This Easter season, I have found myself thinking a lot about my great-grandmother Opal and grandmother Dixie, both who have past away in the last couple of years.

With these women in mind, John 11:25-26 has meant more to me.

I am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

My great grandmother, Opal, was a righteous woman. She raised her children and taught them to believe.  She has continued a chain reaction that has moved on through her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. We believe, because she first believed.  In tribute, her funeral carried the theme of her being a Virtuous Woman, which was so appropriate for the life she lived.

The Savior invites us to “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me” (Matthew 11:28-29) The Savior wants us to be believing, actively living what we believe.  We are commanded to “Believe in God; believe that he is…believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God…if you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:9-10).

Sister Mary N. Cook teaches us: “Be an example of the believers in faith. Actively strengthen your own faith and testimony of Jesus Christ. We have Latter-day scriptures and the words of our Latter-day prophets to ‘safely guide us on the path to eternal life.’” We are guided by a prophet and we are given blessings that provide direction. If we heed these directions, our faith is strengthened.

Sister Cook continues in her teaching, “Next, be an example of the believers in purity. The only way for us to become pure is through the Atonement of our Savior. For each of us, the process of becoming pure begins with faith, repentance, and our first covenant of baptism.” (Be An Example of the Believers, October 2010 General Conference)

When we live in faith by pursuing a righteous life, and consistently making and keeping sacred covenants, our testimonies will be strong.  We will be ready for a life with our Father in Heaven, because we first believed.

Now, many of our loved ones don’t believe. What happens to them? This gospel preaches eternal families, but what of unbelieving family members?

DLee, my grandmother, did not choose to believe the gospel. She came from believing blood, became converted, but experiences in her life made her forget what she believed at one time.  Her children have carried on living the gospel and are hopeful in the Atonement. Even though she did not believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, her children rest their hope on a promise made in D&C 138: 58-59.

Listen to this comforting statement made by Elder Orson F. Whitney:

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God. (Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110).

The hope is that the believing blood that rests in the souls of our loved ones will bring to remembrance the desire they once had in the Spirit World. They will have to pay for their own sins, but will be welcomed into their Heavenly Father’s embrace if that is their desire.