#BecauseOfHim & Preparing for Easter General Conference

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week for the Christian world. There is so much to think about and to contemplate as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I served my mission in Bulgaria. On Easter morning, or Velik Den — the Great Day, in Bulgarian, the Bulgarians go to church and greet each other by saying, “Christ has Risen!” The person then answers back, “Indeed, He truly has risen!” I love greeting my ward friends this way on Easter morning — they’re slowly joining the tradition with me.

This year the Church is promoting the #BecauseOfHim media campaign. You can go to Mormon.org/easter to find videos, pictures, and insights to read and then share with your family and friends. The focus with the campaign this year is, “How will you change, #BecauseOfHim?” That question has so many possibilities for each of us as individuals, in our families and in our communities. It’s safe to say that in most corners of society there is division and strife. We can help to eliminate that strife in our own spheres of influence by learning about our Savior, and then using His patterns of behavior and interactions with people, in our behavior and interactions with others.

We also have the great opportunity this Easter to hear from the leaders of the Church this weekend during General Conference. We also will have the opportunity to participate in a solemn assembly to sustain Pres. Russell M. Nelson as the new president of the church. We will also be able to sustain two new members of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, in addition to the other apostles, and church leaders. A week ago I posted a meme on The Millennial Star’s Facebook page with a quote from Elder Uchtdorf which said, “Whatever we seek, that we will surely find.” I think it’s really easy to find voices critical of the church online at this point — too easy. Those voices seem to dominate the narrative about Mormons in the media and in the general chatter that exists in social media. My hope is that we will reject these voices and look toward, and listen to the leaders of the church for guidance and for the answers to our questions and prayers. If we approach General Conference with questions, the Lord will provide the answers in the talks, from the mouths of His called and chosen servants. Let’s listen to them. Let’s hearken to their words, and then go and do the things the Lord commands for the next six months.