April 21, 2025, 8pm MDT
Hundreds of members of the Latter-day Saint Church of Jesus Christ helped create beautiful traditions in Guatemala as part of their Holy Week and Easter celebrations.
Using stencils, molds, containers and colored sawdust, members helped create “city carpets” artwork on both April 10th and April 18th. The initiative was organized by the city and the Archdiocese of Guatemala.
On April 10th, the church was given its own section to decorate, and chose the word “Mayor Amor.” This means “great love” in Spanish.
Then, on Friday, April 18th, children, young people, adults and missionaries worked together on more carpets, the church’s Guatemala newsroom explained. This activity helped to build relationships between the pagans and promote peace and service.
One volunteer was quoted as saying, “To participate in the construction of the rug was a beautiful way to respect and appreciate the faith of our friends and neighbors.”
Mayor of Guatemala, Mayor Ricardo Kiñonez, expressed his gratitude for his service, examples of love for his neighbors, and respect for his religious beliefs.
The church’s participation in the event highlighted religious freedom, social harmony and commitment to selfless service, allowing them to share the greater love of Jesus Christ during Easter, the news release said.
Pagan services in Costa Rica
Members of the Costa Rican church, together with missionaries from the San Jose West Mission in Costa Rica, participated in interfaith ministry to celebrate the Easter season and share the greater love of Jesus Christ through acts of service.
Members and missionaries volunteered during Holy Week on Tuesday, April 15th and Wednesday, April 16th, with works by the Association Obras del Espiritu Santo, or the Society of the Holy Spirit.
Volunteers helped maintain and clean the children’s play area and the local Catholic parish, the church’s Costa Rica newsroom reported. They carried boxes of vegetables, sang with the kids, shared snacks, and had the clean side of the parish building used for Good Friday services.
Father Sergio Valverde, the leader of the association, publicly thanked the volunteers for their help. He and the kids sang for the volunteers and gave them candies as a token of gratitude.
Through this experience, volunteers have connected with others both mentally and culturally, the news release said. The inter-fictional collaboration reflects the church’s desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ when serving others.
Holy Week Concert in Honduras
On Sunday, April 13th, missionaries of the Hondura Stegucigal Par Mission held at Palmilla Meeting House in Tegucigalpa sang.
Group performances and soloists sang hymns and songs such as “I will walk with Jesus”, “Your Will, Lord, Finished”, “Gessemane”, “I am All Surprised”.
The church’s Honduras newsroom quoted one of the missionaries identified as Elder Alita. Elder Alita led the event to express her feelings to Jesus Christ.
Dulce Banegas, one of the audience, said, “I found it very mentally. It reminded me of many of my mission.”
