I Remember Easter

As a child I remember one Easter when my family went on a long campout with a group of friends. I stayed home with my Grandma Marshall. Why? I wanted to go to church. My mom had made me a new Easter dress full of frills and I had an Easter hat. I was just like my Grandma! 

Even though I was quite young, I remember walking up the large side walk holding my Grandma’s hand. I felt so big. Something inside me just felt good. I was supposed to be with Grandma and feel her love, but I felt something more that, as a child, I couldn’t explain. 

I loved camping with my family and friends. I loved all of the fun we had when we were together, but I also loved church. Most kids my age would not want to be there. The benches were hard back then and I didn’t really understand everything they said, but I went there because of how it made me feel. It just felt right.

As time went on and I grew, and learned, I realized that most of my time away from home was spent in that church building. We went to Primary on Wednesday, Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. 

I remember learning how to cross-stitch there when I got older, and sing and dance and even did piano lessons there. The church building was only a block-and-a-half from my house, so it was easy to run down for softball practice or just to watch the boys play baseball. 

One day when some of us were playing on the lawn by the church, a boy discovered the side door was opened. We went in and immediately I felt a sudden sense of guilt. We ran out and never even tried the doors again. My mom must have heard about it before I even got home because that was the first thing she asked about when I walked in. She didn’t need to say anything though. I already knew what was right.

I guess we are all born with that knowledge of right and wrong, which is the knowledge God gave us to protect us. At times throughout my life, I have been left with definite feelings of my foolish actions. Christ gave His all that those foolish things of childhood can be wiped away. Whether a child or an adult we all make mistakes and He knows about them long before we get home. He is ready to forgive, always. 

I still feel that warm feeling every time we walk into our stake center. We all worked so hard to build it and it feels like coming home. It’s more than that, it’s His spirit. He loves each of us and says, come home.

Our choir is learning a new song for Easter and when we sing it I feel the spirit of our Savior and his love for us. It’s called “Did You See Him In The Garden”. I wish that everyone could hear it on Easter Sunday. 

Did you see Him in the garden when He bled from every pore? 
Did you feel His lonely anguish when He asked to drink no more?
Did you see His three disciples as they slept through His great pain?
Did you hear His footsteps coming, taking up the cross for men?
Did you watch Him through the courtyards, did you hear their angry lies?
Did you feel the lash upon you, did you follow by His side?
Were you there when they condemned Him and they nailed Him to a cross?
Did you hear Him then forgive them as His loved ones mourned their loss?
Did you see Him in His glory when the stone was rolled away? 
Did you feel the hope of all men when His ransomed life was paid?  
Will you know Him when you see Him once again on heav'nly thrones?
Will He say to you in pure love: “Come to me, thou art mine own?”

I know our Savior loves me and welcomes me each time I choose to go to church. He loves you too and will always be there when you need him most.  

The feeling I had as a child is the same feeling I feel each time I step into the church today. Come and know that He loves you, as He loved this five-year-old in the fluffy dress and new hat.  

He gave His life for you, then rose again and still continues to give. That’s what Easter is all about. Remember Easter.

– by Elaine Baldwin

Feature image courtesy Pixabay.