Speaking of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, President Spencer W. Kimball said in the October 1978 general conference:

"Our beloved brother Paul, after acclaiming `that Christ died for our sins . . . And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures,' then said: `If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.' (1 Cor. 15:3-4, 19.)"Then he taught and testified that even as Christ is risen from the dead, so will all men come forth from the grave; each will then be judged according to his works, and each will receive his appointed place in the mansions which are prepared.

"In that resurrected state, Paul said, there are `celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, and bodies telestial; but the glory of the celestial, one; and the terrestrial, another; and the telestial, another.' " (Inspired Version, 1 Cor. 15:40.)

President Kimball said the gospel of Jesus Christ is the eternal plan of salvation devised and announced by God for the salvation of all who will believe and obey.

"We are eternal beings," he said. "We have no way of comprehending how long we dwelt in the presence of God as His spirit children. . . . This life consists of a brief yesterday, a few short hours of today, and a few moments tomorrow. The oldest men among us scarcely live longer than a hundred years. But the life that is to be is forever. It will have no end. Men will rise from the grave and not die after. Life is eternal, unending; never after the resurrection will the children of our Father taste death.

"We have a hope in Christ here and now. He died for our sins. Because of Him and His gospel, our sins are washed away in the waters of baptism; sin and iniquity are burned out of our souls as though by fire; and we become clean, have clear consciences, and gain that peace which passeth understanding. (See Phil. 4:7.)

"By living the laws of His gospel, we gain temporal prosperity and maintain health of body and strength of mind. The gospel blesses us today.

"But today is just a grain of sand in the Sahara of eternity. We have also a hope in Christ for the eternity that lies ahead; otherwise, as Paul said, we would be `of all men most miserable.' (1 Cor. 15:19.)

"How great would be our sorrow - and justly so - if there were no resurrection! How miserable we would be if there were no hope of life eternal! If our hope of salvation and eternal reward should fade away, we would certainly be more miserable than those who never had such an expectancy."

" `But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.' (1 Cor. 15:20.)

"Now `as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.' (1 Cor. 15:49.)

"Now provision has been made whereby `this corruptible shall . . . put on incorruption and this mortal shall . . . put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.' " (1 Cor. 15:54.)

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Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Sunday School course of study on the New Testament, lesson No. 33.

Information compiled by Gerry Avant

Sources: April 1950, October 1978, and October 1984 general conference reports.