Elder Gerald N. Lund touts importance of remembering Christ, his sacrifices

PROVO — Remembering all that the Savior has done for humankind is a powerful agent for each individual personally, Elder Gerald N. Lund, an emeritus general authority for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Saturday during the BYU Easter Conference.

During his address, Elder Lund spoke of the personal and universal importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Drawing from the conference's theme, "My Redeemer Lives," and the four gospels found in the Bible, Elder Lund gave examples of how the Atonement affected the Savior as a mortal man.

"It wasn't just the son of God (who) went through that Easter week," he said. "Yes, Jesus was the son of God, but he was also a man. He had a body like ours that needed food and sleep. He had a personality and character traits. If he walked too far in one day, his feet would blister."

Focusing on the mortality of the Savior's life, Elder Lund shared the significance of the Savior's ability and willingness to use his agency to bend his will to God's will.

"One of the greatest blessings we have in life is agency," Elder Lund said. "We are free to follow our will. The Savior also had agency, but his will, his wants, his desires and his wishes always came second. As he said in the Garden of Gethsemane, 'not as I will, but as thou wilt.' "

Drawing from the gospel of Mark, Elder Lund spoke of the respectful manner in which the Savior addressed God in his prayer prior to the crucifixion. The wording shows the intimate relationship the Savior had with God, and his place as the Son of God.

"When we become the sons and daughters of God … then we become spiritually born again, and then we too shall have that same intimate but respectful relationship with our father, and it should be our privilege to call upon God as did the Savior," he said.

Elder Lund also spoke of the physical aspects of the Savior's death, explaining that after taking upon himself the sorrows and sufferings of all mankind, he died of a broken heart. Drawing from the words of the Apostle Paul, Elder Lund spoke of the metaphorical death individuals experience in their lives through repentance from sin.

"Godly sorrow is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and God," he said. "This very real mental and spiritual change is what the scriptures refer to having a broken heart and contrite spirit."