He is Risen

Photo taken April 1, 2015
 

I thought I added this on April 2, 2015, but somehow it didn't post. 
     The Easter Lily, also known as Madonna Lily, has become a symbol of Christ's resurrection.
On the third day, "they came unto the sepulcher" where Jesus was buried, to bring "spices which they had prepared" but "they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus . . . behold two men stood by them in shining garments . . . they said, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but it risen" (Luke 24:1-6). Rejoice! The Lord is king! "He suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And "he inviteth all men to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God" (2 Nephi 26:33).

Green Things of March

"I was exalted like...the cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon" (Ecclesiastes 24:13)

     Think green for March!  These tall, columnar Mediterranean Cypress trees grew everywhere in the Middle East.  Their funny green pods reminded me of Yoda in Star Wars. As they dry out, the pods turn charcoal and open out like a little rubrics cube. 

 

"Heart's Desire"

    Because February is the month of love, I felt it would be fun to post a caper plant, nicknamed "Desire" for this month's message.  As we approach the Lord with the desires of our hearts, He does hear and answer our prayers. 
    Prayers aren't always answered in the way we want, but we can know that He hears us.  This plant grows wild all over the Holy Land.  It even grows on walls and among rocks!  But the lovely white flowers with vivid magenta stems and stamens are show-stoppers.  The pure, white flower is representative of a pure heart.  The royal purple stem and stamens remind us of our royal heritage as sons and daughters of God.  Truly, this flower expresses love (Ecclesiastes 12:5).

"Shall Blossom as a Rose"

Photo taken on the grounds of the Garden Tomb. Old Jerusalem. May 2014

     Isaiah, respected as the prophet of all prophets, predicted that as fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, in the day of the restoration of the gospel Israel would again be gathered and "rejoice and blossom as the rose" (Isa. 35:1). Likewise, in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, a branch of the house of Israel, known as the Lamanites, were given a similar promise. It says they "shall blossom as the rose" (D&C 49:24).
     Through the Zionist movement, we are seeing the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.  We can also witness that a branch of the house of Israel, through the seed of Joseph, are accepting the gospel and becoming a great nation. 

"Come to Bethlehem and see"

As we approach the "holy" day, Christmas, it was fitting to post me in Bethlehem, the town where Christ was born.  Bethlehem is close to Jerusalem, but far from the home of Joseph, the carpenter and Mary, his espoused wife.

Gifts for the Christchild



Frankincense - Boswellia carterii



Myrrh - Commiphora kataf

Two of the precious gifts brought to the newborn Christ child were plant resins known as Frankincense and Myrrh.  They were prized among royalty for their fragrant qualities and several uses.  

Frankincense, a sweet-smelling gum extracted from tree bark, is a milky substance that drips, and is left to dry for several days. After separating the resin according to its quality, it was used for perfumes, medicines and incense. 



Myrrh is a highly aromatic gum resin from a low-growing, thorny plant.  The oily substance bleeds from the tree and quickly hardens.  It was used for perfumes and ointments. 

Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise

As a token of His mercy, the Lord commanded the children of Israel, "Take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees and branches of palm trees . . . rejoice before the Lord your God" during the harvest-time Feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40, Nehemiah 8:14-18). From that time, the tradition of palm leaves and other branches during important processions was part of the ceremony, as well as times of triumph over foes.
Jesus's victorious entry brought, full circle, centuries of symbolic remembrance of God's love.  The true Deliverer had arrived.  Coming for Passover, riding a colt up the hill into the holy city Jerusalem, Jesus fulfilled prophecy in astonishing detail.  To honor His arrival throngs of people laid down palm branches, just as the children of Israel had been instructed from that first Passover.  That day the ancient practice of bearing palm fronds and other branches connected centuries of tradition.