If you have been inside any store or watched television in the past six weeks, you are well aware that Easter is being celebrated this month. Since Valentine's ended in February, the merchandisers have touted woven baskets, artificial grass, chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, jelly beans, the proverbial Easter bonnet, and many other items they believe denotes Easter. The financial experts allege that the Easter season is a multi-million dollar merchandising event.
Easter is equivalent to Springtime being official, new life, Church services, family dinners, even colored eggs and childhood fun. BUT, in the words of President David O. McKay: " It is a sacred day, a day of divine worship". It is a time when we commemorate the most important event ever to have occurred in human history.
Historians agree that the greatest events are those that effect the largest number of people for the longest periods. By this standard, no event could be more important to individuals or nations than the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
The fall of Adam brought two kinds of death into the world: spiritual death and physical death. Spiritual death is separation from God. Physical death is separation of the body and spirit. Redemption from death-that is, resurrection-is, therefore, crucial to our future happiness.
Since Adam-and all those born after him-would now be subject to death and could not raise body from grave, there had to be "...an infinite and eternal sacrifice" (see Alma 34:10). Jesus came to Earth and voluntarily gave His life to atone for the fall of Adam. He was qualified to be the Savior because He is the only person who will ever live on the earth without sin; thus, a worthy sacrifice to pay for the sins of others.
