Good Friday

They called it Good Friday
Even though there was a lot of injustice
Betrayal, false accusations, emotional and physical abuse
Rejection and abandonment by loved ones
Loneliness in His greatest hour of need
Mockery, bullying, humiliation and finally
Crucifixion
Yet it was called ‘Good Friday’

I spent this week reflecting: Why was it ‘Good’?
Because in the midst of all that was bad
In the midst of the pain and heartache
And broken judicial system, broken promises, broken flesh, and broken people;
God was there!
He would not stop the pain or prevent the death
Yet He provided an angel to help strengthen His son as He drank that bitter cup
In the midst of all that was bad,
God was creating His greatest miracle of all!

The flesh that was torn, the blood that was shed
Would cleanse the earth of sin, it would cleanse all mankind: dead, living, and yet to be born!
Yes, that blood would cleanse them all – friend and foe, sinner and saint
Whether created before or after this ‘Good Day’
The blood would purify them all
And make them worthy again
To face their God, and their Savior and King.
And Him who they crucified
Would rise again in His full glory
And so it was appropriate that they deemed it: ‘Good Friday’

And so as I face my own Gethsemane
I will look to God to provide me with an angel or two
To strengthen me as I drink the bitter cups prepared for me
For I cannot drink them on my own
And I am grateful that my God in His wisdom
Provided a Savior for me to save me from sin
And from everlasting misery
Even though I’m broken, bruised and torn by my trials
Still, I will call each season of trial ‘good’
Because God is in it and will see me through it all
The price was paid in Calvary
And God blessed that day and called it: ‘Good’!
His Son would rise again on the third day
And because of it, my trials will also come to pass
And I will rise again and praise His name forevermore!

The post “Good Friday” — an original poem appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Many thanks to Shawna Belt Edwards for sharing her gift of music. And thanks to the One Voice Children’s choir for bringing this song to life.

Another well-loved song about the Savior written by Shawna is “The Miracle”

The post “Because” — an Easter song for children appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Sing Messiah with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir tonight, March 25!

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be performing the Messiah, with a live stream included so that you and your family and friends can sing along from wherever you are. Meet at a home (or, in some places, an LDS meetinghouse). See below for links to the concert program, a sample score, and more. 

The Messiah Concert will be broadcast live over the internet beginning with a pre-concert feed at 7:00 p.m. MDT. The full concert begins at 7:30 p.m. MDT. Performance will be livestreamed here: mormontabernaclechoir.org/messiah

• View the Messiah Sing Live Stream connection instructions for more information.
• You can download a pdf of the concert program, which includes scriptural text and information about the oratorio.
• A sample public domain score to help you sing along. (Be sure whatever score you use is free of copyright restrictions in your own country.)

If you write about or follow this experience on social media, use the hashtag #MessiahLive.

If you are unable to live stream the concert, an on-demand video will be available from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir website after the concert, until Monday, April 4, 2016.

More about Handel, the Messiah, and a recent recording of this work done by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:

• Read a little more about Handel here: George Frideric Handel: A Brief History.
• Mack Wilberg, conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, discusses Messiah. He also joins others in an interview about the CD the Mormon Tabernacle Choir released (which is marvelous, by the way).

The post Live Stream of The Messiah tonight! #MessiahLive appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Easter is fast approaching, and although daily content is not possible in my crazy world, I do hope to share a few things here about the glorious message of Easter.

The following post at LDS.org was written by recently-made friend named Ariel. The essay is a tender reminder of one reason why Easter is such an important holiday to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Spring will Come

The post An Easter essay appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Easter this year means more to me than perhaps it ever has…probably for the very reasons listed above. My need for God has been heightened. My need to know of and hold to tender mercies more poignant — even desperate — than ever.

I wish I could put into words what I’m discovering, but suffice it to say that I know the Atonement is real. Daily bread is real. Tender mercies are real. Spring does come.

Jesus is everything. Life, breath, everything.

If you are experiencing winter, I pray you can feel some Breath sometime soon.

Happy Easter.

The post Life, Breath, Easter appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

The miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is such an unspeakable gift. Happy Easter to you all.

Editor’s note: “The Miracle” is an Easter song that was written by Shawna Edwards for the Primary children in her ward. Some of those children are my own. This is a very special song to us. I hope you enjoy it. ~Michelle

p.s. Music is available here.

The post The Miracle that Rescues Me (Easter video) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

~  Ex. 20:1,12  ( See also Deut. 5:16 ; Matt. 15:4 ; Matt. 19:19 ; Luke 18:20 ; Eph. 6:2 ;1 Ne. 17:55 ; Mosiah 13:20 . ) 

Whether young or old, married or single, with children or without, each of us is a son or daughter of earthly parents.

Whether our parents are living or dead, married or divorced or never married, we can still seek to follow the Lord’s commandment to honor them.

How are you trying to honor your father and mother, to be a better son or daughter? Share photos on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Google+, Twitter….

How has the Savior’s power and grace and example helped you in this way?

(See also #TenToday.)

The post #BecauseofHim I can be a better son/daughter appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Verily I say unto you,

Inasmuch as ye have done it

unto one of the least of these my brethren,

ye have done it unto me.

~ Matthew 25:40 (see also Mosiah 2:17)

Share photos from today’s challenge with the hashtag #BecauseofHim and/or #StartingToday

The post #BecauseofHim I can serve others appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

The post #BecauseofHim Daily Photo Challenge appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

#BecauseofHim is an effort of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #StartingToday was created by Radiant, a new values-based content creation company.

The post #BecauseofHim, #Startingtoday, what will you do? appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.