"Yes, I Love You Forever."

I have the tendency to over prepare for talks. Which is funny feeling for me to say, given I never write word for word what I would like to say.

I walked up to the pulpit this last Sunday, Easter Sunday for the culture here, with 7 pages in hand. I was ready.

"For another time, Elder," the spirit said as something else came into my mind.

"Okay."

I recalled a story I heard nearly 18 months ago; only by the spirit did it come back to my thought.

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I told it from memory, but I have the luxury of being able to copy it here. It was originally quoted from Gordon B. Hinckley

"I have a simple story I would like to recount. It is something of a parable. I do not have the name of the author. Perhaps it will have special interest for our children. I hope it will be a reminder for all.

“Years ago there was a little one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them.

“A young, inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked: ‘Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.’

"I will risk it,’ he replied.

“The first day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom whispered: ‘I won’t need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.’
“The teacher said, ‘Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.’ They yelled and made fun at the top of their voices. ‘Now, I want a good school, but I confess that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.’

“One fellow yelled, ‘No stealing!’ Another yelled, ‘On time.’ Finally, ten rules appeared on the blackboard.

“'Now,’ said the teacher, ‘a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’

“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response from the class.

“‘That is pretty severe, boys. Are you sure that you are ready to stand by it?’ Another yelled, ‘I second the motion,’ and the teacher said, ‘All right, we will live by them! Class, come to order!’

“In a day or so, ‘Big Tom’ found that his lunch had been stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old. ‘We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule—ten stripes across the back. Jim, come up here!’ the teacher said.

“The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and pleaded, ‘Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please, don’t take my coat off!’

“‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’

“‘Oh, teacher, don’t make me!’ He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The boy had no shirt on, and revealed a bony little crippled body.

“‘How can I whip this child?’ he thought. ‘But I must, I must do something if I am to keep this school.’ Everything was quiet as death.

“‘How come you aren’t wearing a shirt, Jim?’

“He replied, ‘My father died and my mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is washing it today, and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep me warm.’

“The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then ‘Big Tom’ jumped to his feet and said, ‘Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.’

“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’

“Off came Tom’s coat, and after five strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, ‘How can I finish this awful task?’ Then he heard the class sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’”

"To lift a phrase from this simple story, Jesus, my Redeemer, has taken 'my licking for me' and yours for you."

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What a blessing.

He took it for us. He has paid for it already. He did it; because he took our sins upon himself and suffered for them.

Then, he died.

In which returning in a resurrected state announced to the world the Atonement had been preformed.

This was the greatest moment in the history of the world.

As Elder Patrick Kearon said last conference, "The veil of the temple was rent in twain when Jesus died upon the cross, symbolizing that access back to the presence of the Father had been ripped wide open—to all who will turn to Him, trust Him, cast their burdens on Him, and take His yoke upon them in a covenant bond.

"In other words, the Father’s plan is not about roadblocks. It never was; it never will be. Are there things we need to do, commandments to keep, aspects of our nature to change? Yes. But with His grace, those are within our reach, not beyond our grasp."

It has been a joy to celebrate Easter, yet again, in Cyprus. We once again attended Το Άγιο Φως, and the light symbolizing Christ was spread across the crowd.

We had the opportunity to do it along with a Greek family here, and we had a blast.
We tried traditional soup you have on Πάσχα, which consists of lamb liver with various other things. Yes, it was good. Probably wouldn't eat it more often than Easter though.

Also, for those that might be wondering, the wedding went well! It was a wonderful event. I've been trying to figure out though, are events here shorter than they are in the States, or am I getting older?

Everything was happening so quickly! Before I knew it, it was over! But I wonder if that is since the planning was so much, it felt so short in comparison.

Regardless, it was an honor to be so involved in such a special event. I'm so happy for Francis and Ceecee. They seem so happy.

One member did come up to me and say, "Where are the flowers? There weren't many flowers!"

I leaned over and said, "Well okay. If you get a bunch of Elders walking around trying to decorate for something like this, I can promise --near guarantee-- something is going to be missed."

She laughed and continued on her merry way.

I felt almost as the father of the groom cause Francis called out to me as he cut the cake, "Elder Hansen! What do I do?"

The funny thing was I didn't know exactly what to tell him. "Francis-- I've never done this before either!"

What a joy.

Well, this email is a bit shorter, but I wanna get ready for bed.

I hope this Easter season has been special for you all!

Elder Dylan John Hansen