atonement, not only can we repent when we make mistakes, but through His miraculous power, our hearts and characters can be changed. With His help, we can overcome weakness and sin. With His help, we can become more like Him.
Because of Jesus Christ, we can also receive heavenly help and comfort through God’s Holy Spirit — in times of trial, doubt, sorrow, betrayal, loneliness, fear, when facing death or illness (of self or loved ones). Because of what Jesus suffered for our sake, we know we are never alone.
All that is good comes because of Jesus Christ — all that is good now, or all the good that can come as we hold on and keep moving forward — we can have hope because of Jesus Christ. “[I]n Christ there should come every good thing.” (Moroni 7:22) He can give us “beauty for ashes,” as Isaiah declared.
As Jeffrey R. Holland stated, Jesus is our High Priest of Good Things to Come:
Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. Moroni spoke of it in the Book of Mormon as “hope for a better world.” 2For emotional health and spiritual stamina, everyone needs to be able to look forward to some respite, to something pleasant and renewing and hopeful, whether that blessing be near at hand or still some distance ahead. It is enough just to know we can get there, that however measured or far away, there is the promise of “good things to come.”
My declaration is that this is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christoffers us, especially in times of need. There is help. There is happiness. There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the “light that is endless, that can never be darkened.” 3 It is the very Son of God Himself. In loving praise far beyond Romeo’s reach, we say, “What light through yonder window breaks?” It is the return of hope, and Jesus is the Sun. 4 To any who may be struggling to see that light and find that hope, I say: Hold on. Keep trying. God loves you. Things will improve. Christ comes to you in His “more excellent ministry” with a future of “better promises.” He is your “high priest of good things to come.”
