Brigham Young University's 150th Easter devotional offered a moment of reflection in the middle of a historic semester, inviting students and faculty to pause and consider the deeper meaning of Easter.
Held during one of the most sacred weeks of the Christian calendar, the devotional focused on what President C. Shane Reese described as “the greatest of all gifts,” the life and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. As BYU celebrates its sesquicentennial, the gathering tied together the university’s theme of light with its ultimate source, reminding students that their education is meant to shape not only their minds but their discipleship.
That message came into sharper focus through remarks from professors David Seely and Jo Ann Seely, who retold the story of the women who came to Christ’s tomb early on Easter morning. They described how these women arrived prepared for mourning, not miracles, asking, “How could they imagine an empty tomb? How could anyone imagine that?”
When they instead found the stone rolled away and heard the angel declare, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen,” everything changed.
The Seelys emphasized that the Resurrection was not a small or expected event, explaining it “was not a hill size miracle. It was mountainous. More, even.”
They encouraged students to act on promptings to serve, to pray more deeply and to engage more fully in both their studies and their faith. In doing so, they promised, individuals will come to recognize that “the mountain of what the Lord has done … will surprise you.”
Throughout the devotional, that sense of growth and becoming remained central. Speakers Ed Eyestone and Ed Carter emphasized that BYU’s mission is not only academic excellence, but helping students become disciples of Jesus Christ who carry His light into the world.
Near the bell tower, whose chimes echo daily with the hymn “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” a plaque will be installed to remind students of their responsibility to become “the music of hope” for the world. It serves as a quiet but powerful symbol of what BYU hopes its students will become.
In closing, President Reese shared a personal story that brought the message of Easter into a deeply human context. He described meeting a family who had just lost their father, yet still chose to attend a BYU March Madness basketball game in his honor.
At first, he struggled to understand their decision, but soon realized it was rooted in faith. The mother expressed her certainty that they would see him again, and Reese recognized that “she had perfect hope.”
That moment became a powerful witness to him that “the sting of death was truly overcome” and that through Jesus Christ, “all that is unfair in this life will be made right.”
As the devotional came to a close, the messages of hope lingered. Easter at BYU is not only a celebration of an empty tomb, but a reminder of what is possible because of it.
Through Christ, there is healing, growth and a future filled with light. For students, that means moving forward with faith, trusting that even in the quiet moments after celebration, they are still becoming who they are meant to be.
