By MARK MORRIS
morris@du2.byu.edu
Many people ask, 'What can I do to celebrate the Easter Holiday?' For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Easter is often associated with general conference. But for other religions, Easter is celebrated differently.
Father William Flegge, of St. Francis Catholic Church in Provo, said they celebrate the 'Taschal Mystery,' which is that Christ has died, risen and is coming again.
Flegge said the Catholic celebration of Easter begins with Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter. Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' coming to Jerusalem on a colt as the children of Israel waved and laid palm fronds before him.
Catholics celebrate this day with a special mass -- at mass Catholics eat bread and wine in memory of the last supper Jesus had with his apostles.
Next, Catholics celebrate Holy Thursday, in memory of Jesus' last day with his apostles and the Last Supper. On that day they have a Mass and wash feet to remember the Savior.
'We need to remember that Jesus gives us gifts, but they are for us to give away,' Flegge said.
On Good Friday Catholics remember the day Jesus died on the cross. The perception of the cross for Catholics is different than that of the LDS church.
'We see the cross as a sign of God's love. The cross is something sacred and important to us,' Flegge said.
During Holy Saturday Catholics meet at night outside the church to light the Taschal Candle. The candle is symbolic of the risen Jesus and is lit in the dark because he is the light of the world, Flegge said.
After the candle is lit the congregation follows the candle into the church. Then the congregation sings and reads scriptures, while lights are turned on throughout the ceremony.
Sunday is regular Easter Mass, Flegge said. For Catholics every Sunday is a celebration of Easter. The Catholic Church had the same ceremony for the last 2,000 years.
Unlike the Catholic Church, Victory Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist Church in Orem, changes their worship services from year to year, but everything is centered around Christ, said Pastor Rick Roberson.
This year's Easter celebration at Victory Baptist will begin with a morning service, a meal, and will end with an afternoon service on the resurrection.
Bob Marshall, a missionary to Whales, will be a guest speaker for this year's service. In an Independent Baptist Church, a person is called on a mission when they receive 'a burden of the heart' for a people or group, Roberson said. Missionaries are funded by a number of congregations. They serve until the door on their service closes, Roberson said.
Whether it's conference, Mass or a Sunday Worship service with a meal, most Easter celebrations in the area focus on Christ and what he has done and is doing for mankind.