'He Lives!' BYU President C. Shane Reese speaks at Easter Conference

Students filled the auditorium of the Joseph Smith Building on April 1 to hear Easter messages focused on Jesus Christ.

C. Shane Reese, president of Brigham Young University and the keynote speaker, spoke about the joy and peace we can acquire and maintain in our lives through Christs resurrection.

BYU religious educators Amy Easton and Robbie Taggart touched on the tender mercy and strength granted from God and made possible by His Son, Jesus Christ.

Guests sang joyful hymns and enjoyed a beautiful musical performance focused on the Easter season.

I came here tonight just hoping to hear a little bit of the word of God, John Murdock, BYU student, said. I've loved the focus on how Christ can turn us into someone that has a happier greater life."

Easton, the first speaker, focused on living a life in Christ. She expounded this idea by explaining that a life in Christ:

Following Easton's remarks, Taggart shared some personal experiences from his life and how they brought him to a greater understanding of a "Pascal life."

In discipleship, every Christian descends with Jesus through the anguish of death and the loss of all things," Taggart said. "This is the Pascal way, the Easter way, a way that does not deny death or suffering, but willingly passes through and forgives them, includes and transcends them.

He explained that Christ triumphs over death.

In a Pascal life, death never has the final word," Taggart said. "Paul ultimately asserts that, As Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in the newness of life.

Guests were given a brief 10-minute intermission before enjoying a musical number and hearing from President Reese.

President Reese recounted the story of Christs death and resurrection as told in the New Testament and quoted a variety of scriptures.

He detailed the pain Christs mother, friends, and disciples must have experienced when He died, and likewise the immense joy of seeing Him live again.

We read in the New Testament that when the resurrected Christ appeared in the midst of his disciples, he showed them his hands and his feet; some of the disciples 'believed not for joy, Reese said.

He continued, sharing his interpretation.

This is a curious phrase, believed not for joy. It comes from the King James version of the Bible. And I take it to mean they were so overcome with joy that they simply couldn't believe their own eyes, Reese said.

He then shared two stories that demonstrated the power, safety and reassurance that come from Christ's atonement.

Reese added his witness to the truth behind the testimony of both the late President Russel M. Nelson and living prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks.

To know Christ is risen is to know that we too shall rise and have our loved ones again. It is to know that God cares for each of us. He gives us hope and peace and enduring joy beyond description, Reese said.

Even in the hardest times, Jesus Christ was broken that we may be healed. Jesus Christ died that we might live and rise again," Reese said. "This is my joyful testimony this season and always that he lives and that he is risen. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives. I know that my redeemer lives.'"