Because of Him

Think about what your mission is here on earth. 

Not the roles that you have,

whether you are a son or a daughter, a mother or a father. 

 I mean your unique life’s mission.  What you, and only you, are here on this earth to do. 

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Now I want to give you a challenge.  From all the days of your life so far, try to pick three days that show others what your unique mission is.  What days would you pick?  Would you pick a day you were asked to bear a great burden?  

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A day when you made a critical choice?  

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A day when you overcame your fears?  

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A day when you were able to truly serve others? 

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Since this past week has been Holy Week, I’ve reflected on Jesus Christ’s mission here on earth—what He came here to do that no one else could do.  I’ve picked three days of His life that I think represent in part His mission. 

Thursday – Victory over Sin

The first day I’d like to talk about is Thursday, the day before his crucifixion.  To help us understand the significance of this day more fully, we need to realize that this was the week of the Passover. 

In Exodus 12:3 we read that the Jews were commanded to bring a lamb into their home.  This lamb was to be male and the first born of the flock.  This lamb was to live with the family for five days.  Then without breaking its bones, the lamb was to be killed, its blood smeared on the door, and the meat eaten. 

Our family has had enough pets through the years that I know if we had a newborn lamb living with us for five days, it would be have been named, cared for, and very loved.  I have hard time imagining having to say the kids, “Now it is time to kill the lamb.”  

So why would the Jews receive a commandment to care for a lamb for five days before killing it?  I think it might have been so that it would be more of a sacrifice.  Remember, smearing the lamb’s blood on the door was symbolic of protecting them from the angel of death.  Consequently, they needed to sacrifice the lamb so that they could be saved.

The same day that Jews were bringing lambs into their homes, which was Palm Sunday, Christ made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  He entered riding a donkey—symbolic of coming in peace.  

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Christ was heralded as a king and a ruler.  The Jews thought He had finally come to free them Roman rule.  What they failed to realize was that He had come to make them completely free.

Although I have been participating in Passovers for years, lately I’ve had an opportunity to participate in a different kind of Passover called a Triclinium.  Triclinium refers to the shape of the table.  

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A Triclinium Passover is more reminiscent of the Last Supper, which we know to be a Passover dinner.  As I have attended these special events, my understanding of how Christ is the Lamb of God has greatly deepened.

For those who have attended a Passover, usually the most memorable event of the night is the eating of the bitter herbs. 

Those who know me well know that I absolutely hate horseradish.  I can smell it a mile away.  The only time I’ll let that stuff come near me is Passover.  During the Seder you need to eat the bitter herbs twice.  I have always found the second time to be the worst.  The first time I’ve had all year to forget just how awful horseradish is.  But the second time, the first taste is still fresh and lingering in my mouth.

Last year at the Triclinium, we did something I’ve never done before.  When we ate the bitter herbs for the second time, we ate it with lamb.  I couldn’t believe what I tasted.  The burning and bitterness was gone, the lamb almost made the horseradish taste sweet. 

As I contemplate what Christ did for us that Thursday, how he atoned for our sins, I think about eating the lamb together with the bitter herbs.  Because He was without blemish, because He was perfect, I don’t need to be perfect.  The bitterness of my sins can be taken away through the Lamb of God. 

Saturday - Victory over Prison

You might think the next day I’m going to talk about is Friday, but I’m not, instead I’d like to talk about the following day, Saturday.

Spencer J. Condie tells us what Christ did on this day is a mystery to all Christian faiths except the Latter-day Saints.  Because of what he did on Saturday, death truly has no sting.  On this day He enacted a plan of mercy for those who left this earth unbaptized. 

This is when he visited and organized the spirit world.

Who were the people living in the spirit world?  These were the righteous and unrighteous people who had died.  Some died having rejected the gospel; others died having never heard it.  Both mercy and justice require that these people have the opportunity to hear the gospel and more importantly the opportunity to accept it.

The work that Christ established on that Saturday still continues on to this day.  The gospel is still taught in the spirit world, and as we do temple work, more people are able to receive their ordinances. 

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Over the past 18 months we have talked quite a bit about the hastening of the work. For those who have seen all the changes to familysearch.org through the years, you can attest that family history is also experiencing a hastening.  Now people from all over the world, from all beliefs and religions, are indexing names, posting stories, photos, memories, names and dates.  

When we think of Easter, we should think of families. Because of what Christ did that first Easter weekend, He made it possible for us to be together as families forever.

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Sunday – Victory of death

The last day I want to talk about is what I consider to be the most significant when considering the life of Christ.  This day is Sunday.  The day His spirit and body were once again united and He was resurrected. 

On April 13, 2014, the LDS Church launched a campaign using the hashtag #BecauseofHim.   The Church asked members around the world to share this hashtag and corresponding YouTube video with their social networks.  In one week, the video had over 3 million views. 

Here are some of the comments from people on Twitter and YouTube. 

• This fills me w/peace amidst the chaos.  
• I'm not a Mormon, but I LOVE this. 
• I don't proclaim a particular religion, but thank God for Jesus. 
• Thank you so much for this amazing video!  I love Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for all of us.  Mormons are some amazing Christian believers. 
• I am not a Mormon, but the message is true!
• I think I spent at least 15 minutes so far watching it over and over.  I'm Roman Catholic and I LOVE THIS VIDEO. 

The video is only 2 minutes and 44 seconds long with just music and text. 

So, no matter what talents we have, what skills we possess, what trials we are asked to bear, we can fulfill our unique mission here on earth… because of Him.  Because on Thursday He became the Lamb of God and gave us victory over our sins and infirmities, because on Saturday he made it possible for our families to be together forever and gave us victory over spirit prison, and because on Sunday he was resurrected and became our Savior and gave us victory over death. 

I testify that Christ is the Author and the Finisher of our faith.  He is my personal Savior and Redeemer.  I know that one day I can return back to my Father’s presence… because of Him.

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On April 10, 2019, the Church of Jesus Christ released another #BecauseofHim Easter video.  You can watch the one minute video here.

This is adapted from a talk I gave in Sacrament Meeting on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014.

This article coincides with the April 15-21 lesson "O Grave, Where is Thy Victory?" in the Come Follow Me 2019 Manual.  

Not an official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints