Suggested Hymns:
He Is Risen! (Hymns 199)
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (Hymns 200)

Read:
"Paul explained to the Romans that Christ submitted Himself to death but, 'being raised from the dead[,] dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him' (Rom. 6:9). Jesus Christ, our Savior, has always been the master of life, but through His atoning sacrifice, He also became the master over death....

"Think what this means! Because of our Savior’s victory, we too can be victorious. In the face of this good news, this triumphant shout from the battlefield of ultimate victory, then we can see why our everyday sacrifices, our ordinary hope, is so tough, so versatile, so difficult to turn into meaninglessness and despair.....

"I testify that the forces of life are always stronger than the forces of death. If we choose, if we even desire to choose, if we even hope for the desire to choose, we set in motion powerful forces for life that are led by Jesus Christ himself....

"[C]hoose life even though the forces of death seem strong! Choose hope even though despair seems close! Choose to grow even though circumstances oppress you! Choose to learn even though you must struggle against your own ignorance and that of others! Choose to love, even though ours are days of violence and vengeance. Choose to forgive, to pray, to bless another’s life with simple kindness." (Chieko N. Okazaki, "Raised in Hope," Ensign [Nov. 1996]: 89-90)

Discuss:
Sister Okazaki speaks of the "forces of death." She also reminds us that "ours are days of violence and vengeance." Where in the world around us do we see forces at work producing death, despair, and violence? (You'll no doubt find numerous examples simply by leafing through today's newspaper.)

Sister Okazaki testifies that because of Christ's victory over death, we can "set in motion powerful forces for life." As disciples of Christ, what can we do in the here and now to work against the forces of death?

Activity:
Invite family members to reflect in their journals on the question: When have I helped the Savior set in motion forces for life? On Easter Sunday, urge family members to use the sacrament as an occasion to recommit themselves to serving the risen Christ by promoting forces for life.