Sunday, December 7, 2008

Sunday Inspirations December 7, 2008

There was a quote given this morning, by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church). This beloved man passed away last week, leaving within our hearts a very profound loss.

At the passing of his wife, Elder Wirthlin left a message meant specifically for his children. This message was repeated at his own funeral, one which he recorded in a talk given in 2006. The message is so beautiful, so hopeful, and so inspirational in these times of darkness I wanted to let him speak for my inspirations post today.

I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross.

On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth. Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day they stood triumphant.

On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.

On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.

On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled.

It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.

I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.

And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.


Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, Sunday will come. In this life or the next, Sunday will come.

Perhaps our "Friday" has lasted for seems like too long: a week, several months, years, or even decades. We all have "Fridays" to endure, yet they are necessary. For it is only through enduring those dark and gloomy days that we can appreciate the glorious dawn of "Sunday" in ways never before conceivable.

The Savior was resurrected, of this I testify. Because of this there is always hope that in our most horrific hours, hope is always glow eternal. Sunday will come.

**If you'd like to read Elder Wirthlin's talk in full go to Sunday Will Come.

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