April 20th, 2025, 1am MDT
The first presidency invited everyone to celebrate the “great love” of Jesus Christ this Easter season, and Latter-day Saints shared their experiences.
During Holy Week, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a quorum of the 12 Apostles, testified in the prayer of “the living God, our Savior, our Savior, our Unexpected Messiah’s Living Son.” Elder Todd Christofferson of Quorum, 12 Apostles, dedicated the new BYU Musical Building.
Elder Patrick Kealon, also a quorum of 12 apostles, dedicated the Auckland New Zealand Temple in Palm Sunday.
Bishop Gerald Casse met with leaders of the United Nations World Food Program in Rome, Italy. The assignment of community leadership to Latter-day Saints’ Church of Jesus Christ was announced between 2025 and 26.
The open house of Nairobi Kenya Temple has begun, with dates and renderings of the other three temples announced. Two are South America and one is West Jordan, Utah.
For more information about the historical context surrounding Easter in this week’s Church News Podcast Episode 236, see more.
Members of stakes and missionaries in Seoul, the Philippines, feel that they are approaching their Savior through “living Christ.”
Read the overview and find links to these articles below.
1. Celebrating the “great love” of Christ, invites the first presidency, and members share their experiences
Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring President Russell M. Nelson invited everyone to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, described by President Nelson as the “ultimate expression of love.” In a February video message from his first presidency, President Oaks encouraged viewers to prepare for the “Easter Season” by creating meaningful traditions focused on Christ.
Many members brought the message of the first presidency to their hearts. Church News asked members how they acted on the invitation, creating a new tradition that would help them focus on the Savior’s “great love” throughout the season.
For more information about the message of the first presidency, please explain here what the members did to celebrate the Easter season.
2. Just as Jesus won and entered Jerusalem, “Calm Christ” can enter individual life, says Elder Uchtdorf of BYU.
Two days after Palm Sunday, Elder Uchtdorf spoke at the prayer at Brigham Young University on Tuesday, April 15th, giving a testimony to Christ during Holy Week.
He invited listeners to change their minds on the historic day, “when the King Jesus Christ, King of King, rode humbled in victory over the holy city of Jerusalem.”
Read more about what Elder Uchtdorf said here.
3. BYU’s new music building is a testament to how much the church values music, says Elder Christofferson.
The new 171,000-square-foot music building featuring state-of-the-art practice and performance spaces at Brigham Young University was dedicated by Elder Christofferson on Thursday, April 17th.
“I will admit to music and singing and praise you and your beloved son in our lives,” he prayed.
Read about dedication and take a look at photos of the new musical building.
4. How did Palm in New Zealand engage with the Cry of Hosanna in the House of the Lord?
Elder Kealon dedicated the Auckland New Zealand Temple on Palm Sunday, April 13th. It is the second Lord’s house of the country.
“It’s a peculiar experience to scream Hosanna to the lambs of Hosanna and Palm Sunday,” Elder Kealon said, calling it a “lifetime experience.”
Find out more about the devotion of Auckland New Zealand Temple here.
5. Efforts to help hunger are inspired by the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ, Bishop Kasse says
Bishop Kasse met with leaders of the United Nations World Food Programme, the United Nations world’s largest hunger organization in Rome, Italy on Thursday, April 17th.
“Long-standing collaboration with global food programs will help promote hope and independence amid adversity,” Bishop Kasse said. “By combining resources and expertise, we can make a difference in the lives of people facing food insecurity.”
Find out more about efforts to alleviate hunger here.
6. The regional presidential assignment for 2025-26 has been announced
The first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the church’s current allocation of 24 local community leaders.
Learn more about the challenges of the new regional presidency here.
7. Temple News in Kenya, Chile, Argentina, West Jordan, Utah
The open house at Nairobi Kenya Temple begins Thursday, April 17th and runs until Saturday, May 3rd, except Sunday. Two weeks later, on Sunday, May 19th, Elder Suarez, a quorum of the 12 Apostles, will offer a dedicated prayer to what will become the Church’s 204th Temple of Operation.
Information on the dedication of temples in Antofagusta Chile and Bahia Blanca Argentine and the dates of the open houses have been announced. A rendering of the temple to be built in West Jordan, Utah has also been released.
Read and take a look at photos of Nairobi Kenya Temple. Read on about the devotion of temples in Chile and Argentine. For more information about West Jordanian Temple, please see here.
8. Episode 236: The Miracle of the Resurrection of Christ in Easter with Jerusalem and historian Richard Nezel Holzapfel
This Week’s Church News Podcast, Episode 236, Professor Emeritus at Brigham Young University and historian Richard Nazel Holzapfel explains the historical context surrounding Easter, the importance of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Gessamane, and the Resurrection of Christ.
Listen to the podcast here.
9. The testimony of “living Christ” in Seoul, Korea and Urdanate, Philippines
Members of the Seoul Korean stake expressed their testimony and gratitude after memorizing “The Living Christ.” Gyeongjin Park, a YSA branch of Seoul, said he had a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ’s tone sin, saying, “His tone sin has begun to touch me for the first time.”
Around 2,000 miles south, the entire Philippines Urdaneta mission shared the testimony of Jesus Christ during Easter season by reciting, recording, and posting “The Living Christ” online. “After watching the completed video, I really felt empowered in the words of that God’s published document,” said Elder Joseph Tuoty, one of the full-time missionaries.
Read the Member Experience in Seoul Korea Stocks. Check out the Urdaneta Mission Experience in the Philippines.
