I loved Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s message in the April 2023 conference about treating Easter like Christmas. As we approach Holy Week, the week from Palm Sunday to Easter, there are many ways we can make it special. Just like Christmas, special foods, music, movies, decorations, and scriptural focal points can help us have a holy holiday. Here are several ideas for celebrating Easter Week.
Fun Ideas for a Christ-Centered Easter
My wife Lani and I made this video…I hope it can be helpful!
Scripture Study
Here’s a day by day reading plan for each day of Holy Week.
Good Friday
Elder Stevenson specifically mentioned Good Friday as an event we can focus on. Good Friday provides a powerful opportunity to focus on the Savior. Just like for many of us Christmas Eve is almost as important as Christmas Day, so too can Good Friday play a powerful role in our Easter celebrations. I’ve provided lots of ideas for celebrating Good Friday here.
Easter Cards and Other Resources from Lani Hilton
My wife Lani has created a beautiful card set that can be used to help others learn about the 40+ people who are mentioned in scripture between Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb. It includes several fun game ideas—great for kids of all ages.
She also made a fun Easter shirt and has TONS of free resources on her Easter website.
Learning from the Seeking Jesus Course
I’ve made five videos about the time period from the Triumphal Entry to the Resurrection. Honestly, I’ve poured a lot of my heart and life into these videos…I hope you can pick one or two and enjoy them this week! The videos on Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection are my favorites, but they are all good! 🙂
From the Triumphal Entry to the Last Supper
The Last Supper and Gethsemane
Christ Before Caiaphas and Pilate
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ, The Spirit World, and Resurrection
Considering the Cross
If you haven’t yet read Considering the Cross: How Calvary Connects Us with Christ, I encourage you check it out. It’s all about the event Jesus Christ personally defined as his greatest act of love. Buy a copy, or learn more about it.
Books and Easter Ideas
Many books have been written about celebrating Easter. Here are some of my favorites:
A Christ-Centered Easter: Day-By-Day Activities to Celebrate Easter Week, by Janet and Joe Hales. This was the first book I read on making Easter a holy holiday and it radically reshaped how our family celebrates Easter.
Greater Love Hath No Man: A Latter-day Saint Guide To Celebrating the Easter Season, by Eric D. Huntsman and Trevan G. Hatch. A great blend of practical ideas and scholarly insights into celebrating Holy Week.
The Holy Week for Latter-day Saint Families , by Wendee Wilcox Rosborough. The title says it all–a great book!
Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter, by Emily Belle Freeman. With her characteristic prose, wit, and charm, Emily gives several suggestions for a Christ-Centered Easter.
Beyond Easter
Lani wrote a great article on “Extending the Easter Season.” I love these ideas for celebrating both Easter and the days that follow!
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I hope these resources are helpful to you in making the Easter season every bit as spiritual, joyous and fun as Christmas!
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