“Easter All Week,” Ensign, Apr. 1999, 56
Easter All Week
As families seek meaningful ways to observe Easter, the following accounts may help them create their own Easter-week activities.
The week before Easter Sunday we take a few minutes each day to discuss what the Savior was doing on that day nearly 2,000 years ago. The Sunday before is the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (see Matt. 21:4–9). Monday the Savior cleared the temple (see Matt. 21:12–17). Tuesday the scribes questioned the authority of Jesus and asked about paying tribute money (see Matt. 21; Matt. 22). The scriptures are silent on what happened on Wednesday, so we choose to discuss the parable of the 10 virgins (see Matt. 25). Thursday we talk of the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matt. 26). Friday is the trial and Crucifixion and burial of Jesus (see Matt. 27). Saturday we discuss missionary work in the spirit world (see 1 Pet. 3:18–20; 1 Pet. 4:6). And on Easter Sunday we read about the empty tomb and Resurrection (see Matt. 28).—Alan Don Weir, Kaysville, Utah
My husband and I decided to institute a Christ-centered Easter celebration. We created short activities to remind our children of sacred events that happened the last week of the Savior’s mortal ministry. Some of the activities were lighthearted, such as breaking a donkey-shaped piñata to celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Others were more solemn, such as holding a candlelight dinner on Saturday evening in which we read the Book of Mormon account of the three days of darkness before Christ’s visit to the Americas.
As our children have grown older, we have modified our traditions to match their interests and attention spans. We look forward each year to our special, Christ-centered Easter week.—Donna Cardon, Springville, Utah