Easter in Arizona wouldn't be complete.....

........without going to the Easter Pageant - Jesus the Christ at the Mesa Arizona Temple. My pictures didn't turn out so I found these on the internet. The first one shows some of the cast as they are preparing for the production. The cast (except Jesus) mingle among the crowd prior to the production. It is a wonderful family event with people coming early and taking advantage of the beautiful green lawns to have picnic dinners on. We opted to eat sitting in our chairs! There were about 12 of us (among the thousands of others) that met to watch the story of Jesus the Christ.

Here are the ten virgins portrayed in song and dance. Wonderful, wonderful costumes and even better is the story being told of the Savior's life, death, and resurrection. That He paid the price we could not pay - His loving atonement for our sins allows us to return to our Father in Heaven. How humbling.

I don't think there was a dry eye as Christ was taken and crucified for us.

This photo is a little fuzzy but you get the idea - - Christ lives! He came to earth, suffered, bled, and died and then his body and soul were resurrected again! The message is so glorious! He is our Elder Brother and while we might be willing to die for Him, are we willing to LIVE for Him?

Come to Arizona next year and we'll go to the pageant together and you'll see how magnificent this portrayal is and how it only gives us a tiny glimpse of what price He paid for us.

The following is taken from one of my favorite hymns:

"I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives who once was dead. He lives my everliving Head. He lives to bless me with his love. He lives to plead for me above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need." (Words by Samuel Medley)