Honouring the Saviour During Holy Week

In Melbourne, one week before Easter, a person walked into the foyer of the Deer Park Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was immediately drawn to a beautiful portrait of Jesus Christ on the wall.  

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That person was Councillor Victoria Borg from the Brimbank City Council in Victoria, Australia.  She met an open house guide, Steven Sacco, who shared with the Councillor his belief that Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer. 

“We worship and reverence Him and teach His doctrines,” he said. 

With Councillor Borg’s background in helping others overcome emotional challenges, she said, “We can never underestimate the power that one person can have on another.”  

Following the open house, an Easter devotional was presented in the chapel, where a children’s choir began by singing, “I Feel My Saviour’s Love”.  

Peter Gill spoke of an interaction the Saviour had with “the woman at the well”–a woman not of His faith, yet one of the first people to whom the Saviour declared His Messiahship—proclaiming Himself as Living Water.  

Peter continued, “The Saviour respected this woman in her beliefs. We love you and respect your beliefs. …. I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the change that one person can make. His character and nature show what we can become.” 

The evening of Palm Sunday, another music devotional was held in the Maroondah area of Melbourne. Narrators recounted the last week of the Saviour’s life, and an Easter choir sang hymns such as “O Saviour Thou Who Wearest a Crown”, “Behold the Wounds in Jesus’ Hands”, “That Easter Morn”, and “Because He Lives”. A soloist, violinist, and children’s choir also provided music, and the Easter video, “Behold the Man” was shown. 

Naomi Martin shared a personal Easter experience of being healed by the Saviour’s Atonement: “When I allowed the Lord to take away my mistakes, regrets, and trauma,” she said, “He not only healed me from my past but also healed those to whom I caused damage…. And through my Saviour’s grace, He allowed me to finally forgive myself.” 

Local church leader, Grant Logie, added, “Jesus Christ is the reason why we have hope, why we are joyful, and why we can be comforted when life is difficult. His love is deep and abiding. It’s a love that wants us to progress, to move out of our comfort zone to be the best we can be. It’s a love that says, ‘I will be there for you, and even if you don’t love Me, I will still love you’. Is there a special self-help book that will deliver that to you? Absolutely not.” 

On the morning of Good Friday, 29 March, church leaders and members joined Christian friends of all denominations at “The Way of the Cross”. Here, thousands of Melbourne residents walked together from church to church around the city’s business district in commemoration of Jesus’ journey from the Last Supper to the crucifixion and resurrection: the Via Dolorosa.  Liturgies were given at various churches representing the stations of the cross. 

President Richard McLean of the Heidelberg Stake, said, “It was great to feel oneness in our community in our love of Christ–and respect and appreciation for His sacrifice. I really enjoyed the “Way of the Cross” walk and would recommend for members of The Church of Jesus Christ to participate next year.”  

The Very Revd. Dr. Andreas Loewe, Dean of Melbourne responsible for the Anglican Province of Victoria, uses his music background to communicate scripture through song.  

He invited several leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ to attend St. Paul’s Cathedral on Good Friday for the John Stainer (1840-1901) Oratorio “The Crucifixion”.  

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To introduce the Oratorio, the Revd Canon Heather Patacca, declared, “In His Agony, Jesus Christ continued to call and minister to those around Him. He didn’t save Himself, but gave His life to save all of us, who are flawed. What seems to be a great defeat at the end of the crucifixion is really a supreme victory.” 

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Bass soloist, Mr. Barry Fry, sang in one selection, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-15) 

To which The Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral sang, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son… that the world through him might be saved.” 

President McLean said, “This particular Easter, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of Christ. In His darkest hour on the cross, as His pains intensified, we actually helped Him get through it because He thought of us. Knowing that helps us create a most sacred relationship with Him as we love Him and receive His grace.” 

The highlight of holy week for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Easter worship service on Sunday morning, remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ the third day after his crucifixion. 

Every Sunday, Latter-day Saints gather to worship in sacrament meeting, where those who have made sacred baptismal covenants with Jesus Christ, remember his atoning sacrifice and renew those covenants through the sacrament: the bread represents His body; the water, His blood. 

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Latter-day Saints worship the same Jesus that other denominations remember in the symbol of the cross. Yet, the focus of members of the Church is on The Living Christ, the risen Lord on that first Easter morn. He is the reason we celebrate Easter.  

In a local Easter sacrament meeting service, Janelle McLean, said, “His love for each of us individually exceeds any pain and sorrow this world can bring.” 

In the same Easter service, Chris Stuart concluded, "When we reach to touch the emblems of the sacrament, we reach to take the Saviour into our lives--and come boldly to the throne of grace."