Keeping Easter Focused on the Savior

By Lisa M. Grover

Although Easter is a time for family traditions and fun, this holy day is the time we commemorate the most sacred religious event in the world’s history—the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here are some ideas to help you focus your celebration of Easter on the Savior:

• Commit yourself to read the scriptures every day during the month before Easter, particularly the accounts of the Savior’s ministry in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and 3 Nephi.

• Prepare a family home evening lesson on the Atonement and give the lesson the week before Easter.

• With the approval of your bishop or branch president and ward or branch music chairman, prepare an appropriate musical number with a Young Women, Young Men, Primary, or Sunday School class. You could learn a hymn or find music in past issues of the Liahona. Present your musical number in sacrament meeting on Easter Sunday.

• Read conference addresses given by General Authorities on the life, Atonement, and Resurrection of the Savior. You can find these addresses in past issues of the Liahona or the Ensign.

• During each day of the week before Easter, read about what Christ did that day. (See Matt. 21–28; Mark 11–16; Luke 19–24; John 11–21.)

• Do what Christ would do if he were here: spend time serving others.

• Make a list of the ways the Atonement affects your life. Put the list in your journal and review it often.

• Watch the sunrise on Easter morning. Think about the beauty of the earth and the sacrifices of its Creator.

• Hold a special family testimony meeting or program on Easter Sunday.

• On Easter morning give each member of your family a small picture of the Savior. Write a note or your favorite scripture on the back. Use pictures from the Liahona or from a Church distribution center.

• During the sacrament, make a concerted effort to worship the Savior and Heavenly Father.

• Share your testimony of the Savior and his Atonement with your family, your ward or branch, or a nonmember friend. Make sure your actions reflect what you know to be true.

• Memorize a scripture about the Savior’s Atonement. Here are some suggestions: Luke 22:44; John 6:51; John 10:17; Rom. 6:9; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 Ne. 11:33; 2 Ne. 2:7; Mosiah 26:23; Alma 11:42; Morm. 7:5

Photograph by Craig Dimond

Christ in Gethsemane, by Heinrich Hofmann