Easter Activity

Thinking of Easter coming up. This was an idea I shared with my Dad and he liked it so maybe you would like to share it with your families. print, cut apart and put each thought in a plastic easter egg (you will need 12 eggs) We do this every year and it is really pretty and fun to use. It helps to keep the real meaning in Easter. love, Rose

#1 (sacrament cup) Luke 22:42 and 44 Jesus then went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Here he took upon himself the sins of the world. His suffering was so great that he bled from every pore.

#2 (coins Mark 14:10-11 and 44-45) One of Jesus’ disciples, Judas Iscariot, led men who were angry with Jesus to Him while he was praying. He did this because the wicked men told him that they would give him 30 pieces of silver for doing so. The wicked men wanted to kill Jesus. One of the disciples cut off one of the soldiers ears but Jesus healed the guard’s ear and was led away. 

#3 (soap Matthew 27:24) Jesus was brought to the governor, Pontius Pilate, to stand trail. Pilate was a powerful leader. It was the time of the Jewish Passover and Pilate would allow one prisoner to go free. Pilate found no fault with Jesus and thought to set him free but the people said no set Barabbas free. Barabbas was a thief and a murderer. Pilate knew that Jesus was not guilty but that he was innocent! To show he would not be responsible for the death of Jesus he washed his hands of the mater. He still allowed the mocking and scourging of Jesus before he was taken to be crucified.

#4 (ropes Matthew 27:29) Jesus was bound by ropes, spit upon, severely beaten, whipped and mocked. One of Jesus’ disciples, Peter, was so scared by how Jesus was being treated that he denied him three times. He later repented for he loved Jesus.

#5 (thorns (rose thorns work well) Matthew 27:28) Jesus was mocked and dressed in a scarlet robe. The wicked men made a crown of thorns and placed it upon Jesus’ head. He was beaten and whipped again.

#6 (cross (match sticks make a good cross)Luke 23:33) The wicked men decided to crucify Jesus. They made him carry a heavy cross to a hill called Calvary where he was nailed to the cross between two thieves. A sign was placed above his head which read, “King of the Jews”written in three languages. While on the cross Jesus was offered vinegar to drink. Jesus did not drink the vinegar. Jesus asked John, one of his disciples to take care of his mother. Before he died he cried out, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” The soldiers mocked him and he said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. 

#7 (pair of dice Mark 15:24) While Jesus was dying on the cross the soldiers gambled for his clothing.

#8 (small rocks Matthew 27:51 and 54) Jesus hung on the cross many hours. Finally he said, “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit,” and he died. As soon as this happened, darkness and storms arose showing the tremendous grief Heavenly Father felt when he witnessed these things being done to His Son. Some of The wicked people then realized that this must indeed be the Son of God.

#9 (white linen cloth John 19:40) Jesus was wrapped in linen cloth for burial.

#10 (spices (whole cloves work well.)John 19:40) Joseph of Arimathaea, a disciples of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could care for the body of Jesus after he had died. Pilate agreed to let him do this. The body of Jesus was wrapped in linen with appropriate spices. Spices were used to preserve bodies. Mary and Mary Magdalene wrapped Christ’s body in the linen with spices the day Jesus died. (Friday) and then waited until the first day of the week (Sunday) before they returned to do this again---because Saturday was the Sabbath.

#11 (large rock Matthew 28:2) A large stone was rolled across the door to the tomb in which Christ’s body lay. There was a guard set to watch so no one could come and steal the body of Jesus. An angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone and the men on watch started to shake and became, “as dead men>” When the men told the Pharisees what had happened, the Pharisees paid them to tell others that the stone had been rolled away while they were asleep.

#12 (EMPTY  except for the thought Matthew 29:6; John 20: 15-16) When Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the sepulcher. Their was an angel sitting there who told them to go and tell the disciples that Christ had risen. Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene while she was in the garden mourning his death. She thought he was the gardener when he asked, “woman, why weepiest thou?” She asked Him what he had done with the body of Jesus. Then he said to her, “Mary” she turned and recognized Him. Saying “Rabboni” meaning master. 

Jesus did rise on the third day! He gives us the gift of Eternal life He has made it possible to be forgiven of our sins through his atonement. He has made it possible for us to live as a family with him and Heavenly Father in the highest part of the Celestial Kingdom! This is the true meaning of Easter!

Memo #8 (written January 1, 2001)

From: Grandpa Richard Pratt

To: All Pratt Family adults and selected others

Re: PREPARATION

There was considerable controversy at the dawn of January 1, 2000 as to whether it was the beginning of the 7th millennia since the fall of Adam. (The beginning of mortality on this earth) But that controversy is now over. We are in the beginning of that 1000 year period of time known to all Christians as the “Millennium” (Millennium is from Latin and means 1000 years.

 Mille = 1000 annum = year.) 

This is the millennium in which Jesus Christ is going to come and reign personally upon the earth for 1000 years. 

Does that mean he is coming this year? NO! For there are still several prophesied events that must take place first. And the prophecies indicate they will take place in the beginning of this millennium and then the Savior will come. The next 50 or even 100 years could be the beginning years of this glorious millennium in which these events will be completed. When the world is on the verge of self-destruction Jesus will appear and take over all governments as King of Kings. (These events to be developed in later memos.) Many of you will live to see all these prophesied events fulfilled and will meet the Savior at his coming. So what must we do in preparation?

“Behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God....” Alma 34:32

We have two main duties in this life, to neglect either one is to imperil first our mortal life and secondly and most importantly our eternal life.

Our first duty when we reach adulthood is to provide the necessities of life for ourselves. Any man or woman can do so if they determine to do it. We do not have entitlements  as we are so glibly promised by the politicians. To accept government handouts is the road to self-destruction. It destroys a persons initiative and saps his or her energy until they become mindless pawns in the hands of those who led them to believe it. Shun all government handouts as you would the plague. They are Satanically inspired. And those in high places who promise them to you are deliberately leading you into servitude. 

If, sometime, in your adulthood adverse circumstances reduce you to want, your family should come to your aid until you are recovered, but no longer. In the event that family can’t or won’t help then you appeal to your Bishop. The Bishop has access to the church welfare system which means almost unlimited resources to take care of every facet of life’s  necessities. As a Bishop and Branch President 3 times over a period of 13 years I had the privilege many times of using these resources to relieve want in the lives of many.

So remember, you, your family, your church    Should be able to always take care of your mortal needs, BUT NEVER GOVERNMENT!

Historically, 19 civilizations have self-destructed when they became totally dependent upon government handouts. (From research of British historian Arnold Toynbee) 

But this mortal life is soon over and is the only time we have in which to prepare to meet God. And again the order of responsibility is the same, ourselves, our family, and His Church. Our family may fail us but we may still succeed by adherence to the truths, and ordinances of that great organization Jesus set up on the earth 2000 years ago. (Actually 6000 years ago when He baptised Adam and Eve.) And has again been restored to the earth through a modern prophet. (It having been taken from the earth during the dark ages, roughly from 400 AD to 1800 AD) 

I have been privileged to live to an advanced old age. Only a few people live to 80. Most of you won’t! I will be 89 on March 14th which will be the beginning of my 90th year. I hope I finish it, chances are I won’t! 

I have become keenly aware in the last little while that most of mortal life’s pleasures are foolishness. Meaning that they will soon be over and the only thing I can take with me into the next life is my family and even that will be limited to those who have complied with all the ordinances of God’ Great Plan.  I surely do not want to lose any one of you! Please! Please do not procrastinate taking advantage of that great eternal well-fare plan that will make us an in dependent family forever. Each husband and wife being a link in a great chain of families. 

“I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. (The ordinances and binding of families together.)

Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, (Death) that I will repent, that I will return to my God, Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit (ATTITUDE) which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit (attitude) will have power to possess your  body in that eternal world.” Alma 34: 33-34

Then the next verse informs us that if we have put off doing the necessary preparations for the next life until we die that we become subject to the Devil and he doth seal us his and it is everlastingly too late to be sealed to our family. 

Remember that Jesus brings salvation to all those who believe on his name, for those who believe on his name WILL DO WHAT HE says!   Please Prepare.

Love, Grandpa