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kindness and tenderness, He pleadedfor John to take care of His mother,Mary. He asked His Father in Heaven toforgive the executioners who crucifiedHim. With His work on earth fulfilled,He commended His spirit to God andbreathed His last breath. The physicalbody of Christ was taken to the tomband remained there three days.The Work of the Redeemeramong the DeadWhile His disciples were sufferingfrom sadness, discouragement, anduncertainty, our Savior, in anotherphase of His Father’s glorious plan,extended His ministry in a new way.In the short period of three days, He14worked untiringly to organize theimmense work of salvation among thedead. Those days became some of themost hope-filled of all for the familyof God. During that visit He organizedHis faithful followers so that theywould bear glad tidings of redemptionto those who did not in life come toknow of the glorious plan or whohad rejected it. Now they would havethe opportunity to be freed from theircaptivity and to be redeemed by theGod of both the living and the dead(see D&C 138:19, 30–31).The Firstfruits of the ResurrectionWith His work completed in thespirit world, He returned to earth—forever to unite His spirit with Hisphysical body. Even though He hadauthoritatively shown His power overdeath, the scriptural accounts of thoseHe brought back to life before HisResurrection demonstrate that theywere only coming back to a life thathad been miraculously prolonged;they would yet die.Christ was the first to be resurrectedand never die again, to possessforever a perfect, eternal body. InHis resurrected state, He appearedto Mary, who as soon as she recognizedHim, began to worship Him.Our Redeemer, with great tenderness,warned her concerning His new andglorious condition: “Touch me not; forI am not yet ascended to my Father”( John 20:17)—providing an additionalwitness that His ministry in the spiritworld was real and complete. Then,using language that confirmed thereality of His Resurrection, He said,“I ascend unto my Father, and yourFather; and to my God, and yourGod” ( John 20:17). After going toHis Father, He returned again andappeared to His Apostles. “He shewedunto them his hands and his side.Then were the disciples glad, whenthey saw the Lord” ( John 20:20).The Redeemer Will ReturnI testify that Christ will return in away very different from His first coming.He will come in power and glorywith all the just and faithful Saints.He will come as King of kings andLord of lords, as the Prince of Peace,the promised Messiah, the Saviorand Redeemer, to judge the livingand the dead. I love and serve Himwith all my heart, and I plead that wemay serve with joy and dedicationand that we may remain faithful toHim until the end. In His name, JesusChrist, amen. ◼