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The Garden Tomb
The concluding scene in the most crucial drama of all time and eternity!
On a Friday afternoon almost two thousand years ago, in an obscure part of the Roman empire, the crucified Son of God was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb outside Jerusalem's city wall. Consumer with grief, his disciples did not realize that within three days, as the Jews measure time, earthshaking events would culminate in Jesus' resurrection, the which they would all become eyewitnesses. The Garden Tomb tells the story of the Savior's burial, mission to the world of the spirits, and triumph over death - all of which constitute the third act in the singular drama that was and is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
About the Author
Andrew C. Skinner is dean of Religious Education and a professor of ancient scripture at BYU. He has served as a bishop and as a member of the Church Materials Evaluation Committee. He holds a master's degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from the University of Denver. A popular speaker known for his thought-provoking ideas, he is the author or co-author of many books, including Gethsemane and Golgotha, the first two books in his Atonement trilogy.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2005
10 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Andrew C. Skinner
43 books23 followersAndrew C. Skinner was born and raised in Colorado. He attended the University of Colorado where he earned his B.A. degree in history. He then earned an M.A. degree from the Iliff School of Theology in Jewish Studies and a Th.M. degree from Harvard in Biblical Hebrew. He did graduate work at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. His Ph.D. was awarded from the University of Denver in Near Eastern and European History, specializing in Judaism.
Brother Skinner taught four years at Ricks College, and has filled three assignments at the BYU Jerusalem Center where he served as a faculty member and taught Near Eastern Studies. Since September 2000 he has served as the Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. Prior to his current appointment, he served as chair of the department of Ancient Scripture at BYU. He is the author or co-author of over 100 publications including Jerusalem: The Eternal City; New Testament Apostles Testify of Christ; Discoveries in the Judaean Desert: The Unidentified Fragments from Qumran Cave 4 (which is an analysis of all the unidentified Hebrew and Aramaic Dead Sea Scroll texts); Scriptural Parables for the Latter Days, and Gethsemane.
He served a full time mission for the LDS Church from 1970-72 in the California Central Mission and served as Branch President at the Missionary Training Center in Provo. He has also served as a bishop in Colorado and Utah and currently serves as a member of the Correlation Evaluation Committee of the Church.
He and his wife Janet Corbridge reside in Lindon, Utah, and they are the parents of six children.
Brother Skinner taught four years at Ricks College, and has filled three assignments at the BYU Jerusalem Center where he served as a faculty member and taught Near Eastern Studies. Since September 2000 he has served as the Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. Prior to his current appointment, he served as chair of the department of Ancient Scripture at BYU. He is the author or co-author of over 100 publications including Jerusalem: The Eternal City; New Testament Apostles Testify of Christ; Discoveries in the Judaean Desert: The Unidentified Fragments from Qumran Cave 4 (which is an analysis of all the unidentified Hebrew and Aramaic Dead Sea Scroll texts); Scriptural Parables for the Latter Days, and Gethsemane.
He served a full time mission for the LDS Church from 1970-72 in the California Central Mission and served as Branch President at the Missionary Training Center in Provo. He has also served as a bishop in Colorado and Utah and currently serves as a member of the Correlation Evaluation Committee of the Church.
He and his wife Janet Corbridge reside in Lindon, Utah, and they are the parents of six children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
July 9, 2019
I finished reading all three of this "series" of books by Andrew Skinner..."Gethsemane", "Golgotha" and "The Garden Tomb", while living here in the Holy Land. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about these major events in the life of the Savior. Being here and seeing many of the places talked about in these books made it even more meaningful and penetrating for me. I loved the many insights Dr. Skinner shares in these books. He is well equipped to do so, due to his deep study and broad knowledge of the Holy Land, it's history and people, and because of his love for and study of the Savior and His life. A true gospel scholar, he shares his wealth of knowledge with readers willing to take the time to read these books. I learned so many things I had never heard before or thought of while reading these book and I feel like my understanding of and appreciation for the Savior is deeper than ever. These three books now come as a combined volume. Really, really good reading and so much to learn here!!
July 10, 2023
2023- jul
I dreaded finishing this book. It felt like I was saying goodbye to an old friend. I love this final book of the Andrew skinner series.
I dreaded finishing this book. It felt like I was saying goodbye to an old friend. I love this final book of the Andrew skinner series.
April 1, 2025
beautifully written and authoritative quotes and research
May 5, 2025
Beautiful thoughts about the resurrection:
"Jesus' death left the disciples' world in a shambles. It left a hole in their lives (p. 3)."
"The truth is that without the Savior's victory over death on that incomparable Sunday morning, death would have been the ultimate enemy (p. 4)."
"Ultimately, the disciples were able to emerge from their darkness and misery into the brilliant light of truth. They came to know that Jesus was who he said he was (p. 6)."
"Jesus suffered all of the pain and physical breakdown that every other victim of crucifixion suffered. But Jesus was no ordinary human being. He could not die until he decided to die and that required the spirit, power, life, and influence of his actual Father, our Heavenly Father (p. 10)."
"The early disciples did not comprehend the promise of a glorious resurrection (p. 15)."
"Joseph of Arimathea is a true hero... He bravely went to Pontius Pilate to acquire the body of Jesus and bury the lifeless remains of his Master in his own family tomb (p. 16)."
"No site mentioned in scripture has received more attention in Christendom than the Savior's Garden Tomb, even though its exact geographical location is not certain (p. 19)."
"'I feel quite sure that this is the place where His body was laid. It gives me such a sacred feeling just to be here' (Spencer W. Kimball, p. 26)."
"Of all the Lord's disciples, the women... bore the brunt of the Lord's death. Most of the other disciples were not at the cross; they had fled... Their reason for observing the day of rest was that it was the commandment of the Mosaic law, and they were obedient... They obeyed with exactness even when circumstances were at their worst. Such faithfulness in the face of such a monumental loss is humbling, especially when we consider that their supposed 'day of rest' could have been anything but restful for these sisters (p. 30)."
"They were concerned that the disciples of Jesus might steal his body to make it appear as though he had risen from the dead (p. 32)."
"Jesus had been an extremely popular figure with certain segments of the populace (p. 32)."
"The stage was now set for the earthshaking events of the next day (p. 33)."
"The moment after Jesus took his final breath, his immortal spirit left his physical body and entered a different dimension of eternal existence--the spirit world (p. 35)."
"In order to enter and stay in the literal, physical presence of God the Father, each of us must be a resurrected personage with a celestial body capable of enduring the Father's environment... The spirit world is a place where we continue to associate with each other and prepare to receive again our physical bodies (Heber C. Kimball, p. 40)."
"As [Mary Magdalene] came forward to embrace him as a newly resurrected Being, he said to her, 'Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God' (John 20:17). To be sure, there was now a special divine dignity attached to the Savior that discouraged too much familiarity. But more important, 'no human hand was to be permitted to touch the Lord's resurrected and immortalized body until after He had presented Himself to the Father' (James E. Talmage, p. 41)."
"'When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world... Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes they do. Do they go beyond the boundaries of this organized earth? No they do not' (Brigham Young, p. 41)."
"President Wilford Woodruff... bore a powerful witness of ministrations from those who had passed on:... 'Joseph Smith continued visiting myself and others up to a certain time, and then it stopped. The last time I saw him he came to me and spoke to me. He said he could not stop to talk with me because he was in a hurry... I want you to teach the people--and I want you to follow this counsel yourself--that they must labor and so live as to obtain the Holy Spirit, for without this you cannot build up the kingdom; without the spirit of God you are in danger of walking in the dark, and in danger of failing to accomplish your calling as apostles and as elders in the church and kingdom of God' (p. 45)."
"'You can not imagine, my son, how many spirits there are in the Spirit world that have not yet received the Gospel; but many are receiving it, and a great work is being accomplished. Many are anxiously looking forth to their friends who are still living, to administer for them in the temples. I have been very busy in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ... There is just as much, and much more, order here in the Spirit world' (Andrew C. Nelson's father, p. 49)."
"'There are also angels around us. Though invisible to us they are continually inviting us and pleading with us to do that which is right' (George Q. Cannon, p. 51)."
"Just as death came to the Savior as a natural consequence of mortality, so it comes to all people--not to punish but rather 'to fulfil the merciful plan of the greater Creator' (p. 55)."
"All of the injustices and unfairnesses of mortality are made up to the humble followers of Jesus--all of this world's inequities are made right and whole and fair for eternity (p. 57)."
"The existence of the two separate places of abode for the spirits of the departed implies at least a partial judgment at the time of death (p. 61)."
"'There was no intermingling by the spirits in paradise and hell until after Christ bridged the 'great gulf' between these two spirit abodes. This he did while his body lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and his own disembodied spirit continued to minister to men in their spirit prison... 'Until that day' the prisoners remained bound and the gospel was not preached to them' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 63)."
"All of the spirit world is, in a sense, a prison. This is true because the spirits of both the righteous and the wicked are separated from their physical bodies, and to be without one's physical body is an intensely undesirable state of bondage (p. 64)."
"Death holds no terror for those trying to keep God's commandments while living in mortality, trying to do as the Lord wants them to do (p. 66)."
"For the righteous who pass through death, the spirit world will be a place of reunion, just as it surely was for Jesus (p. 67)."
"'There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity... You don't have to live a life that's truer than true. You don't have to have excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church--keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 68)."
"'When I speak of the future state of man, and the situation of our spirits between death and resurrection, I long for the experience and knowledge to be gained in that state... We shall learn many more things there; we need not suppose our five senses connect us with all the things of heaven, and earth, and eternity, and space; we need not think that we are conversant with all the elements of nature, through the medium of the senses God has given us here. Suppose He should give us a sixth sense, a seventh, an eighth, a ninth, or a fiftieth. All these different senses would convey to us new ideas' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 69)."
"'I believe we shall be freed, in the next world, in a great measure, from these narrow, contracted methods of thinking. Instead of thinking in one channel, and following up on certain course of reasoning to find a certain truth, knowledge will rush in from all quarters; it will come in like the light which flows from the sun, penetrating every part, informing the spirit and giving understanding concerning ten thousand things at the same time; and the mind will be capable of receiving and retaining all' (Orson Pratt, p. 71)."
"The spirit world is a wonderful place. There we will be more awake, more alive, more sensitive to the powers of godliness than we ever were in this mortal sphere (p. 71)."
"When Jesus arrived at the spirit world, he commenced a unique world (p. 72)."
"Jesus Christ confined his visit to paradise and... as holder of the keys of the work for the dead, he commissioned and organized the faithful spirits in paradise to visit the other spirits of the unbaptized, unrighteous, ungodly, unrepentant, disobedient, rebellious, and ignorant in order to proclaim liberty to them by teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ (p. 73)."
"Abel, Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elias, Malachi, the prophets who dwelt among the Nephites, and many, many more... formed part of the missionary force organized to teach the gospel to those in spirit prison... Such delegation by the Lord Jesus Christ implies the continuing operation of the priesthood in the world of spirits (p. 74)."
"Truly, the priesthood is eternal (p. 75)."
"Truly, the gospel is for all of our Heavenly Father's children (p. 78)."
"Before the coming of Jesus to the world of spirits, those spirits could not be judged according to men in the flesh while living according to God in the Spirit because the gospel had not ever been preached to the dead... 'Not until Christ had organized his missionary forces in the world of spirits do we find references to the Saints practicing the ordinance of baptism for the dead' (p. 79)."
"Jesus' departure from the world of spirits signaled the long-awaited actual opening of the prison doors (p. 82)."
"Jesus was the firstfruits of the resurrection, meaning he was the first living thing of all Creation to be resurrected (p. 85)."
"We ought to worship him and our Father from the depths of our soul every day (p. 89)."
"When Jesus' spirit reentered his physical body in the Garden Tomb that first Easter morning, he became the first person on this earth to receive the keys of resurrection (p. 91)."
"Jesus did not need angels to roll away the great stone from the door of the sepulchre so that he could leave (p. 95)."
"Others would likewise come to the tomb, and out of their initial experience with its emptiness would eventually blossom the witness that Jesus was who he said he was, that he had told the truth, that he was the Savior, Messiah, and Son of God alive again! (p. 97)"
"The angels constituted a powerful and sure witness that the resurrection of Jesus Christ really did happen (p. 103)."
"A testimony is strengthened in the bearing of it (p. 104)."
"Sometimes we become anxious over our own worthiness or status before the Lord. Doubtless the women did not comprehend all that was happening, but they knew they had experienced something colossal (p. 105)."
"We do not know how many of these 'other women' there were, but it may have been several, and we know of their long-time devotion to Jesus (p. 105)."
"We are inclined to think that Mary's previous comments about the body of Jesus being stolen away had prejudiced the apostles against the idea of Jesus being resurrected (p. 107)."
"They saw and felt and believed! Up to that point, they had not comprehended the meaning or import of the scripture 'that he must rise from the dead' (p. 108)."
"The witness of the Holy Ghost is even greater and more important than a witness gained by experiencing visitations or seeing miracles (p. 109)."
"During all that had transpired up to this point Sunday morning, no one had yet seen the risen Lord (p. 110)."
"When Jesus spoke to Mary, his was the first utterance of a resurrected being ever in history (p. 114)."
"'To a woman, to Mary of Magdala, was given the honor of being the first among mortals to behold a resurrected Soul, and that Soul, the Lord Jesus' (James E. Talmage, p. 115)."
"The Savior's whole orientation, his life, his teaching focus, was always fixed on his Father, our Father in Heaven. It was never about himself, except as his role and position as the Only Begotten Son and Messiah related to his Father's plan, purposes, and desires (p. 116)."
"In the most triumphant moment of his life, when Jesus had every right to proclaim his monumental victory over the great enemies of humankind--physical and spiritual death--the Redeemer of the universe quietly pointed Mary and the rest of us to his Father and his God, who is also our Father and our God (p. 117)."
"It would take nothing less than the literal appearance of the Lord himself to change their sorrow into joy (p. 117)."
"'In his own infinite wisdom, Jesus chose to appear to and be handled by a group of other women--all before he came even to Peter and the rest of the Twelve' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 118)."
"It would be memorialized forever as the day when the Lord God of Israel arose from the dead to bring life to all Creation for eternity (p. 121)."
"After the Savior's resurrection and his appearance to the group of first witnesses--the devoted women of the early Church--many ancient Saints were resurrected, and several more people saw the living Lord for themselves (p. 123)."
"Only he and the Father know the desires and intents of our individual hearts (p. 127)."
"In the end, all judgement has been delegated to Jesus by the Father... Because only Jesus and his Father can know every extenuating circumstance of our individual lives and therefore render perfectly fair judgement, we mortals must refrain from judging unrighteously (p. 128)."
"'God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of His great and marvelous work. The Latter-day Saints cannot do it all. It is too vast, too arduous for any one people' (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 128)."
"'We are trying to live so that we will be worthy to come forth in the morning of this resurrection that will come preceding the great millennial period. The righteous will be caught up to meet the Savior as He comes in glory and makes His second appearance to rule and reign here in the earth when the millennial period will begin' (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 133)."
"As the ramifications of the empty tomb were becoming increasingly clear, and the number of witnesses to the reality of the resurrection continued to grow, a separate minidrama, of sorts, unfolded inside the city and involved the Roman soldiers who had fled their watch at the Garden Tomb earlier that Sunday morning (p. 133)."
"At the same time the women set out on their way to spread the good news of the Savior's resurrection, having been commissioned to do so by the risen Lord moments before, the soldiers were in the city seeking out the chief priests to explain what had happened to them. They were unnerved, unwitting witnesses of God's awesome work. It was now useless for them to return to and stand beside an empty tomb (p. 134)."
"The proclamation of the reality of the resurrection and redemption wrought by Jesus was intended for all humankind. A knowledge of this rescue from sin, death, sorrow, and suffering can lift in times of despair, empower in times of weakness, strengthen in times of sorrow (p. 135)."
"To them Jesus didn't look very messianic when hanging on the cross. The true Messiah, in their minds, was to be full of power to save, yet Jesus was not, or did not appear to be, empowered to do anything to save himself, let alone others (p. 137)."
"The disciples were not expecting Jesus to be resurrected, let alone to appear to them personally on a dusty road outside Jerusalem (p. 138)."
"Like the ancient disciples, when we modern disciples are 'slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken,' we are fools (p. 140)."
"Ever the exemplar, Jesus rebuked their unbelief with sharpness (clarity), in harmony with the pattern he himself revealed in modern revelation. And then he proceeded to manifest his mercy, love, and patience to them so that their faith could increase and their knowledge of his resurrection become certain (p. 143)."
"The Savior's invitation to handle his hands, feet, and side was undoubtedly aimed at showing the disciples the very real wounds left in his body by the nails and the spear when he hung on the cross (p. 144)."
"The last thing Jesus did that Sunday night of which we have record was the bestowing of the gift of the Holy Ghost (p. 147)."
"Modern disciples must resist the temptation to judge these ancient followers of Christ too harshly. They had to deal with events and circumstances that were completely beyond their (or anyone else's) realm of experience (p. 150)."
"Witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ grew in number and certitude immediately following Resurrection Sunday as Jesus returned on several occasions to instruct his special witnesses and friends whom he had commissioned to lead the Church after his asencion (p. 153)."
"Once Thomas was given the sure witness... his loyalty and dedication were beyond question. He became a stalwart in the kingdom (p. 157)."
"The perfect nature of our physical bodies in the resurrection is part of the sweeping law of restoration (p. 159)."
"Jesus retained the wounds of his crucifixion so he could identify himself to others in the meridian dispensation with absolute clarity (p. 163)."
"Jesus 'doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world' (p. 164)."
"This conviction of the reality of the resurrection is alive and well in our day; it is the linchpin of our faith. With glad hearts Latter-day Saints proclaim the good news: Jesus is alive today and resides in yonder heavens with his divine Father, who is also a glorified man of flesh and bone and who has promised each of us that we can join them and be like them if we commit our lives to them. It is up to us (p. 181)."
"'All must be saved on the same principles' (Joseph Smith, p. 186)."
"The resurrection overcomes physical death by giving us immortal physical bodies; it overcomes spiritual death by bringing every soul back into the presence of the Lord to be judged, even if only for a short period (P. 191)."
"Resurrection is part of the great law of restoration (p. 195)."
"'I add my testimony to those fellow Apostles: He lives! He lives with resurrected body' (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 203)."
"The story of the Garden Tom... describes the foundation of our future. It is a story for all humanity. For every soul who carries a burden.... faces a challenge... harbors a heartache... perseveres through pain... is plagued with fears... who seeks comfort... the message of the Garden Tomb is intended... the tomb is empty; Jesus is alive today; he is the literal Son of God (p. 204)."
"Jesus' death left the disciples' world in a shambles. It left a hole in their lives (p. 3)."
"The truth is that without the Savior's victory over death on that incomparable Sunday morning, death would have been the ultimate enemy (p. 4)."
"Ultimately, the disciples were able to emerge from their darkness and misery into the brilliant light of truth. They came to know that Jesus was who he said he was (p. 6)."
"Jesus suffered all of the pain and physical breakdown that every other victim of crucifixion suffered. But Jesus was no ordinary human being. He could not die until he decided to die and that required the spirit, power, life, and influence of his actual Father, our Heavenly Father (p. 10)."
"The early disciples did not comprehend the promise of a glorious resurrection (p. 15)."
"Joseph of Arimathea is a true hero... He bravely went to Pontius Pilate to acquire the body of Jesus and bury the lifeless remains of his Master in his own family tomb (p. 16)."
"No site mentioned in scripture has received more attention in Christendom than the Savior's Garden Tomb, even though its exact geographical location is not certain (p. 19)."
"'I feel quite sure that this is the place where His body was laid. It gives me such a sacred feeling just to be here' (Spencer W. Kimball, p. 26)."
"Of all the Lord's disciples, the women... bore the brunt of the Lord's death. Most of the other disciples were not at the cross; they had fled... Their reason for observing the day of rest was that it was the commandment of the Mosaic law, and they were obedient... They obeyed with exactness even when circumstances were at their worst. Such faithfulness in the face of such a monumental loss is humbling, especially when we consider that their supposed 'day of rest' could have been anything but restful for these sisters (p. 30)."
"They were concerned that the disciples of Jesus might steal his body to make it appear as though he had risen from the dead (p. 32)."
"Jesus had been an extremely popular figure with certain segments of the populace (p. 32)."
"The stage was now set for the earthshaking events of the next day (p. 33)."
"The moment after Jesus took his final breath, his immortal spirit left his physical body and entered a different dimension of eternal existence--the spirit world (p. 35)."
"In order to enter and stay in the literal, physical presence of God the Father, each of us must be a resurrected personage with a celestial body capable of enduring the Father's environment... The spirit world is a place where we continue to associate with each other and prepare to receive again our physical bodies (Heber C. Kimball, p. 40)."
"As [Mary Magdalene] came forward to embrace him as a newly resurrected Being, he said to her, 'Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God' (John 20:17). To be sure, there was now a special divine dignity attached to the Savior that discouraged too much familiarity. But more important, 'no human hand was to be permitted to touch the Lord's resurrected and immortalized body until after He had presented Himself to the Father' (James E. Talmage, p. 41)."
"'When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world... Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes they do. Do they go beyond the boundaries of this organized earth? No they do not' (Brigham Young, p. 41)."
"President Wilford Woodruff... bore a powerful witness of ministrations from those who had passed on:... 'Joseph Smith continued visiting myself and others up to a certain time, and then it stopped. The last time I saw him he came to me and spoke to me. He said he could not stop to talk with me because he was in a hurry... I want you to teach the people--and I want you to follow this counsel yourself--that they must labor and so live as to obtain the Holy Spirit, for without this you cannot build up the kingdom; without the spirit of God you are in danger of walking in the dark, and in danger of failing to accomplish your calling as apostles and as elders in the church and kingdom of God' (p. 45)."
"'You can not imagine, my son, how many spirits there are in the Spirit world that have not yet received the Gospel; but many are receiving it, and a great work is being accomplished. Many are anxiously looking forth to their friends who are still living, to administer for them in the temples. I have been very busy in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ... There is just as much, and much more, order here in the Spirit world' (Andrew C. Nelson's father, p. 49)."
"'There are also angels around us. Though invisible to us they are continually inviting us and pleading with us to do that which is right' (George Q. Cannon, p. 51)."
"Just as death came to the Savior as a natural consequence of mortality, so it comes to all people--not to punish but rather 'to fulfil the merciful plan of the greater Creator' (p. 55)."
"All of the injustices and unfairnesses of mortality are made up to the humble followers of Jesus--all of this world's inequities are made right and whole and fair for eternity (p. 57)."
"The existence of the two separate places of abode for the spirits of the departed implies at least a partial judgment at the time of death (p. 61)."
"'There was no intermingling by the spirits in paradise and hell until after Christ bridged the 'great gulf' between these two spirit abodes. This he did while his body lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and his own disembodied spirit continued to minister to men in their spirit prison... 'Until that day' the prisoners remained bound and the gospel was not preached to them' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 63)."
"All of the spirit world is, in a sense, a prison. This is true because the spirits of both the righteous and the wicked are separated from their physical bodies, and to be without one's physical body is an intensely undesirable state of bondage (p. 64)."
"Death holds no terror for those trying to keep God's commandments while living in mortality, trying to do as the Lord wants them to do (p. 66)."
"For the righteous who pass through death, the spirit world will be a place of reunion, just as it surely was for Jesus (p. 67)."
"'There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity... You don't have to live a life that's truer than true. You don't have to have excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church--keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 68)."
"'When I speak of the future state of man, and the situation of our spirits between death and resurrection, I long for the experience and knowledge to be gained in that state... We shall learn many more things there; we need not suppose our five senses connect us with all the things of heaven, and earth, and eternity, and space; we need not think that we are conversant with all the elements of nature, through the medium of the senses God has given us here. Suppose He should give us a sixth sense, a seventh, an eighth, a ninth, or a fiftieth. All these different senses would convey to us new ideas' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 69)."
"'I believe we shall be freed, in the next world, in a great measure, from these narrow, contracted methods of thinking. Instead of thinking in one channel, and following up on certain course of reasoning to find a certain truth, knowledge will rush in from all quarters; it will come in like the light which flows from the sun, penetrating every part, informing the spirit and giving understanding concerning ten thousand things at the same time; and the mind will be capable of receiving and retaining all' (Orson Pratt, p. 71)."
"The spirit world is a wonderful place. There we will be more awake, more alive, more sensitive to the powers of godliness than we ever were in this mortal sphere (p. 71)."
"When Jesus arrived at the spirit world, he commenced a unique world (p. 72)."
"Jesus Christ confined his visit to paradise and... as holder of the keys of the work for the dead, he commissioned and organized the faithful spirits in paradise to visit the other spirits of the unbaptized, unrighteous, ungodly, unrepentant, disobedient, rebellious, and ignorant in order to proclaim liberty to them by teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ (p. 73)."
"Abel, Seth, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Elias, Malachi, the prophets who dwelt among the Nephites, and many, many more... formed part of the missionary force organized to teach the gospel to those in spirit prison... Such delegation by the Lord Jesus Christ implies the continuing operation of the priesthood in the world of spirits (p. 74)."
"Truly, the priesthood is eternal (p. 75)."
"Truly, the gospel is for all of our Heavenly Father's children (p. 78)."
"Before the coming of Jesus to the world of spirits, those spirits could not be judged according to men in the flesh while living according to God in the Spirit because the gospel had not ever been preached to the dead... 'Not until Christ had organized his missionary forces in the world of spirits do we find references to the Saints practicing the ordinance of baptism for the dead' (p. 79)."
"Jesus' departure from the world of spirits signaled the long-awaited actual opening of the prison doors (p. 82)."
"Jesus was the firstfruits of the resurrection, meaning he was the first living thing of all Creation to be resurrected (p. 85)."
"We ought to worship him and our Father from the depths of our soul every day (p. 89)."
"When Jesus' spirit reentered his physical body in the Garden Tomb that first Easter morning, he became the first person on this earth to receive the keys of resurrection (p. 91)."
"Jesus did not need angels to roll away the great stone from the door of the sepulchre so that he could leave (p. 95)."
"Others would likewise come to the tomb, and out of their initial experience with its emptiness would eventually blossom the witness that Jesus was who he said he was, that he had told the truth, that he was the Savior, Messiah, and Son of God alive again! (p. 97)"
"The angels constituted a powerful and sure witness that the resurrection of Jesus Christ really did happen (p. 103)."
"A testimony is strengthened in the bearing of it (p. 104)."
"Sometimes we become anxious over our own worthiness or status before the Lord. Doubtless the women did not comprehend all that was happening, but they knew they had experienced something colossal (p. 105)."
"We do not know how many of these 'other women' there were, but it may have been several, and we know of their long-time devotion to Jesus (p. 105)."
"We are inclined to think that Mary's previous comments about the body of Jesus being stolen away had prejudiced the apostles against the idea of Jesus being resurrected (p. 107)."
"They saw and felt and believed! Up to that point, they had not comprehended the meaning or import of the scripture 'that he must rise from the dead' (p. 108)."
"The witness of the Holy Ghost is even greater and more important than a witness gained by experiencing visitations or seeing miracles (p. 109)."
"During all that had transpired up to this point Sunday morning, no one had yet seen the risen Lord (p. 110)."
"When Jesus spoke to Mary, his was the first utterance of a resurrected being ever in history (p. 114)."
"'To a woman, to Mary of Magdala, was given the honor of being the first among mortals to behold a resurrected Soul, and that Soul, the Lord Jesus' (James E. Talmage, p. 115)."
"The Savior's whole orientation, his life, his teaching focus, was always fixed on his Father, our Father in Heaven. It was never about himself, except as his role and position as the Only Begotten Son and Messiah related to his Father's plan, purposes, and desires (p. 116)."
"In the most triumphant moment of his life, when Jesus had every right to proclaim his monumental victory over the great enemies of humankind--physical and spiritual death--the Redeemer of the universe quietly pointed Mary and the rest of us to his Father and his God, who is also our Father and our God (p. 117)."
"It would take nothing less than the literal appearance of the Lord himself to change their sorrow into joy (p. 117)."
"'In his own infinite wisdom, Jesus chose to appear to and be handled by a group of other women--all before he came even to Peter and the rest of the Twelve' (Bruce R. McConkie, p. 118)."
"It would be memorialized forever as the day when the Lord God of Israel arose from the dead to bring life to all Creation for eternity (p. 121)."
"After the Savior's resurrection and his appearance to the group of first witnesses--the devoted women of the early Church--many ancient Saints were resurrected, and several more people saw the living Lord for themselves (p. 123)."
"Only he and the Father know the desires and intents of our individual hearts (p. 127)."
"In the end, all judgement has been delegated to Jesus by the Father... Because only Jesus and his Father can know every extenuating circumstance of our individual lives and therefore render perfectly fair judgement, we mortals must refrain from judging unrighteously (p. 128)."
"'God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of His great and marvelous work. The Latter-day Saints cannot do it all. It is too vast, too arduous for any one people' (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 128)."
"'We are trying to live so that we will be worthy to come forth in the morning of this resurrection that will come preceding the great millennial period. The righteous will be caught up to meet the Savior as He comes in glory and makes His second appearance to rule and reign here in the earth when the millennial period will begin' (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 133)."
"As the ramifications of the empty tomb were becoming increasingly clear, and the number of witnesses to the reality of the resurrection continued to grow, a separate minidrama, of sorts, unfolded inside the city and involved the Roman soldiers who had fled their watch at the Garden Tomb earlier that Sunday morning (p. 133)."
"At the same time the women set out on their way to spread the good news of the Savior's resurrection, having been commissioned to do so by the risen Lord moments before, the soldiers were in the city seeking out the chief priests to explain what had happened to them. They were unnerved, unwitting witnesses of God's awesome work. It was now useless for them to return to and stand beside an empty tomb (p. 134)."
"The proclamation of the reality of the resurrection and redemption wrought by Jesus was intended for all humankind. A knowledge of this rescue from sin, death, sorrow, and suffering can lift in times of despair, empower in times of weakness, strengthen in times of sorrow (p. 135)."
"To them Jesus didn't look very messianic when hanging on the cross. The true Messiah, in their minds, was to be full of power to save, yet Jesus was not, or did not appear to be, empowered to do anything to save himself, let alone others (p. 137)."
"The disciples were not expecting Jesus to be resurrected, let alone to appear to them personally on a dusty road outside Jerusalem (p. 138)."
"Like the ancient disciples, when we modern disciples are 'slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken,' we are fools (p. 140)."
"Ever the exemplar, Jesus rebuked their unbelief with sharpness (clarity), in harmony with the pattern he himself revealed in modern revelation. And then he proceeded to manifest his mercy, love, and patience to them so that their faith could increase and their knowledge of his resurrection become certain (p. 143)."
"The Savior's invitation to handle his hands, feet, and side was undoubtedly aimed at showing the disciples the very real wounds left in his body by the nails and the spear when he hung on the cross (p. 144)."
"The last thing Jesus did that Sunday night of which we have record was the bestowing of the gift of the Holy Ghost (p. 147)."
"Modern disciples must resist the temptation to judge these ancient followers of Christ too harshly. They had to deal with events and circumstances that were completely beyond their (or anyone else's) realm of experience (p. 150)."
"Witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ grew in number and certitude immediately following Resurrection Sunday as Jesus returned on several occasions to instruct his special witnesses and friends whom he had commissioned to lead the Church after his asencion (p. 153)."
"Once Thomas was given the sure witness... his loyalty and dedication were beyond question. He became a stalwart in the kingdom (p. 157)."
"The perfect nature of our physical bodies in the resurrection is part of the sweeping law of restoration (p. 159)."
"Jesus retained the wounds of his crucifixion so he could identify himself to others in the meridian dispensation with absolute clarity (p. 163)."
"Jesus 'doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world' (p. 164)."
"This conviction of the reality of the resurrection is alive and well in our day; it is the linchpin of our faith. With glad hearts Latter-day Saints proclaim the good news: Jesus is alive today and resides in yonder heavens with his divine Father, who is also a glorified man of flesh and bone and who has promised each of us that we can join them and be like them if we commit our lives to them. It is up to us (p. 181)."
"'All must be saved on the same principles' (Joseph Smith, p. 186)."
"The resurrection overcomes physical death by giving us immortal physical bodies; it overcomes spiritual death by bringing every soul back into the presence of the Lord to be judged, even if only for a short period (P. 191)."
"Resurrection is part of the great law of restoration (p. 195)."
"'I add my testimony to those fellow Apostles: He lives! He lives with resurrected body' (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 203)."
"The story of the Garden Tom... describes the foundation of our future. It is a story for all humanity. For every soul who carries a burden.... faces a challenge... harbors a heartache... perseveres through pain... is plagued with fears... who seeks comfort... the message of the Garden Tomb is intended... the tomb is empty; Jesus is alive today; he is the literal Son of God (p. 204)."
June 29, 2023
I almost feel guilty giving this book three stars because of how important the topic is - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I just didn’t feel like I got a whole lot of insight from the book on how to be a better disciple or who Jesus is and what His mission is all about. The first two books of the series were better towards those ends.
That said, I think any time we read the testimony of other people, it strengthens our own so I’m glad I read the book.
There were two important lessons I got from my reading. First, God turns bad things good and good things perfect. This can be seen throughout the history of the world but especially during the Savior’s earthly ministry, His resurrection being the culmination of this. While dying on the gross Jesus didn’t look like the Messiah his disciples had been waiting on for years and years, but through that traumatic experience (for Him as well as His disciples), He conquered death and hell and set the family of mankind free. It was when He least looked it, He most was fulfilling his messianic role.
The second lesson was just a mental image. It comes when the resurrected Christ appeared to His apostles while they were fishing. After realizing who He was, Peter swims to shore and the other apostles follow by boat. When they arrive there is a meal waiting for them. Andrew Skinner emphasized that point and for some reason it really hit me. The resurrected God of the universe took time to make a fire and cook some fish. What an interesting image. Why did He do it? Because He loved His disciples. That image of love, compassion, and simple service really hit me.
If you want to read about the doctrine of and the events surrounding the resurrection, this would probably be a good book for you. If you are just looking for a testimony builder that will help you feel connected to the Risen Lord, maybe check out the first book in this series, “Gethsemane.”
That said, I think any time we read the testimony of other people, it strengthens our own so I’m glad I read the book.
There were two important lessons I got from my reading. First, God turns bad things good and good things perfect. This can be seen throughout the history of the world but especially during the Savior’s earthly ministry, His resurrection being the culmination of this. While dying on the gross Jesus didn’t look like the Messiah his disciples had been waiting on for years and years, but through that traumatic experience (for Him as well as His disciples), He conquered death and hell and set the family of mankind free. It was when He least looked it, He most was fulfilling his messianic role.
The second lesson was just a mental image. It comes when the resurrected Christ appeared to His apostles while they were fishing. After realizing who He was, Peter swims to shore and the other apostles follow by boat. When they arrive there is a meal waiting for them. Andrew Skinner emphasized that point and for some reason it really hit me. The resurrected God of the universe took time to make a fire and cook some fish. What an interesting image. Why did He do it? Because He loved His disciples. That image of love, compassion, and simple service really hit me.
If you want to read about the doctrine of and the events surrounding the resurrection, this would probably be a good book for you. If you are just looking for a testimony builder that will help you feel connected to the Risen Lord, maybe check out the first book in this series, “Gethsemane.”
April 17, 2023
I was a little disappointed in this book. In the previous book, Golgotha, there wasn't really much that was new, but I still felt an overarching sense of awe and gratitude for what Christ did for all of us. This one just didn't quite have that impact on me. The Resurrection is an incredible miracle, and I'm immensely grateful for it (especially since my dad died), but I just didn't feel that level of awe that I did with Golgotha.
Having said that, there were some things that I added to my scriptures, and Skinner provided me with some food for thought on certain topics. Bottom line -- it was good, but not life-alteringly so.
Having said that, there were some things that I added to my scriptures, and Skinner provided me with some food for thought on certain topics. Bottom line -- it was good, but not life-alteringly so.
December 25, 2018
This is the final book in this series from Andrew Skinner on the Savior's Final Week. The take away I had from this book was that Christ, a perfect man, kept the nail prints and wound in his side to show other's who he was after being resurrected. We, being imperfect, are given the opportunity to be resurrected because of him and receive perfect bodies, with no scars. The amount of love that flows from that thought alone is breathtaking. I feel undeserving and grateful all at the same time.
May 12, 2025
When all is said and done there has never been nor ever will be anything so powerful, so majestic, so wondrous, so merciful as the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There are no words capable of describing the infinite goodness and omnipotence of Jesus. The grace he extends to us is freely given, but it did not come free. The cost was infinite, and yet he asks no price. All that he wants from us our loyalty and love and gratitude. God be thanked for His matchless gift.
October 22, 2023
One of the things I love about this series of books by Andrew Skinner is that it contains not only scholarly commentary, but also personal experiences to help draw the power of these events more fully into my life.
July 12, 2020
Excellent details and commentary.
July 20, 2020
Took a while for me to get through. I did learn some new things, but not enough to keep me as interested as I had hoped.
November 4, 2020
See my review for The Savior's Final Week by Andrew C. Skinner which is an 3-in-1 volume collection of Gethsemane, Golgotha, and the Garden Tomb.
January 24, 2021
Excellent book with many insights of the Savior’s ministry after His death.
April 4, 2021
I love this book which is certainly a Easter favorite. There is no more important time in history than the resurection of the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior and redeemer.
September 5, 2021
Finishing the Savior's Final Week was a joyful and exhilarating ride of insight and exploration.
July 6, 2022
An amazing description of the resurrection and the spirit world. This was a fantastic end to Skinner's trilogy. I wish I owned it.
October 25, 2024
How I love this book that is filled with so many treasured gems that are having a profound impact on my life.
December 30, 2024
Absolutely fantastic. The research and doctrine are deep and profound. I found a great deal of comfort and hope in this book. I would recommend it to anyone.
February 18, 2025
A good exploration of the doctrine of Christ's Atonement. I enjoyed the first two books in the series slightly more but this was a good read im glad I took the time to study
March 28, 2024
Outstanding book.
Moved me in a way never before. Thought provoking deeper than my mind ever thought to go. Grateful for the expertise and in depth culture of ancient times.
Moved me in a way never before. Thought provoking deeper than my mind ever thought to go. Grateful for the expertise and in depth culture of ancient times.
March 6, 2017
Half the book was quotes from McConkie and Talmage. I should just read their books instead.
May 13, 2008
It was fun to read this over the last month and to finish reading it on the day Easter was celebrated this year. It really focused me on the true meaning of the day and the breadth of the atonement and resurrection.
This is the final book in Skinner's trilogy on the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Christ, and it was better written, in many ways, than the other two. However, it still suffered from lots of redundancies, just as the other two. This made it hard to read with anything approaching enthusiasm. I would have liked more commenting by Skinner throughout the text, instead of simple quote-mining and presentation. I also wondered why he left out Christ's visit to the Americas, as this would be a good time to talk about the similarities and differences between teachings of the two.
So, I was a bit disappointed overall in the series, especially considering the price, but I appreciated having all the quotes together in one place.
This is the final book in Skinner's trilogy on the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Christ, and it was better written, in many ways, than the other two. However, it still suffered from lots of redundancies, just as the other two. This made it hard to read with anything approaching enthusiasm. I would have liked more commenting by Skinner throughout the text, instead of simple quote-mining and presentation. I also wondered why he left out Christ's visit to the Americas, as this would be a good time to talk about the similarities and differences between teachings of the two.
So, I was a bit disappointed overall in the series, especially considering the price, but I appreciated having all the quotes together in one place.
September 21, 2009
Third in the series of books Andrew Skinner wrote on the Atonement. I liked this book a lot, but I didn't love it as much as I loved the first two. That doesn't diminish its power; it's just the way it struck me. It is still a very good with insight into the resurrection.
February 17, 2010
This was my favorite of the three books written by Andrew Skinner on the atonement. This book has a beautiful, calming message. The order to read the books is Gethsemane, Golgotha, and The Garden Tomb.
January 22, 2012
I thought this book was the best of the three, although they all were wonderful. Skinner's insight on the scriptures that tell of life after death is wonderful. The 3 books really make you love the Savior for His great Gift to us.
January 14, 2013
Yet another wonderful piece of writing. It was clear, precise, and put together in an insightful way which made me think more deeply on the book, its message, and the information presented. I would highly suggest this series, and I already plan on re-reading.
October 30, 2015
It took me almost a year to get through this book. There were some rich insights but for the most part it was all over the place and I struggle with academic scholar/writers who don't dig beneath the surface.
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February 1, 2008This trilogy was the best I have read in a while. I have learned things that I just blew right over before. If you don't mind a lot of underlines, you can borrow it.
March 9, 2008
A wonderful completion to this three book series. It provides great hope for each individual's future and how this infinite gift blesses our life each day.
March 13, 2008
Yep, it's a series and one that you should really read. It's great for Easter.
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