Malad Stake

Spring is a welcome and wonderful time of the year, especially after a long, cold, wet, and dark winter, which this winter has been. The Lord has heard our prayers for moisture and has opened the windows of heaven to pour us out a blessing, “that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). We are so grateful for this blessing. As the warmth of the sun returns and the snow melts, we again experience the joy of renewed life and hope for the future. This thought by Bernard Williams comes to mind, “the day the Lord created hope was probably the day he created spring.” 

This winter has also been long for those who have lost loved ones, are suffering with physical or mental illness, are feeling alone, forgotten, or afraid and for those praying for family and friends in need. This type of winter darkness can be part of our lives even in the sunlight of summer. Knowing that mortal life would be this way at times, Jesus Christ invites all to “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently taught, “the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation . . . and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. [Jesus Christ] is the source of all joy” (Joy and Spiritual Survival, October 2016 General Conference).

As the Malad Idaho Stake Presidency, we unitedly testify that Jesus Christ lives and is the answer to all earthly adversity, illness, sorrow, pain, and death. Likewise, we testify that He is the source of all truth, everlasting joy, and happiness. Because of His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome the world, including both spiritual and physical death. Jesus said to his disciples, “these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

At this sacred Easter Season, we testify with the Angels at the empty tomb “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24: 5-6). Jesus Christ has risen from the dead with healing in his wings. He lives and because He does, we too will rise from the grave. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). Jesus Christ is the light of the world. May His light shine brightly in your lives as you seek Him, hear Him, follow Him, and keep His commandments. 

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will celebrate Easter on April 9, 2023, with our worship services shortened to a one-hour Sacrament Service. This service will feature Christ-centered messages and sacred music. As we commemorate the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we encourage all to share their love for the Savior and His gospel with family and friends. We invite all to come and join us in celebrating Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. 

The Malad Stake 

Presidency

President David Jensen

President Jason Sperry 

President Brandon Ward

St. Paul Mission

As we come upon another Easter Season we reflect upon the great sacrifice that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made for us all. Our very hope for eternal life was given for mankind at such a high cost.  The death of our beloved Savior.   In fulfilling the will of his Father he took upon himself the sin of the world.  Our hope is that the world recognizes this gift and takes advantage of the gift of eternal life.  By simply loving our brothers and sisters as Jesus loves us.  By praying more, fasting, and sacrificing for the good of each other.  By looking inward and making the choice to serve others rather than asking to be served.  This world of ours is in need of Holy Moments. You may ask what a Holy Moment is?  It is simply giving a smile to someone in need. It is helping the person who truly needs help but asks for nothing. It could be making a call to someone that just needs a shoulder to lean on.  Yes Easter is here again, and we should all take time to have just one Holy Moment this Easter in thanksgiving to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with each and everyone of you.

Deacon Art Martinez

St. Paul Mission 

Victory Baptist Church 

By Pastor Jack Harwell

We all know or should know the story of Jesus the Christ that He was crucified on a cross over 2000 years ago and that He rose from the grave three day's latter. You may not know how important that resurrection was? With out the resurrection we would have no hope off eternity and a life after death. The resurrection means we can have a life in heaven with Christ! Some people don't believe that this really happened and if it did they don't understand why. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, and to be the Atonement for us to God the Father! The promise of God in (John 3;16) that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believed in Him ( Jesus ) should not perish but have everlasting life (in heaven)! 

Paul writing to the church in Corinth the Corinthians in chapter15 tells us how important the resurrection was for us in our belief of who Jesus is. Chapter 15 verse 1 reads I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you which also you have received, and wherein you stand; vs2 By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain ( for no reason).. Verse 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;. Verse 4 And He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Verse 5 And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: Verse 6 After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, ( the time Paul wrote this letter) but some are fallen asleep(dead). 

Paul goes on to say He was seen of James and then of all the apostles. Paul also tells us that he saw Jesus, and he as one born out of due time(the road to Damascus). Why does Paul tell us this, because it is important that he (Paul) was and is a wittiness of who Christ is. Paul is telling us that he saw the resurrected Jesus in person. Paul was chosen by Jesus to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus and what Jesus told him made Paul see that He (Jesus) was the true Christ. Paul knows that if there is no life after death then there is no truth in the scriptures and no hope for any of us! In 1st Corinthians chapter 15 verse 10 Paul tells us that but by the grace of God I am what I am, by God's grace we are saved and no other way, so what Jesus did was God's grace for us to the point that we may be the children of God. He continues to say that the grace of God that was bestowed upon him was not in vain; but that he (Paul) labored more abundantly than they all; and he tells us that it was not him but the grace of God min him. Then in verse 11 he tells us whether it was I or the other(apostles) , so we preached, and so you believed. And he (Paul) tells us that if Christ be preached that He (Jesus) rose from the dead, why do you not believe in the resurrection of the dead, But Christ is risen; And he tells us that the preaching would be worthless if it was not true. 

The word we live in to day very well may be the last days, and if the Word of God is not true than nothing can be! You can choose to believe or not it is up to you and you will never see unless the Word draws you to Jesus, There is no other name given by where men can be saved! And if Jesus is not risen then there is no hope for mankind! The only thing we have to know that Jesus has risen from the dead is God's word and you have to hear that word or you will perish! You can see the world w live the lies and deception that is throne at us and the only hope we have is Jesus and He is true as His word is true. 

I pray that you seek God's face and here His word that God would open doors for you to see what He has done for you and except it as the Redemption of your soul! Why would God do what He has done for His creation and it not be true? Why did Jesus give His life on the cross if it was not to help us? Ask Jesus to come into your heart and see what happens? See for yourself what it means!

The Presbyterian Church

By Marlys Evans (April 2023)

 Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important Christian festival, and the one celebrated with the greatest joy. Without Easter there would be no Christianity. Without Jesus’ suffering, His execution and subsequent resurrection there would be no Christianity, for however terrible the suffering was, it was part of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind.

Jesus, Emmanuel, came down from heaven above and pulled us to safety. He did this by taking the punishment for all our wrongdoing as He died on the cross (1 Peter 2:24) to pay what we owed.

When Jesus died, He shared in what all of us must experience, but far beyond that, He did what none of us can do. He paid the price for our sins that we may be forgiven and on the third day was resurrected so we might have eternal life through faith in Him (John 3:16).

“It is finished”, was our Lord’s final words from the cross as He gave up his spirit (John 19:30). These words were not a cry of painful defeat but a shout of triumph because he had accomplished all that the Father had sent Him to do. Now, through Him, we can escape the power of sin; we can live and be free!

“He is not here; for He has risen, as He said,” the angel told the women at the empty tomb (Matthew 28:6). When Jesus met them he said, “Rejoice!” (Matthew 28:9). Now all of us, His faithful followers have reason for rejoicing!

Today, consider the connection between Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice and his love for us; He died and rose again so we can have assurance that one day we’ll be with Him in a place of no more death or tears (Revelation 21:4).

If Jesus had not come back to life, our faith as Christians would be pointless. However, the Bible, tells us that Jesus “was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Easter is a day to celebrate with great joy; we can be right with God, because Jesus is alive! He is risen! He has risen indeed! Thanks be to God!