D&C 138: 16-18. . . "Liberty to the captives!"

There are no more willow vendors, or great piles of baskets and embroidered or painted scarves.  This week flower sellers are out.  This is the third week of Velykden (or Easter).

The dead are remembered during the whole week after Easter.  This is the time when families visit cemeteries to clean and repair tombstones and fences and to tidy grounds.  

 Then on Sunday following Easter Sunday, people gather in the cemeteries, bringing with them food and drink to eat together, then leave some for their departed family members.

This month-long Easter celebration has been fascinating for us to watch and to learn from.  It seems to be an amazing mix of dedication to Christian principles combined with hold-over from Pagan rituals (like Easter in the USA but without the stuffed bunnies) . . . having the form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof.

 

We had a lesson today with a sweet and pretty young girl, Sophia, who had said previously that she didn't understand what we could offer beyond what she already has.  Today we shared with her restored truths about the eternal nature of not only the individual, but of families.  Mom bore beautiful testimony about the importance of families beyond the veil. The girl left with a pedigree chart and ideas to help her find out about her extended family.  She already has a love for Christ.  We hope that she will come to love and treasure His beautiful plan for families. This is what the atonement is all about.