Current Lessons
Lesson No. Thirty Two

Spring is the Time for New Life and Renewal, Especially in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

When Spring comes each year life on the earth, and the earth itself, experiences a surge of new life and renewal. Paraphrasing a favorite hymn, “The spring day is breaking, the world is awaking, The cold nights of winter are fleeing away” (The Day Dawn is Breaking, LDS Hymn Book, 52), and a favorite from the Children’s Song Book, “I looked out the window, and what did I see? Pop corn popping on the apricot tree” (Popcorn Popping, p. 242).

Spring reminds us that the most important events in time and eternity involved the mortal ministry of Jesus Christ. These events gives new life and renewal, both spiritual and physical:

1. “We believe that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judea, April 6, B.C. 1” – After presenting extensive details, this was the conclusion of Elder James E. Talmage in Jesus the Christ, published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 104,

2. The Book of Mormon teaches that the atoning sacrifice and the resurrection of Jesus Christ took place in Jerusalem on or near His 34th birthday, April 6, B.C. 34 – We know this because the Nephites began to reckon their time from when Christ was born. (See 3 Nephi 2:8). Then after “the thirty and third year had passed away….And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year , in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such a one as never had been known in all the land” (3 Nephi 8:2, 5).

Spring reminds us of the most important events of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days. These events give spiritual new life and renewal to all who believe:

3. The First Vision took place early in the spring of 1820 – The Prophet Joseph Smith wrote: “It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty” (Joseph Smith History 1:14). This appearance of the Father and the Son was the most important event since the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It set in motion the continuing restoration which will culminate in the Second Coming of the Lord.

4. The Book of Mormon was first published in the spring on March 27, 1830 – Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (Book of Mormon, Introduction). I believe this makes the Book of Mormon not only the most correct but also the most important book on earth.

5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in the spring on April 6, 1830 – Ten days after the Book of Mormon was published the Restored Church of Jesus Christ was organized with 6 members. Like the seeds of a mustard plant, though very small, the plant that grows from it is very great. Now with over 17,000,000 members, His Church will continue to grow and it will eventually fill the earth.

6. The Easter Week began on March 27, 1836 with the dedication of the Kirtland Temple – In the dedicatory prayer which was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith great blessings are promised to those who worship and serve in the temple. (See D&C 109)

7. This week culminated on Easter, April 3, 1836 with a personal appearance of the Lord and the restoration of priesthood keys – The Savior accepted temples as The House of the Lord; Moses restored the keys of the gathering of Israel; Elias restored God’s law concerning marriage and family; and Elijah restored the sealing power which makes all of the blessings of the gospel eternal, especially the marriage covenant. (See D&C 110) Now the way was opened for individual salvation and family exaltation.

The total solar eclipse that will take place this spring on April 8, 2024 is a spectacular and unique evidence that “witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44). The facts behind a total solar eclipse are simple but also amazingly profound. The reason there are total solar eclipses is that the Sun is 100 times bigger than Earth, and Earth is 4 times bigger than the Moon. Even though the Sun is 400 times bigger than the Moon, it is also 400 times farther away from Earth than the Moon. These intricate facts result in the Sun and the Moon appearing to be the same size to people on Earth. Therefore, at the rare times when the Sun crosses exactly behind the Moon there is a total solar eclipse on the Earth.

Lesson for our day – Spring is a wonderful time when the Lord reminds that He has control, and that His Gospel brings new life and renewal – In a revelation to Enoch, recorded by Moses, and later included in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, the Lord said: “And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things that are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, both above and beneath; all things bear record of me” (Moses 6:63).

Testimony – I add my testimony of a Supreme Creator and of the magnificence of His creations in the words of a beloved hymn: “All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Oh, praise Him! Alleluia! (LDS Hymn Book, 62).

Additional note – I previously wrote about total solar eclipses and the importance of being on the “path of totality” in Current Lessons, Lesson 10, The Greatest Show on Earth. I expect to write again after attending the total solar eclipse that will take place on April 8, 2024,

Released on March 17th. 2024.