"We're going to be resurrected and I'll have all my hair!" my Young Woman's president exclaimed with delight in her eyes.
I smiled, since it was funny. But what does it mean to be in our "perfect form" spirit and body reunited? What does that mean for us as spirits? As bodies? As souls?
Let's take care of the silly physical things first. They're almost entirely useless compared to what's really going on with the Resurrection, but, since this blog is what it is, I'll talk about it.
Spencer W. Kimball said, "I am sure that if we can imagine ourselves at our very best, physically, mentally, spiritually, that is the way we will come back."
Does that mean we'll all look like our 16 or 19 year old selves, the same age we were when we ran our fastest miles? Does that mean we'll be wearing caps and gowns, having just received a diploma to recognize our educational prowess? Does that mean we'll look the way we did on our missions/when we went to the temple for the first time?
I can't be sure, but what I can be sure of is this: Christ asked to keep the scars from his crucifixion. Elder Oaks said that "all who have been disadvantaged in life from birth defects, from mortal injuries, from disease, or from the natural deterioration of old age will be resurrected in 'proper and perfect frame.'"
Probably, we'll be wiped clean of scars (including stretch marks). We'll be granted any missing limbs again. Anything we didn't have to start with will be given to us. The lame will walk. The blind will see. Christ healed people of those kinds of maladies during His mortal ministry; why wouldn't He in the Resurrection? "He healed the sick, the dead He raised." It only makes sense that He'd continue to do for all people what He did for those He was able to more literally touch.
So, what else did Christ do during His ministry?
Not only did He heal many people of their physical hardships, He also granted forgiveness and atoned for all mankind.
The Atonement and the Resurrection are constantly coupled and I think that's absolutely important. One cannot exist without the other. Why would one repent (or use the atonement) if there was no promise for the future? Alternately, why would we want to be resurrected if we were impure? Elder Oaks explained that not only will our bodies be perfected in the Resurrection, but so will our memories. We will have a bright recollection of our carnal desires if we failed to do something substantial about them during our mortal lives. One cannot exist without the other. Both are incredibly important, but the atonement, or repentance, is the part we can do now. Making sure we're comfortable with ourselves, physically, mentally and spiritually, will require repentance and constant work.
Side note. I went to an art exhibit and picked this one at as my favourite:
It's called "Christ the Comforter" by Carl Bloch and it's really one of his best pieces ever. Ever. The resurrected Christ stands, in Bloch's traditional triumphant-arm stance, inviting those who need His succor to come unto Him. My favourite part of the painting was the people and their relationships to Christ. Those with physical difficulties are easily visible and lean quite dependently on Christ. The widow knows to whom she can cling, but her daughter feels betrayed by the divine hand. A peasant seems wary, cautiously glancing up to the Savior. An important looking man can't even bear to look up to the Redeemer, likely because of the guilt in his heart. The man in manacles looks physically capable (especially when compared to the others), but is unable to take care of himself. How did Christ's life, death and resurrection affect all these people? Why is it the resurrected Christ standing in the midst of them instead of the mortal Jesus?
Food for thought. I'm open for discussion.
I know that Christ is my Savior, Lord and Redeemer. He loves me enough to extend His hands to me and to change me when I ask Him to and do His will. He loved the entire world enough to have suffered for all our sins. He loved us enough to volunteer to take this mission to endure the pain of the Atonement, but to come forth triumphantly in Resurrection. He loves us enough to give us constant direction through a prophet and righteous leaders. He loves us enough to be our advocate at that great and terrible day. He loves us enough to cleanse us of our spiritual and physical scars and both are given to us to bring us closer to Him. I love Him, I know Him, I am grateful for Him.
Let's remember the miracle of the Resurrection this Easter and always, but let us also remember the gift of the Atonement and let us not forget to use it in our lives. Christ is the way, the light and the rock and, without Him, we are nothing.
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