A Christ-centered Easter

We love this book. We have been using it to create a more Christ-centered Easter celebration for the last 4 years. Consequently, Easter has become one of the kids favorite holidays.

This year my very creative sister-in-law started studying the book and became inspired to share the idea of a more spiritual celebration than eggs and bunnies and chocolate with her ward as she is Ward activities chairman. She wrote to the authors to find out what she could and couldnt' share with her ward and has been very careful not to infringe on their copyright in her Easter Celebration outline.

I highly recommend buying the book.

However, if it's not in the budget to buy a book before Easter.....

Abby said I could share the outline she created with you.

She's used LDS.Org, the scriptures and pictures from the gospel art kit, otherwise known as "GAK" to create daily devotionals to celebrate the days from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. You'll be teaching your family about the last week of the Savior's life.

This is what our kitchen cupboards look like during Easter week. We add new pictures and scriptures each day after our devotional. Remember I've been working on this for 4 years. Start small and build it each year. This year I think I'll probably be back-tracking a little as I am working and don't have as much time to plan and prepare but thankfully so much of the work is already done and ready from years past.

This is the best part!

Seeing my little ones sit quietly and ponder when they have free time. Just stopping on their way through the kitchen with a hat full of rocks (yes, a hat full of rocks.......) to look and feel and think about what He, the Savior of all mankind, has done for them.

For all of us.

I'd love to hear about your efforts if you decide to use the outline. You can comment here after Easter or just email me. Abby would probably love to read about your experiences too. I'll pass them on to her.

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Focusing on the Savior for Easter week

Choose any or all of the suggested activities and scriptures to aid in commemorating Christ’s last mortal week with your family.

Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem - Sunday March 28^th

Palm Sunday

“Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” (Matt. 21:8–9)

Scriptural References:

Matt: 21:1-11

Mark: 11:1-11

Luke 19:29-38

John 12:12-15

Visuals: GAK (Gospel Art Kit) 223, Ensign April 2009 p53, Ensign Feb 2001 inside front cover, June 1999 p14.

Palm Leaf (included)

Resource: Exploring Pams for the Lord Dorothy D. Warner, “Palms for the Lord,” Friend, Mar 1996, 26.

“The Last Days of Christ’s Ministry,” Friend, Apr 1983, 48. Use the first half on Sunday and the second half on Monday.

Activity: Make palm leaves using paper or cloth.

Question/Discussion: How would we show praise in welcoming the Savior if He came now?

Cleansing of the Temple – Monday March 29^th

“My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

(Matt 21:13)

Scriptural References:

Matt 21: 12-15

Mark 11: 15-19

Luke 19: 45-46

John 2:13-16

Visual: GAK 224

Activity/Discussion: Each member of the family will pick something they can “give up” for Easter week and then pick something to replace it with that is spiritual. This is cleansing our inner temple. Write these replacements on strips of paper then use these strips of paper to construct a temple to display for the week.

Another possible teaching for Monday is the Cursing of the Fig Tree:

Scriptural References:

Matt 21:19-22

Mark 11:12-14, *20-26

*These scriptures could be used in deciding what areas we need to strengthened spiritually.

Visual: Ensign April 2009, 56

This incident of the blighting of the fig tree has been difficult for many people to understand because it is so different from the other miracles of the Savior. Before, he had brought relief to the suffering and had largely used his powers for beneficial purposes and blessings; indeed, he had brought the dead back to life again. But here, he appears to have rendered a final judgment and caused death. However, the disciples undoubtedly learned a great lesson from this incident. Among other things, they surely recognized now that the Savior had power to cause death as well as to give life; thus, they realized it would be possible for him to voluntarily give his life as he had said. They had cause to remember this lesson before the week was out.

Another possible lesson learned by the disciples from this incident is that neither they nor anyone else should pretend to be something they really are not. The leafy fig tree pretended to have fruit, for the leaf and the fruit of the fig normally develop together. However, this leafy fig tree was deceptively barren. (The Greatest Week in History Ensign April 1972 Daniel H.Ludlow).

Parables – Tuesday and Wednesday March 30^th-31^st

“And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables…” (Matt 22:1)

Choose from these or other favorite parables the Savior taught.

*Parable of the Wicked Husbandman

Matt 21:33-46

Mark 12:1-12

Luke 20:9-19

*The Widow’s Mite

Mark 12: 40-44

*Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matt 25:1-13

*Parable of the Entrusted Talents

Matt 25:14-30

*Parable of the Royal Marriage Feast

Matt 22: 1-14

*Parable of the Two Sons

Matt 21: 28-32

Resource: The Parable of the Bicycle Ensign April 1992, 8-9.

Question/Discussion: What are some examples from your life or those in your family that are parables today?

Passover Feast (Sacrament/Last Supper)/Gethsemane –

Thursday April 1^st

“He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isa. 53:7)

Visuals: GAK 225, Ensign April 2009, 57, Ensign April 2001 inside front cover, Ensign Aug 2004, 24.

Resource: “Passover Promises Fulfilled in the Last Supper” Liahona, March 1991 Terry W. Treseder.

The two disciples sent to prepare for the Seder were directed to an upper chamber. While there, they probably inspected the room to make certain it was scrupulously clean. Even today, as the eve of Passover approaches, house cleaning is part of every faithful Hebrew’s religious regime. (“Passover Promises Fulfilled in the Last Supper” Liahona, March 1991 Terry W. Treseder).

Question/Activity: Is your home ready for Passover dinner?

Scriptural References: (Read during dinnertime)

Last Supper

Matt 26: 17-30 JST (Joseph Smith Translation) p804 Matt 26: 24-27

Mark 14:12-26 JST p805 Mark 14: 20-25

Luke 22: 7-39

Activity:

Include Passover foods with your meal:

1. Lamb (or lamb chops)

2. Unleavened Bread “took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).

During that night of deliverance, Israelite families feasted on the meal of the sacrificial lamb and unleavened bread, for they had no time in their urgent haste to wait for leavened bread to rise. (See Ex. 12:39.) (“Passover Promises Fulfilled in the Last Supper” Liahona, March 1991 Terry W. Treseder).

3. Grape Juice “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20)

4. Bitter Herbs And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it” (Ex. 12:8)

It is customary at this point in the Passover service to eat bitter herbs, such as horseradish or green onions, representing the bitterness of bondage. Very often, crushed herbs (marror) are eaten on matza, along with haroset (a mixture of apples, nuts, and spiced sauce). Haroset represents the mortar that the Israelites used for making bricks. (“Passover Promises Fulfilled in the Last Supper” Liahona, March 1991 Terry W. Treseder).

Note: Detailed meanings of Passover foods can be found in “A Christ Centered Easter” by Janet and Joe Hales (Deseret Book).

5. Salt Water

Complementing bitter herbs are dishes of salt water, into which diners dip greens (karpas), such as lettuce or onion stems. Salt water represents the tears of slavery.

We can find only a suggestion that Jesus and his disciples followed this custom. After Jesus declared that a traitor was present, his disciples began speculating who could be the guilty one. “And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord is it I?

“And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me” (Matt 26: 22-23) (“Passover Promises Fulfilled in the Last Supper” Liahona, March 1991 Terry W. Treseder).

Song:“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26)

Choose a hymn to Close dinner with.

“The ordinances commemorating our escape from the angel of darkness should be taken more serioulsy than it sometimes is. It should be a powerful, reverent, reflective moment. It should encourage spiritual feelings and impressions. As such it should not be rushed. It is not something to ‘get over’ so that the real purpose of sacrament meeting can be pursued. This is the real purpose of the meeting. And everything that is said or sung or prayed in those services should be consistent with the grandeur of this sacred ordinance.” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “this Do in Remembrance of Me, “ Ensign Nov. 1995, 68).

Scriptural References:
Gethsemane

Matt 26:36-45

Mark 14:32-42 JST p805 Mark 14: 36-38

Luke 22:39-46

John 18:1

Visuals: GAK 227, Ensign April 2009, 58, Ensign March 2001, 9.

Trial and Crucifixion – Friday April 2^nd

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46)

Scriptural References:

Matt 27:11- 26 Trial Matt: 27-51 Crucifixion Matt 27:57-66 Burial

Mark 15: 1-15 Trial Mark: 16-39 Crucifixion Mark 15: 43-47 Burial

Luke 23:1-27 Trial Luke: 33-46 Crucifixion Luke 23: 50-50 Burial

John 19:1-16 Trial John: 17-37 Crucifixion John 19: 38-42 Burial

Visual (Trial): Ensign March 2001 inside front cover

Visuals (Crucifixion): GAK 230, Ensign April 2009, 59

Visual (Burial): GAK 231

Compare the Crucifixion events from the Old World to the New World:

3 Nephi 8: 5-23 (particularly verses 20-23)

Note the darkness in all the land. Find a room in the house where no light can come in.

Discuss how the Savior is literally the light of the world. (John 9:5)

The Savior’s Visit to the Spirit World – Saturday April 3^rd

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46)

Visual: Ensign July 2003, 33

Scriptural References:

Alma 41: 12

D&C 138: 12,15

John 5:25

3 Nephi 9 The Savior speaks out of the darkness to those in the New World

Resource: “The Saviors Visit to the Spirit World” Elder Spencer J. Condie Ensign July 2003, 32

The Savior Himself greatly anticipated His visit to the obedient in the spirit world: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (John 5:25)

…Alma taught that while the obedient wait, they dwell in a “state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow:” (Alma 41: 12)

Joseph F. Smith saw the spirit world just before the Savior’s arrival there. There obedient spirits “were gathered together in one place” and “filled with joy and gladness…rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand” (D&C 138: 12,15).

The facts of Jesus’ death and Resurrection are hailed by those of Christian denominations as fundamental tenets. However, what Jesus’ immortal spirit did after His death and before His Resurrection is a mystery to all but the Latter-day Saints. (“The Saviors Visit to the Spirit World” Elder Spencer J. Condie Ensign July 2003, 32).

Question/Discussion: How can we help people in spirit prison? (The answer is through Temple work)

These temples are an outward manifestation of our testimony of the reality of the work that goes on for the dead both here and in the spirit world, a work initiated by the Savior’s visit to the righteous dead. (“The Saviors Visit to the Spirit World” Elder Spencer J. Condie Ensign July 2003, 32).

Activity/Discussion: You can use your home or another building to take those you teach on a “journey” through the plan. One room could be designated as the “premortal world,” another room could represent “earth life,” a third room could represent the “spirit world,” and the last room could represent the “celestial kingdom,” which might be where treats are located at the… end! You could talk about how we go through the doors of birth, death and resurrectrion. Death could be explained as part of the plan—going from one room to the next. It might be useful to point out before anyone moves from room to room that someone had to plan and build the houe we are all in. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the architects and builders of the plan of salvation (see alsChristine Wright, “Walking Through the Plan of Salvation,” Ensign Aug. 1999, 72).

Resurrection- Sunday April 4^th Easter Sunday

“Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. …” (Matt 28:5-7)

Scriptural References:

Matt: 28 1-8

Mark: 16: 1-10

Luke 24: 1-11

John 20:1-18

Visuals: GAK 232, Ensign May 200 inside front cover, GAK 233Ensign April 2002 inside front cover, Ensign April 2006 inside front cover

Music: Start the day with music significant of the resurrection, or sing a hymn of choice:

He is Risen Hymns 199

I Know that My Redeemer Lives Hymns 136

My Redeemer Lives Hymns 135 (These words are by Gordon B. Hinkley)

Share your own feelings on the Savior (thoughts and insights discovered through the week) and let family members do the same. Record these thoughts in a journal.

Enjoy General Conference as a family to learn how we can follow the Savoir today.

The apostle John listed the following reason for including in his gospel the major events of the last week in the earthly life of the Savior: “… these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20:13)