The term resurrection comes from two words, “RE” meaning to repeat or do again and “SURGERE” (Latin) meaning to rise as with a strong impulse or surge. A re-surrection is to be brought back to life; to have a re-surge of life or power. A resurrected person is one whose body was once alive, and which has died, and is filled again with a surge of power or life, which enables him to rise up again.
(Robert J. Matthew, CE Faculty Lecture, 2-90)
The Savior’s Resurrection Broke the Bands of Death
“…and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory;…” (Alma 22: 14 in the Book of Mormon p. 264)
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept”
(1 Corinthians 15: 20 in the Bible)
His Resurrection Was Witnessed by Many
When Jesus Christ appeared to His apostles after His Resurrection He said,” Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.” (Luke 24: 39-40 in the Bible)
“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” (Matthew 27: 52-53 in the Bible)
The Resurrection Brings Us a Perfect Body
“The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame.. …that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption.” (Alma 11: 43-45 in the Book of Mormon p. 236)
It will be a Resurrection of all Living Things including Animals
The Lord has declared, “For all old things shall pass away, and all things shall become new, even the heaven and the earth, and all the fulness thereof, both men and beasts, the fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; And not one hair, neither mote, shall be lost, for it is the workmanship of mine hand.”
(Doctrine & Covenants 29: 24-25 p. 51)
The Glory and Power of Our Resurrected Body is Subject to Obedience to God’s Commandments
The power and glory of our future resurrected bodies will be affected by our faith in Jesus Christ and our obedience to His commandments. The Apostle Paul describes this difference. “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:” (1 Corinthians 15: 40-41 in the Bible)
Great Future Blessing from God
One of the great future gifts from Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father will be our glorious, beautiful resurrected bodies. It should be a motivation to keep the commandments of God.
Dallas Jones, local leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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