Saturday: Jesus' Burial

 His body was taken from the cross. Joseph of Arimethaea begged Pilate for the body of Jesus. He and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus’ body, and laid him in a tomb. These two men were in leadership. To come forth as sympathizers of Jesus was a big move. After his body is washed and dressed, they rolled a stone in front of the entry to the tomb. Guards were set to watch so no one could steal the body and claim that He had risen. It is my belief when you die, your spirit and body are separated. The body remains buried, while the spirit is received in a place called the spirit world. Here your spirit waits until it will be time to be reunited with your body, just as Jesus’ was. In my Faith, we believe that while His body was laid to rest, Jesus went to the Spirit World, the prison spoken of in 1 Peter 3:19. Only a “prison” in the sense that your progression has been interrupted. We believe Jesus came to the Spirit world to establish a teaching pattern for His Gospel just like He did for those on Earth. Baptism and the gift of The Holy Ghost ( born water and fire) are required to enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:1-2,5). If required, then what happens to those who had never even heard of Jesus Christ? Think how many millions of people had died before hearing His Gospel. How could a loving God be so unfair? The best news is that He’s not unfair! He had a plan! And part of that plan was redeeming the dead as well! He sent His Son to the Spirit World to establish His Gospel. The righteous (think Adam and Eve, Noah and Naamah, Moses and Zipporah, and for those of my faith Lehi and Sariah, Nephi and his wife, and many others) would have been instructed and taught what to do to teach those who struggled to be obedient during their time on earth, or never heard the gospel. They would be taught and given a chance to accept Jesus as their Savior and the Son of God. This is why we have temples in my Faith. There, we do work by proxy for our dead ancestors. I understand it can seem like a strange practice. But for me, I think it one of the most beautiful and unique truths of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Day Saints!