Vieren mormonen Pasen?

Isn’t it wonderful that God gives us seasons of joy and celebration? Easter is one of those truly special times, a time when Christians all across this beautiful world remember something absolutely amazing – the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! You might be wondering, “What about our good friends in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Do they share in this incredible joy, this powerful hope?”

Well, let me tell you, the answer is a definite, wholehearted YES! For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Easter is a profoundly important Christian holy day. It’s a time they dedicate to celebrating the literal, actual resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the incredible hope and amazing potential for a fresh start His victory over death brings to every single one of us! 1 We’re going to explore just how these wonderful folks commemorate Easter Sunday, the deep, rich spiritual meaning it holds for them, how their unique scriptures shine even more light on this glorious event, and how their heartfelt observances compare with other Christian traditions, even looking back at the early days of the Church. Get ready to be uplifted!

Do Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Celebrate Easter?

A Clear Affirmation – Yes, They Do!

Let me be absolutely clear, my friends: when it comes to celebrating Easter, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are filled with joy and enthusiasm! It is one of the most major and sacred holidays on their calendar, and every bit of their focus is on the literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. They see this incredible event as the ultimate victory over sin and death, a victory that offers boundless hope, complete redemption, and the promise of eternal life to all of God’s precious children! 1 The Church’s own official website declares with such joy, “Easter is a joyous celebration of what’s possible because of Jesus Christ”! 1 And another official Church resource clearly defines Easter as “the Christian holiday celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 2 those are powerful, clear statements that leave no doubt – they embrace this sacred day with open hearts!

This joyful and open affirmation of Easter by the Church is such a wonderful bridge of understanding with all our Christian brothers and sisters. For every Christian reader, Easter is the very heart of their faith. Knowing that Latter-day Saints also hold this day as sacred, that they too celebrate Christ’s triumphant resurrection, is a foundational piece of information that can clear up any misunderstandings and build common ground on a central belief of our faith. The Church wants to be crystal clear, positioning themselves right within that beautiful, broad Christian tradition of honoring Christ’s resurrection.

Official Recognition and Deep Importance

This isn’t just a casual observance, friends. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially recognizes and deeply reveres Easter. Their teachings and all their published materials consistently highlight Easter as a sacred time to remember Jesus Christ’s infinite, unconditional love, His atoning sacrifice that paid the price for the sins of the world, and His glorious, powerful triumph over death. They see it as a season of spiritual renewal, a time for overwhelming gratitude, and a moment for powerful reflection on the Savior’s incredible life and His divine mission.¹ The Church encourages all its members to “Celebrate the Glory of His Resurrection this Easter,” viewing it as “a time of renewal and a season to remember the love of Jesus Christ.” 1 This official view just underscores how incredibly sacred and important this holiday is within their faith.

Shared Timing with Global Christianity – A Beautiful Connection!

And isn’t it wonderful how God works to bring His children together? Latter-day Saints observe Easter on the very same day as most other Christian denominations all around this globe! The date is set by that long-established heavenly calendar, connected to the spring equinox and the first full moon that shines on or after that equinox.¹ As the Church itself states, “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrates Easter on the same day as most other Christian denominations around the world—a schedule that depends on the moon. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the ecclesiastical spring equinox.” 1

This alignment of the Easter date is so much more than just a detail on a calendar; it’s a practical point of beautiful commonality. It reinforces that even with some unique doctrines, Latter-day Saints are part of a shared Christian calendar for this key, pivotal event. The way Easter’s date is determined is a tradition that goes way back in Christianity. By following this same method, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joins in a shared historical and spiritual rhythm, which can be a gentle but powerful reminder of our shared heritage for all Christians, showing that we are all looking to the same cosmic and historical signs to celebrate this singular, glorious event!

How Do Latter-day Saints Observe Easter Sunday?

Christ-Centered Church Services – All About Jesus!

When Easter Sunday dawns, you can be absolutely sure that in Latter-day Saint congregations, the focus is laser-sharp on the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Although their regular weekly services are always centered on Christ, Easter brings an even greater, more concentrated emphasis on these pivotal, life-changing events.¹

The sermons, which they call “talks,” are usually given by members of the congregation themselves, ordinary people sharing from their hearts, rather than by a single pastor. And on Easter Sunday, you better believe those messages are dedicated to exploring the powerful, deep significance of Jesus’s atoning sacrifice – how He paid the price for every human sin – and His triumphant, glorious resurrection from the dead! 1 The Church states it beautifully: “On Easter Sunday, sermons are focused specifically on Jesus’s sacrifice for us and His Resurrection.” 1

A central, sacred part of every Latter-day Saint Sunday worship service is something they call the ordinance of the sacrament, which is very much like communion in other Christian churches. Members who have been baptized partake of a small piece of bread and a little cup of water in solemn, heartfelt remembrance of Christ’s broken body and His shed blood. On Easter, this sacred ordinance often feels even more poignant, even more powerful, as members reflect deeply on the events it commemorates—the Savior’s ultimate sacrifice and the incredible promise of eternal life made possible only through Him! 1 The sacrament offers a precious opportunity “to take a small piece of bread and cup of water to remember Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for us, as He taught His disciples during the Last Supper.” 1

And oh, the music, friends! Music plays such a vital role in their Easter services. Congregations join their voices, singing hymns that specifically celebrate the Resurrection, and their local church choirs (which they call ward choirs) often prepare special, uplifting musical presentations or cantatas just for this occasion! 2 This focus on music just enhances the celebratory, worshipful atmosphere of this amazing day. Their meetinghouses, or chapels, are often decorated with symbols of life, purity, and renewal, like beautiful white lilies, reflecting the hope and the brand-new beginnings that come with Christ’s resurrection! 2

These core elements of Latter-day Saint Easter services—sermons all about Jesus, the sacred sacrament, and music themed on His resurrection—closely mirror the fundamental parts of Easter worship in so many other Christian churches. This really highlights a shared pattern of worship, all centered on the Resurrection, even if the specific ways of doing things or the words they use might be a little different. This similarity can create a wonderful sense of familiarity and connection, showing that the manier they celebrate the Resurrection, while having its own unique Latter-day Saint expressions, is rooted in common Christian traditions of worship.

Meaningful Family Traditions – Faith in the Home!

But the celebration doesn’t just stay within the church walls! Easter is also a precious time for family-centered activities that reinforce its deep spiritual meaning and allow for personal, quiet reflection. Many Latter-day Saint families make it a special point to read the accounts of Christ’s crucifixion and His glorious resurrection together, drawing inspiration from both the Bible and their other sacred book, the Book of Mormon.¹ Family activities “might look like families reading passages about the Resurrection from the Bible together.” 1 And their church services also traditionally “review New Testament and Book of Mormon accounts of Christ’s crucifixion, His Resurrection, and surrounding events” 2, a practice that is often beautifully mirrored right in their homes.

Sharing a special meal with family and friends is another common and wonderful way to mark the day, fostering a sense of togetherness, joy, and celebration! 1 Although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn’t have formal-wide observances for the days leading up to Easter Sunday (often known as Holy Week), many members, either individually or as families, will take time to study the events of Christ’s final week. This might include reading about His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) or His powerful suffering and crucifixion (Good Friday), listening to sacred, uplifting music, and engaging in other activities that help them focus their hearts and minds on the Savior and the incredible significance of His sacrifice.¹

This beautiful combination of formal church observances with a major emphasis on family-centered traditions reveals a key aspect of Latter-day Saint life: they believe faith is nurtured both in the community of believers and, so importantly, within the heart of the home. Easter, therefore, becomes both a communal sacred event and a deeply personal and familial one. This dual emphasis reflects a core Latter-day Saint belief that the family is a fundamental unit in God’s great plan and a primary place for religious teaching and experience. The individual and family study of Holy Week events, even without official church-wide services for those specific days, shows a personal reverence for the entire story of Christ’s Passion. This is such an important point: just because they don’t have a formal church service for Good Friday, for example, doesn’t mean Latter-day Saints ignore or devalue Christ’s suffering and death. Not at all! It suggests that their manier of remembering might be more personal or family-driven for those specific days, Although their reverence for the events themselves remains incredibly strong.

What is the Central Meaning of Easter for Latter-day Saints?

The Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ – The Very Heart of It All!

If you want to know what Easter truly means, what beats at the very heart of it for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day it’s two powerful, life-changing concepts: the Atonement and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! This holy day joyously celebrates Christ’s atoning sacrifice—His incredible suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and His death on the cross for the sins of every single one of us—and His literal, physical resurrection from that tomb, which absolutely conquered both sin and death forever! 1 The Church teaches with such conviction that “Easter is a joyous celebration of what’s possible because of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we can have a fresh start as we repent and are forgiven for our sins.” 1 Yes! And they also declare, “The spiritual significance of Easter is centered on the death, Atonement, and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 4 The Latter-day Saint understanding of the Atonement often gives a broader view to the sacrifice we remember at Easter, including Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane as a pivotal moment where He took upon Himself all our sins and sorrows, as well as His suffering and death on the cross.¹ Although the crucifixion is undeniably central and vitally important 6, this broader perspective sees Easter as remembering an entire redemptive journey that began even before the cross and reached its glorious peak in the Resurrection!

Redemption, Forgiveness, and a Fresh Start – A Gift for You!

Because of Christ’s infinite, amazing sacrifice, Latter-day Saints believe that every individual, yes, that means you, has the wonderful opportunity to repent of their sins and be completely forgiven by God. Easter is such a powerful, beautiful reminder of this incredible gift, offering every single person the chance for a “fresh start” and ultimate reconciliation with God, making them “worthy to live with God again someday.” 1 Isn’t that the best news you’ve heard all day?

The Promise of Universal Resurrection – Everyone Will Live Again!

And here’s a cornerstone of Latter-day Saint Easter belief that will fill your heart with hope: because of Jesus Christ’s victory over death, every single person who has ever lived or ever will live on this earth will be resurrected! That’s right! This means their spirit and their physical body will be reunited in a perfected, immortal state, never again to be separated! 2 “Easter is a celebration not only of the Resurrection of Christ but also of the universal Resurrection. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all people will be resurrected.” 2 The Book of Mormon teaches so powerfully that “Jesus Christ loosed the bands of death for all.” 7 This powerful emphasis on a universal physical resurrection for all humankind, an unconditional gift, is a particularly hopeful and distinctive belief. This separates the gift of simply rising again from the conditional gift of eternal life or exaltation, making it a powerful message of God’s all-encompassing love and Christ’s complete victory over physical death for every single person, no matter what choices they made in life!

Hope for Eternal Life with God and Families – Together Forever!

But the Resurrection of Christ doesn’t just promise that we’ll live again; it opens the pathway to eternal life! For Latter-day this means the incredible potential to live forever in God’s glorious presence, inheriting all that our Heavenly Father has, and, so significantly, to do so with our families! 1 “If we live Christ’s gospel, we can look forward to living with God and our families for eternity.” 1 Easter is seen as “a celebration of the promise of eternal life through Christ.” 2 This direct, beautiful connection made between Christ’s resurrection and the eternal nature of families fills Easter with a unique and deeply personal meaning, linking this grand, cosmic event to their most cherished human relationships and making the Resurrection the enabling power for this ultimate hope for families.

Fulfillment of God’s Eternal Plan – It Was Always the Plan!

Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection are understood as the central, absolutely essential events in God’s overall “plan of happiness” for His children—a plan He established before the world even began, to enable them to progress and become like Him! 1 The Book of Mormon connects “the Creation, Fall, birth of Jesus Christ, Atonement, Resurrection, and Judgment are all inextricably connected as parts of God’s plan for His children.” 8

A Testimony of the Living, Guiding Christ – He Lives Today!

Easter powerfully affirms the Latter-day Saint belief that Jesus Christ is not just some historical figure from long ago a living, resurrected, glorified Being who continues to lead and guide His Church today through living prophets and apostles! 1 “Jesus Christ Still Lives Today. Jesus Christ is a living, Resurrected being. He leads and guides His prophets and apostles today through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” 1 The Prophet Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony, “That he lives!” 9, is absolutely central to this conviction. He’s not just a memory; He’s a reality!

Do Latter-day Saints Observe Lent, Ash Wednesday, or Good Friday?

No Formal Church-Wide Observance – A Different Approach

You might be wondering about some of the traditions many Christians observe, like Ash Wednesday, the season of Lent, or specific Holy Week services such as Good Friday or Maundy Thursday. Well, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doesn’t have formal, prescribed church-wide liturgical observances for these.² The Church states it quite plainly: “Latter-day Saints conduct Easter Sunday services but do not follow the religious observances of Ash Wednesday, Lent, or Holy Week.” 2

This non-observance mostly reflects their theological emphasis on continuous, daily discipleship and consistent Sabbath worship, rather than a structured liturgical calendar filled with special seasons. It’s simply a different approach to spiritual discipline and remembrance. So, the absence of Lent in Latter-day Saint practice isn’t a rejection of repentance or spiritual reflection at all rather an integration of these important principles into a daily, consistent pattern of living the gospel.

Emphasis on Continuous Christ-Centered Living – Every Day with Jesus!

Instead of specific liturgical seasons for things like penitence or fasting, such as Lent, the Church emphasizes a year-round, heartfelt commitment to Christ-centered living. The Sabbath day (Sunday) is observed every single week as a special time for worship, for spiritual renewal, for partaking of the sacrament, and for drawing closer to Jesus Christ.¹ “Year-round, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints try to keep the Sabbath day holy by worshipping at church and focusing the day on activities that help us draw closer to Jesus Christ.” 1

Personal or Family Acknowledgment of Holy Week – Remembering in Their Own Way

But here’s an important point, friends: Although these aren’t official Church practices, it is very common for many Latter-day Saint individuals and families to privately study and reflect on the events of Christ’s final week. This often includes learning about events traditionally associated with Palm Sunday and Good Friday as part of their personal Easter preparations.¹ The Church notes that “Many Latter-day Saints celebrate events leading up to Easter, like Palm Sunday and Good Friday, by studying the events of Holy Week, listening to songs about Jesus Christ, and enjoying a special meal with family and friends.” 1

The fact that many Latter-day Saints persoonlijk study and reflect on Holy Week events, even without formal church services for days like Good Friday, is a key understanding. It shows that there is deep reverence for the historical story of Christ’s suffering and death, even if the manier they observe it is more individualized or family-based. This distinction is crucial: it’s a difference in how the Church as an institution observes rather than a complete lack of personal reverence for the events themselves. This helps us avoid the misunderstanding that Latter-day Saints disregard the importance of Christ’s final days.

Underlying Reasons for Non-Observance – Their Unique Path

Several factors contribute to this approach. Their focus is on living gospel principles every single day, rather than through a structured liturgical calendar of special feasts and fasts. Latter-day Saint worship is primarily based on teachings from the Bible, their unique scriptures (like the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price), and guidance from living prophets, and none of these outline these specific liturgical seasons for the Church today. Historically, as a church that believes it is a restoration of original Christianity, there’s often an emphasis on practices they believe were part of the very early Christian perhaps bypassing some liturgical developments that came about later in Christian history. Their foundational story of being a “restored” church often leads them to focus on doctrines and practices they believe are core and original, and they may not adopt liturgical traditions like Lent or Ash Wednesday that developed over many centuries in other branches of Christianity after the time of the apostles.

What Role Do Easter Eggs and the Easter Bunny Play in Latter-day Saint Celebrations?

Cultural Traditions for Children’s Enjoyment – Fun for the Family!

What about all those fun, familiar Easter traditions, like decorating colorful Easter eggs, going on exciting Easter egg hunts, and the friendly Easter bunny? Well, many families in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints absolutely incorporate these common secular traditions into their family celebrations! These activities are generally seen as fun and enjoyable, especially for the children, bringing smiles and laughter.²

This approach shows a wonderful, practical balance: they allow participation in harmless cultural customs for family enjoyment while clearly marking out what holds actual religious significance. This strategy helps their members navigate cultural norms without compromising the sacredness of the holiday’s core message. By not discouraging these popular customs but also stating they have “no religious significance” 2, the Church allows for cultural participation while keeping the spiritual focus strong.

No Assigned Religious Significance – Keeping the Sacred Sacred

Although these customs are very common in our wider culture and have even been given symbolic Christian meanings in some other wonderful faiths (for example, the egg as a symbol of the empty tomb or new life 10), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not officially assign religious meaning to them. These traditions are not discouraged by the not at all they are not considered part of the religious observance of Easter itself.² The Church clarifies that “Such traditions are not officially discouraged, though they have no religious significance to Latter-day Saints.” 2

This position is a little different from some other Christian denominations that have more deeply woven these secular elements into their traditions and given them Christian meanings. The Latter-day Saint stance suggests they prefer to maintain a clearer distinction between divinely revealed religious practices and adopted cultural traditions. This might reflect their broader “restorationist” approach, focusing on what they believe are the core, original elements of faith and worship.

Maintaining the Religious Focus – Jesus is the Center!

The most important thing, the absolute paramount concern for Latter-day is that the true, Christ-centered meaning of Easter—the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s glorious resurrection—remains the central focus of the holiday. Any secular activities are considered secondary, enjoyable extras not the main event.² “The focus of the holiday is religious” 2, a statement that powerfully underscores the Church’s priority. This implies a wonderful flexibility: as long as Christ’s resurrection is the central theme, the inclusion of some secular fun is a matter of family choice and is considered perfectly acceptable.

Latter-day Saints are generally aware that symbols like Easter eggs are given Christian meaning in other traditions 10, and they respect that. Their approach is simply to treat them as enjoyable cultural additions for families, without formally incorporating them into their core religious worship or doctrine concerning Easter.

How Do Latter-day Saint Scriptures, like the Book of Mormon, Emphasize Christ’s Resurrection?

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ – More Witnesses!

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day the Book of Mormon stands right alongside the Holy Bible as a sacred volume of scripture. It even has a subtitle: “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” And let me tell you, it is filled with numerous ancient prophecies, powerful teachings, and powerful eyewitness accounts all related to Jesus Christ’s Atonement and, so importantly, His glorious Resurrection! It serves as a independent witness to these divine, world-changing events, enriching and deepening their understanding of Easter.² Their Easter services often “review New Testament and Book of Mormon accounts of Christ’s crucifixion, His Resurrection, and surrounding events.” 2

Key Resurrection Teachings in the Book of Mormon – Amazing Insights!

The Book of Mormon offers several unique and wonderfully clarifying perspectives on the Resurrection that will lift your heart:

• Ancient Prophecies of Christ’s Resurrection: Imagine this! Prophets in the Book of Mormon, living centuries voordat Christ was even born in Bethlehem, explicitly prophesied His atoning suffering, His death, and His subsequent resurrection. Incredible figures like Lehi, Nephi, King Benjamin, and Abinadi all testified with power about these future events! 7
• Christ’s Post-Resurrection Visit to the Americas: Here’s a central and absolutely unparalleled event recorded in the Book of Mormon: the literal, physical appearance of the resurrected Jesus Christ to people who lived in ancient America, known as the Nephites! These people saw Him descend from heaven, they heard Him teach His beautiful gospel, and He invited them to physically touch the wound prints in His hands, His feet, and His side. This gave them a tangible, undeniable witness of His resurrected, glorified body! 1 This account in the book of 3 Nephi 7 isn’t just another story for Latter-day Saints; they believe it’s a literal historical event that solidifies their faith in a resurrected, physical Christ and shows that the Resurrection event was for the whole world, not just the Holy Land!
• Clarification on Universal and Perfected Resurrection: The Book of Mormon provides detailed and specific teachings that the resurrection is universal—meaning alle people who have ever lived will be resurrected, no matter if they were righteous or not. It clarifies that their bodies will be restored to a perfect, immortal form, with their spirit and body inseparably reconnected, never again to be subject to death or decay! 7 “Jesus Christ loosed the bands of death for all.” 7 The Book of Mormon makes it “beautifully clear that resurrection is universal… ‘The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form… This restoration shall come to all…’.” 8 This specific doctrine answers fundamental human questions about what happens after death and is a key contribution of their unique scriptures to their Easter understanding.
• Resurrection as a Necessary Part of God’s Plan: The Book of Mormon teaches that resurrection is a necessary consequence of the Fall of Adam (which brought physical death into the world) and is a vital, indispensable part of Heavenly Father’s amazing, overarching plan for the salvation and exaltation of His children! 7
• Resurrection Leads to Judgment: Following their resurrection, all individuals will be brought back into the presence of God to be judged according to their works and the desires of their hearts.⁷

The Doctrine and Covenants: Modern Revelations of the Resurrected Christ – He Speaks Today!

Latter-day Saints also have another volume of scripture unique to them, called the Doctrine and Covenants. This incredible book is a collection of modern revelations, primarily given to Joseph Smith, the first prophet and President of the Church in modern times, as well as to some of his successors. This book also powerfully affirms the reality of the living, resurrected Christ and His ongoing direction of His Church. It contains modern testimonies of prophets who have actually seen the resurrected Savior in vision! 9 For example, it records Christ ministering in the spirit world while His body was in the tomb (Doctrine and Covenants 138).¹³ It also contains the powerful declaration of the risen Savior Himself appearing in the Kirtland Temple in 1836, proclaiming, “I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:4)! 9 And Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony is also recorded: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22).⁹ These modern testimonies bring the reality of the Resurrection right into our contemporary era for Latter-day making it not just an ancient event but a continuing, living reality!

Supplementing and Confirming Biblical Accounts – Stronger Together!

For Latter-day these additional scriptures—the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants—do not replace or diminish the Holy Bible in any way. Instead, they see them as confirming, clarifying, and expanding upon the biblical accounts of Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection. They provide multiple witnesses and deeper doctrinal understanding of these sacred events, strengthening faith in Jesus Christ as the resurrected Lord and Savior of all mankind! 1

Why Don’t Latter-day Saints Typically Emphasize the Cross Symbol as Much as Other Christians, Especially Around Easter?

You might notice that the cross symbol isn’t usually seen on most Latter-day Saint chapels, and they don’t often use it in their personal religious expression. This is a noticeable difference for many other Christians, and it comes from specific theological emphases, not from any disregard for Christ’s suffering.

Focus on the Living, Resurrected Christ – He is Risen!

The main reason for this de-emphasis, is a powerful focus on the triumph of the Resurrection and the reality of the levende, active Christ today, rather than on the instrument of His death.⁶ President Gordon B. Hinckley, a past President of the explained it this way: “for us, the cross is the symbol of the dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ.” 6 Another Church resource states, “But because the Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith.” 19 This is a key distinction in their devotional focus: they prioritize the uitkomst of the Atonement (Resurrection, the living Christ) over the instrument of suffering.

The Crucifixion is Vitally Important Differently Expressed – The Sacrifice is Honored

This doesn’t mean that the suffering of Christ on the cross is unimportant to Latter-day Saints. Not at all! On the contrary, it is acknowledged as a vital, sacred, and inseparable part of His atoning sacrifice.¹ They believe that the “preaching of the cross”—that is, teaching and testifying of what happened there and its incredible significance—is far more important than displaying the physical symbol itself.⁶ “Is the cross important to our faith? The answer is an unequivocal yes! The Redeemer’s suffering on the cross is vitally important to us and is an inseparable part of the Atonement.” 6

“Taking Up One’s Cross” – A Metaphor for Discipleship – Living for Him

Latter-day Saints interpret Jesus’s scriptural command to “take up uw cross and follow me” (Matthew 10:38) primarily in a metaphorical sense. They understand it as a call to deny oneself of ungodliness and worldly desires, to keep God’s commandments, and to live a life of dedicated service, sacrifice, and obedience to the Savior.¹ “The Savior was clear when He stated that in following Him we should take upon ourselves a cross—not the Roman cross that was the instrument of death but our own cross, whereby we present a sacrifice to the Lord of our own heart to be obedient to His commandments.” 6 This interpretation transforms the cross from a passive symbol into an active, daily principle of discipleship, which aligns perfectly with the Latter-day Saint emphasis on works and continuous striving in faith.

Lives as the Symbol of Faith – Showing Faith Through Actions

The most meaningful expression of faith and devotion to Christ, in the Latter-day Saint understanding, is shown through the way members live their lives—their actions, their kindness, their integrity, and their service to others—rather than through wearing or displaying a physical cross.⁶ “Our lives must be the expression of our faith.” 19 President Hinckley further stated, “The lives of our people must become the most meaningful expression of our faith and, in fact, therefore, the symbol of our worship.”⁶

No Offense Intended to Other Faiths – Respect for All

Church leaders have consistently expressed deep respect for other Christians who use the cross symbol reverently in their worship and personal devotion. The Latter-day Saint approach is simply a matter of their own doctrinal emphasis and is not intended as a criticism of other Christian traditions at all.⁶ President Hinckley specifically said, “I do not wish to give offense to any of my Christian colleagues who use the cross on the steeples of their cathedrals and at the altars of their chapels…”.⁶ Understanding this theological reasoning is so crucial for interfaith dialogue, as it’s not about disrespecting the cross about a different way of expressing reverence for Christ’s incredible sacrifice.

Table: Key Easter Beliefs and Practices: A Comparative Overview

Conclusion: A Shared Celebration of the Risen Lord – United in Hope!

So, let there be absolutely no doubt: members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do celebrate Easter with deep religious conviction and overflowing, joyous reverence! For them, it is a sacred, precious time to commemorate the Atonement and, most centrally, the literal, glorious Resurrection of their Savior, Jesus Christ! 1 Their Easter observances are completely Christ-centered, with special worship services featuring uplifting sermons, beautiful music, and the sacred sacrament, all focused on the Savior’s incredible victory over sin and death.

While Latter-day Saints share that core Christian belief in the risen Christ as our Redeemer, their understanding and celebration of Easter are also enriched by powerful insights from their unique scriptures, such as the Book of Mormon’s amazing account of Christ’s appearance in the ancient Americas and its detailed teachings on the universal nature of resurrection.⁷ Differences in practice, such as their non-observance of Lent or a different emphasis regarding the symbol of the cross, stem from their distinct theological framework and their belief in a restored Christianity with ongoing revelation from God.²

Despite these variations in specific practices or some theological nuances, the foundational belief in Jesus Christ—His divine Sonship, His atoning sacrifice, His literal resurrection, and His role as the Savior of all mankind—forms a powerful, beautiful bridge of shared faith with other Christian traditions. Easter, for Latter-day Saints as for Christians all over this world, is ultimately a testament to the enduring power of God’s incredible love, the triumph of life over death, and the bright, shining hope of resurrection and eternal life made possible only through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord! And continued respectful dialogue and a genuine willingness to understand different expressions of a common faith in Christ can only serve to strengthen the collective Christian witness in the world. God bless you!

Bibliography:

1. 2025 Easter Holiday – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed May 24, 2025, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/welcome/easter?lang=eng
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