The most powerful and far-reaching declaration the world has ever known is comprised of just a few words:

"He is not here: for he is risen." (Matt. 28:6.)Those words by two heavenly visitors capture the very essence of the life and mission of the Savior. What a magnificent message - there is nothing in all history to equal it.

It is a beautiful testimony that the Savior broke the cords of death that had bound mankind since the beginning of time. It is a simple statement that the cruel crucifixion of Jesus between two thieves at Golgotha outside the city walls of Jerusalem was not the end, but that His death, in reality, was part of a great and eternal plan, culminating in His resurrection. The announcement that Jesus had risen from the dead was the glorious aftermath of the terrible doom and darkness and destruction that occurred at the time of His death so vividly described in the Book of Mormon. Yes, at His death, the whole earth "did shake as if it was about to divide asunder," and lightnings, thunderings and tempest did reign across the earth for the space of three hours, followed by darkness so thick that its vapor could be felt and which covered the land for three days. (See 3 Nephi 8.)

But then came that marvelous morn we commemorate as Easter. Christ the Lord rose triumphant from the grave. He had risen! A new day had dawned where man no longer would be a slave to the grave. The ransom had been paid by the Only Begotten Son of the Father, the only sinless person to ever live on the earth. "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . . he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities. . . ." (Isa. 53:4-5.) Jesus had risen from the borrowed tomb hewn out of a rock and lived again.

"The miracle of that resurrection morning, that first Easter Sunday," President Gordon B. Hinckley declared at the April 1985 general conference, "is a miracle for all mankind. It is the miracle of the power of God, whose Beloved Son gave His life to atone for the sins of all, a sacrifice of love for every son and daughter of God. In so doing He broke the seals of death."

He lives! Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon testified to this: "And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" (D&C 76:22.)

What a great blessing for all of us. Because Jesus lives we, too, shall live beyond the grave. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" the Apostle Paul asked in his epistle to the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 15:55.)

Through His indescribable suffering, Jesus, the Savior of the world and the author of our salvation, became "the firstfruits of them that slept." (1 Cor. 15:20.) "Because I live, ye shall live also," He taught. (John 14:19.)

Through the wonder and majesty of His infinite atonement that we do not fully understand, Jesus won the victory over death. He opened the gates of salvation to all. But the crowning glory of what the Savior did for us was more than providing a universal resurrection for all mankind, as important as this is. The crowning glory was to provide the way for those who serve Him and keep His commandments to return to His presence in the kingdom of His Father and enjoy the fruits of eternal life.

That is the glorious and magnificent message of Easter. That is the message that has brought solace and comfort to millions. Because Jesus was willing to lay down His life for us, we are able to take our lives up again and, if worthy, dwell with Him forever.

Elder Howard W. Hunter, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, in speaking of the message of Easter at the April 1983 general conference, said: "It is a beautiful message - there will be life after death; we can return to live with our Father in Heaven once again, because of the sacrifice the Savior has made for us, and because of our own repentance and obedience to the commandments.

"In the glorious dawn of Easter morning, when the thoughts of the Christian world are turned to the resurrection of Jesus for a few fleeting moments, let us express appreciation to our Heavenly Father for the great plan of salvation that has been provided for us. We should turn toward unselfishness and careful adherence to the principles of righteousness."

What Jesus did for us in Gethsemane and on Calvary is the greatest single act of love in recorded history. He did for us that which we could not do for ourselves. As we celebrate Easter this glorious time of the year, let us return love to Him through our obedience to His commandments and through our acts and deeds of kindness and service to all of God's children.