Easter has been described as the "Greatest Story Ever Told."
But even though it is the greatest story ever told, it may be one of the least understood.
The Easter holiday initially began as a way to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death is the most pivotal event in all human history.
Jesus Christ's birth may well be the most celebrated event in all of history, but without his death and resurrection, there would be no reason to celebrate his birth. Christmas would never have become the most wonderful time of the year with out the Atonement.
Last year, in April, a worldwide conference for Christians put on by the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During that conference, a member of the 12 Apostles, Gary Stevenson, invited everyone everyone, especially Christians and members of the Church of Jesus Christ to make Christ the center of their Easter holiday.
Easter, growing up was a fun holiday. Filled full of Easter egg hunts and spring toys to get us out of the house after being cooped up all winter. We also would get an Easter dress.
My family has carried on those traditions, but we are also adding to our traditions to make sure that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is front and center to our holiday worship.
Here are 7 things that we are doing (and you can too!) to make Easter the Greatest Story Ever Told in your home
- Add Jesus Christ Artwork to your home
Adding Jesus Christ artwork to your home can help you remember Jesus all year long, but especially during Easter.
One of my favorite artists of all time is Brett Borup. I have a giant picture he painted in my home that we got for Christmas a few years ago. I adore it because Jesus is walking a path, but turning to invite me to join with him. This is why I chose this particular piece. Christ looks so happy and peaceful that I can't help but want to be with him. To walk with him. To talk with him. To count him as my dearest friend.
 |
Come Follow Me by Brent Borup
|
I hope this is the message my kids also remember each day as they walk past this painting.
I also REALLY want to add this piece of art to my home. I have been seeing it around instagram for several months and can't stop admiring it. It speaks to my soul about Christ is in our midst. He is with us. We may have our head down in the grass, chomping away at our food, our phones, and whatever else is important to us right then. But he is standing right there, watching over us, protecting us. He is ALWAYS there.
 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | .jpg) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Think Celestial Temple Art |
|
|
The Christus with I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ is the youth theme for 2024 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and is a scripture from 3 Nephi.
I love the simple reminders of Christ during Christmas and Easter. But more importantly I love the reminder year round. It is part of taking the
Sacrament each week that we will always remember him. Displaying artwork that reminds me of him is definitely helpful in keeping the covenant
2. Change your Calendar Alerts for Easter
I have an Iphone and religiously use its calendar to schedule my life. I have gone in and changed my Easter Sunday holiday calendar notification to alert me 1 week before Easter. I did the same for Palm Sunday. I wish I could change it to 1 month before, but sadly, I don't know how or Iphone calendar isn't capable of doing that.
Calendar events to set up notifications for Easter:
- Lent - 6 weeks before Easter.
- Palm Sunday- 1 week before Easter
- Good Friday - The Friday before Easter
- Easter Sunday - Easter!
 |
Calendar Notifications for Easter!
|
3. Do an Advent to Countdown to Easter
I don't know about you, but Easter always sneaks up on me. It's not like Christmas, where it lands on the same day of the same month, year after year. It always changes! But one thing that has made a huge difference in my study of Easter and Christmas (I do it for both!) is to do a countdown advent.
I have created several different ones that I have used over the years and now I offer then for sale in my shop. There are a few different types to choose from:
- Light the World (service ideas) - Light the World isn't just or Christmas, though it is awesome for then. Christ is the perfect example for us to follow. He served others everywhere he went. He washed their feet, I can wash windows. He healed, I can bring food. He taught, I can listen. So light the world to learn more about Christ
4. Easter Decorations
...and not the bunny and kite sort. I am talking about the kind of decorations that are Christmas like in our reminders of Christ's birth.
Nativity's!
This nativity I designed for my own family. It includes many scenes from the Saviors last week of his life also referred to as Holy Week. Each Holy Week my family for Come Follow Me before bedtime, we light a candle, turn the lights off, display the nativity scene for the scripture of the day. Then we read the scripture and learn more about the Savior. We have done this for 2 years. It is one of my kids absolute favorite things about Easter. We also do it for Christmas.
The change of pace for our Come Follow Me makes is special. I highly recommend it for anyone that wants to make Easter special. Even babies are mesmerized by candlelight. It is sure to hold their attention for the short reading of the scriptures.
The Easter Creche is also available in one of my etsy shops AVTRBoutique
5. Music
I have made a special playlist just for Easter in my apple music app. I listen to it all month before Easter.
The list includes music by Phil Whickham including Behold, Sunday is Coming, and Living Hope. Jeremy Camp with Christ in me. I am a Witness by Shawna Edwards. and so many more!
6. Read 3 Nephi 11
Gary E Stevensen said in his talk about "The Greatest Story Ever Told" to read 3 Nephi 11 and to make it a part of your Easter tradition. Let it become the Luke 2 equivelent part of your Easter celebration just like we use scripture for Christmas.
3 Nephi 11 has so many great insights into who Christ is. I will leave you my favorites here:
Reminder to Hear Ye Him.
God spoke these words to the people before Christ appeared to them on them on the American continent.
Reminder that Christ died for you and for me
The people in America were able to feel the nail marks in his hands, feet, and thrust their hands in his side. A testament that he really died for all mankind including you.
Reminder to approach Christ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit
He invited them to offer for a sacrifice, instead of animals from the Law of Moses, a Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit. That is all he asks of us really. He will heal us if we do so.
The invitation to be Baptized
Part of accepting the invitation to offer a broken heart and contrite spirit we are invited to be baptized to show him that we are willing to take upon us His Name
The invitation to listen to the Holy Ghost, a gift from God
To help us through the earthly experience, we are (thankfully) given the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us stay on the path to the Celestial Glory that we Seek.
7. Spend time with Family
This I think goes without saying, but spending Easter with those that mean the most to us, can make Easter the most special day of the year.
Spending Easter doing the traditional bunny, candy hunts, kite flying, ham eating, and whatever else, can be the icing on the cake.
This life is a time to develop our relationships that will go on through eternity. There isn't a better time to celebrate family (and might I also add family that we choose too!), than on Easter. Because without Christ's death and resurrection that family relationship would not be able to perpetuated beyond the grave.
8. BONUS - Memorize the Living Christ
To me, Easter is about 2 things. 1 - Christ. 2 - Family. One of the ways that I have felt the closest to Christ is through memorizing "The Living Christ"
Check it out. Then either print the blog post or return often to familiarize yourself with it. It can be life changing as you get to know Christ through the Living Christ
Conclusion
So spend your month before Easter celebrating Christ. Spend it learning who Christ is. Spend it with family. And spend it making it unique and special time of year.
You will not regret it.
Learning who Christ is, has been on of the greatest blessings in my life. I have learned as the
New Testament scholar N. T. Wright suggested: “We should be taking steps
to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature,
children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special
concerts. … This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas
away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of
Matthew and Luke, nothing else. Take Easter away, and you don’t have a
New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity.”
You might also like:
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
