Getting Ready for Easter

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Getting Ready for Easter

The day before Easter was a fun, but busy day. Andy spent the morning helping my brother move into his new house. The boys played while I helped unpack the kitchen and then we headed out to a birthday party for my cute little nephew Quincy. From there we rushed to my mom's house where we hurried and colored eggs before the annual Easter Egg Hunt began. I already missed carving pumpkins for Halloween, I couldn't skip the eggs! Fortunately for me, my Grandma was planning to make deviled eggs so she bought the eggs, boiled them, gave them to the boys to dye, we took them home for the Easter Bunny to hide, hunted them, peeled them, and brought them back in time to make the deviled eggs for Easter dinner. It worked out quite nicely. (Thanks Grandma!) We got done with our eggs just in the nick of time and all of the cousins arrived for the big hunt. We had all the grandchildren plus two foster care children that were staying with my sister. My mom did 28 eggs EACH which added up to a LOT of eggs all over her yard. In the past, the eggs have always been hidden in the back yard, but this year we overflowed into the front yard as well. We had tons of fun and the kids all LOVED the prizes my mom had for them. (Note the picture of Peter blowing bubbles and wearing sunglasses - both items courtesy of the egg hunt!)

One thing my aunt did this year for Easter was provide her twin boys (who are preparing for their missions) with eggs containing testimonies of family members. Here are the testimonies my boys contributed:

My Testimony

By Ammon Shadel

A testimony is something you know is true.

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus live.

My Testimony

By Peter Shadel

I know that the Holy Ghost will come to you when you are eight years old.

I know that President Monson is a true prophet.

(I think he will be our prophet forever.)

and last, but not least, here is the testimony I shared:

I know Heavenly Father is real and He loves His children. He is aware of us and knows our name. This sounds so simple and yet when you consider the intimate knowledge He has of EVERY person who ever has and ever will live on this earth, it is astonishing.

I know Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. His obedience and sacrifice makes it possible not only to gain eternal life, but exaltation as well. Through the power of His Atonement, my heart has been healed from pains and struggles. Through Him I can be sanctified and justified. The power of His love is miraculous.

I know Joseph Smith restored the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is organized through revelation and the laying on of hands. He translated The Book of Mormon which testifies of the Savior’s divine mission and His will for us. It is true scripture.

I know that President Monson is a prophet of the Lord. He has heard the call of our Heavenly Father and obeyed. He leads by example and most importantly through revelation as He fulfills the will of the Savior. Ours is a church guided by our Lord and Savior. We are blessed to have His guidance and teachings made clear through modern day revelation.

The church is true. Living the teachings found therein brings joy, peace and comfort regardless of the trials and circumstances in life. In my life I have been strengthened and healed by the power of the Atonement. I have been led by the Holy Spirit and guided as to the things I should be doing by a Heavenly Father who knows my situations intimately. I love the gospel!

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.