The Resurrection of Jesus Christ


Jesus Christ our redeemer allowed himself to die, he left his body and went into the spirit world to organize the missionary work for the dead... Yet his disciples remained.
Let us look at the accounts of the resurrection, and their differences and then discuss the impact and meaning of the resurrection TO US. Notice how different the accounts are... as we consider them think about why they may be different.

The Women
Luke 24:1-9 The woman which came from Galilee with him brought spices and ointments on the first day of the week, early in the morning,  They found the stone rolled away and found not the body, but they saw two men in shining garments, and they were afraid.
They told them why seek ye the living among the dead - he is risen, remember how he spake these things among you in Galilee, and they returned and told all these things unto the eleven and the rest

Math 28:1-7 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the sepulchre - there was a great earthquake and the angel had rolled back the stone and they saw him.  He is not here he has risen come and see where he lay, and go and tell the disciples he has risen front the dead. 
Mark 16:8  And they went out quickly and fled, for they were amazed and afraid and told no man what they had seen

Math 28:8-11 And they departed quickly and ran to bring the disciples word - but behold Jesus met them saying - all hale and they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him.
Mark 16:9-10 When Jesus was risen early the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene - and she went and told them that had been with him as they mourned 
John 20:11-18 Mary overcome with grief wept, and looked where Jesus lay.  He appears unto her and ask whom she seeketh - Mary if you have taken his body tell me where.  He says her name - and she responds with Master - touch me not I have not yet ascended.  She goes and tells the disciples

The Watch
Math 28:11-15  The watch come to the chief priests all that was done - they are bribed to say nothing, and that they will be protected

The Apostles Response

Luke 24:11-2 The words of the women seemed to them as idle tales and they BELIEVED them not - then arose peter and ran to the sepulchre - and saw for himself that Jesus was not there - and he departed wondering which was come to pass...
John 20:3-10 Peter and that other disciple ran - and the other disciple ran faster and saw that he was not there, Peter also followed saw he wasn't there - but they as yet knew not the scripture that he must rise from the dead - they went to their own homes
Mark 16:11 And they when they had heard he was alive and been seen of Mary believed not.

The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus
Luke 24:13-33 Two of the disciples travel to Emmaeus and meet the Lord along the way - he teaches them, opens the scriptures to them, and then suddenly disappears (Cleopas, and another...)

The Appearance in the Upper Room
Mark 16:14-19 He appeared unto the eleven and upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of their hearts, tells them to go and teach all mankind believe and be baptized to be saved - miracles shall follow
John 20:19-23 He appears unto all but Thomas in the upper room when the doors were shut - he lets them touch him, and gives them authority to remit sins
John 20:24-30 Thomas is told but he doesn't believe them, Jesus Comes again specifically to demonstrate to Thomas he is risen - and many other signs did Jesu do in the presence of his disciples which are not written.

The Appearance on a Mountain
Math 28:16-20 He appears unto them in Galilee unto a mountain where Jesus told them to go - and he speaks to them - all power is given in heaven and earth - teach all nations to believe and be baptized to be saved - and obey his commands

The Appearance near the sea of Tiberias
John 21:3-7  Simon... tells the other disciples - I go a fishing.. The fish all night and catch NOTHING, Jesus from the shore tells them to cast - and the could not draw forth the multitude of fishes... Peter dives in to swim to shore
John 21:8-17 Peter - Lovest thou me - feed my sheep, three times... 

Peter... Peter... why have you gone fishing... don't you know I will make you a fisher of men?  Remember when I called you - do you not remember the fish in the net?

Why is the Resurrection Important TO US?

In the Plan of Salvation there are three estates or embodiments spoken of.  An understanding of them is critical to an understanding of the way in which an individual can progress, and the pattern of progression in the plan of salvation.
The plan of salvation is a plan of ESTATES - embodiments that have and will occur in the progression of mankind i.e. the intelligence or the light of truth. By definition an estate is a home, an dwelling, it isn't that which is dwelling, or that which is in the home.

There are three estates in the Plan of Salvation - in this weeks come follow me we learn of Jesus the Christ the son of the Living God instituting the Resurrection and entering into his third estate of existence.
Let's discuss concerning his resurrection and what these three states are.

Abraham 3:26
26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.

Our First Estate:
The first ESTATE - or embodiment is the spirit body of mankind - which is the embodiment of an intelligence within a spirit body of matter.
D&C 93:29
29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.

Thus intelligence - or the LIGHT OF TRUTH - was not created or made - nor can it be, it has existed eternally and will exist eternally.

What then is truth?
D&C 93:24
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;

Truth and intelligence is thus an understanding of things - as they are, as they were, and as they will be. Intelligence is the light/energy in a stable field - that encodes the knowledge of truth... yet it also has the ability to act to change and to thus adjust it's knowledge to become greater or lesser. It is the basis of Agency, and the core being of who and what we are... it is not created nor can be but it can be ENLARGED, ORGANIZED and empowered.

This is done by joining it with matter... of one form or another.

Our first estate is the embodiment of our intelligence within a body made out of matter i.e. spirit matter. 

D&C 131:7
7 There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes;
-- spirit is matter or in other words a more organized form of energy

D&C 93:29-31
22 Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; 
-- intelligences or the light of truth were organized before the world was
-- they were not created - they were organized or in other words enhanced in structure/capacity
-- This is done through the process of embodiment i.e. progression.
-- Thus the intelligence came into control of more energy, more capacity, and more power as it was embodied/organized a form made out of mater... a spirit body.
-- God is the Father of the spirits of all mankind Heb 12:9, D&C 76:24, Acts 17:29, Romans 8:16
-- Spirit bodies have a form and are made of mater D&C 77:2, Ether 3:6-16

Spirits progress and there is a gradient in their capacities based upon their choices that they made in their new bodies.
D&C 93:29-33
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.
31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.
32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.
33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; 

What type of Body is a spirit body?
It is made out of matter, and thus has a form (Ether 3:17, It has gender Ether 3:17)
It is called a son/daughter of God James 1:17, D&C 67:9
It has greater capacity than an intelligence
It has the capacity to choose, and to develop and progress (D&C 93:29-31)
It can move about, it is not everywhere it has a location
It is immortal and will never die - it will not degrade or become corrupted
We have a Name, and are individuals

Why is it so important that we gain a body? (Reason for needing a body)


Our Second Estate:
The Second Estate - or embodiment is the physical body of mankind - which is the embodiment of a spirit and thus an intelligence also - within a physical body.
What type of Body do we now have?

It's glory is that of a Telestial Glory - or we are presently living in a Telestial State
is made out of matter and thus has a form.
We are the sons/daughters of other people in this same type of body - it can reproduce
It can feel pain, suffer hunger, thirst, and fatigue - and requires sleep
It has intelligence within it - it can heal, it can breathe, and do many things without our conscious control
It is a temporal body - it is subject to and changes over time, it has a lifespan and will eventually die.
It has the capacity to die - and thus release our spirit from it.
It can after death enter into corruption and become disorganized again into the elements it had been formed from
It has the capacity to change, and that change based upon our choices can and will influence the state of the next body that we shall receive
It is a record, and contains a record of our life within it.. the book of life

Our Third Estate:
The Third Estate - or embodiment is the resurrection of mankind - which is the embodiment of a spirit and thus an intelligence also - within a glorious immortal non corruptible physical body never to be separated again. 1 Cor 15:35-45

The Resurrection - The Resurrection of Jesus Christ - a Talk