Psalms says that “joy cometh in the morning (Psalms 30:5).  “Thou hast … girded me with gladness.”  (Psalms 30:11).

I like those statements a lot.  Morning is my favorite time.  The world is beautiful.  Everything is new.  The sun comes up.  Darkness is dispelled.  Opportunity lies ahead.  My strength and energy are renewed.  I'm eager to see what the day will bring, what adventures are in store, and what I might accomplish.  Yesterday's problems have faded, and I'm ready to take on the world.

“Joy cometh in the morning.”

Joy certainly came in the morning for Mary Magdalene.  She had spent the previous two nights and two days weeping over the crucifixion of her best friend.  Then “very early in the morning the first day of the week … at the rising of the sun,” she came to the sepulcher.  She there became the first of all mortals to behold the risen Lord.  Her sorrow was instantly banished, and was replaced with a joy that we can't imagine.

Joy also certainly came for the Nephites as their three days of darkness dispersed.  They'd spent those three dark days mourning over the loss of their kindred in the great tempests, earthquakes, and whirlwinds.  “And it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away.  And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed.”  (3 Nephi 10:9).  The ordeal was over.  Shortly the Savior appeared, taught them, healed them, and prayed for them, and it is written, “no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.”  (3 Nephi 17:17).

The morning of the first resurrection will be like that.  We'll see and know our Savior.  We'll have our bodies back, never to die again.  We'll embrace our loved ones.  Joy cometh in that morning.

Meanwhile, joy cometh in this morning.  It is Easter, 9 April 2023.  The sun rose at 6:24 over the Wallowa Mountains, considerably north of the east-west line that our county road makes.  The longer days and warming sun are finally melting our snow.  The snow has lingered longer than I ever remember it.  It is almost gone in the front yard, but there yet remains a deep drift and a foot of snow in our back yard.  The pond is still completely iced over.  The raspberries are still unpruned.  Our pair of wild geese are waiting rather impatiently for the chance to begin nesting.  Three swallows appeared yesterday, and are wondering where the warm weather is that will bring on the flying insects upon which they depend for food.

Spring is coming, and I feel girded with gladness.  I have good health.  I have strength.  I will soon be able to work outside.  I have the constant companionship of my best friend, my wife.  We have the world's most perfect relationship.

I get to go to church today.  I get to renew my covenants.  I am grateful for my covenants.  They have given me an eternal family.  They have bound me to my Savior.

I am grateful for His commandments.  They enabled me to repent.  They keep me out of trouble.  They enable my happiness.

I am grateful for my Savior.  He enabled my repentance.  He enables my service.  I am His disciple.  I want to be like Him.  I'm trying to be like Him.  The better I become at imitating Him, the happier I become.

This is a joyful morning.  I am girded with gladness.  I am in awe at what Jesus did for me 1,989 years ago when He entered the Garden of Gethsemane.  I am in awe at the future and at the promises He holds out for me.

This is a joyful morning.  I am girded with gladness.