The Master Gardner
The Master Gardner
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
March 23rd, 2026
We will soon celebrate Easter. The Gospel of John relates the following tender account from the first Easter morning:
“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
“And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” (John 21:11-16)
Mary was not incorrect thinking the person she met in the garden was the Gardener. Jesus Christ is the Master Gardener. Alma taught that by exercising our faith in Jesus Christ and His teachings, the Savior is able to nurture the seeds of faith we plant in our hearts into mighty trees producing sweet fruit, “which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.” (Alma 32:42)
What a beautiful promise and blessing available to us as we allow the Savior, the Master Garnder, to work within us!
The parable of the Sower, given to us by the Savior Himself, beautifully reaffirms the importance of planting the seeds of the gospel in our hearts and allowing the Spirit to nurture these seeds of our faith. In this parable the Savior taught the importance of planting the seeds of the gospel “into good ground” where it “brought forth fruit” (Matthew 13:8). Jesus explained that “the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).
President Oaks referenced this parable and taught us those things we can do to provide “good ground” for growing and harvesting the fruits of the gospel:
“We have the seed of the gospel word. It is up to each of us to set the priorities and to do the things that make our soil good and our harvest plentiful. We must seek to be firmly rooted and converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Colossians 2:6–7). We achieve this conversion by praying, by scripture reading, by serving, and by regularly partaking of the sacrament to always have His Spirit to be with us. We must also seek that mighty change of heart (see Alma 5:12–14) that replaces evil desires and selfish concerns with the love of God and the desire to serve Him and His children” (GC April 2015, The Parable of the Sower).
I am grateful for the work of gardening the Savior, the Master Gardner, is doing in my life. I testify that through the redeeming and enabling power of His Atonement, He is helping me to change, to become more like Him. I still have much work to do. I know that the fruit the Savior helps us produce in our hearts is the most precious, sweet, white, and pure we can enjoy in life. I have been blessed to enjoy the fruits of my faith again and again throughout my life. I pray and promise the same for each of you in your lifelong discipleship to Jesus Christ.
I extend the traditional Easter greeting from the island of Crete. As friends greet one another during this season of the year one says, “He is risen.” The other responds, “It is true!”
President Quinn
(630) 881-4030
