Easter and Family History: Connecting Faith, Family, and Tradition
It's almost April, and Easter month and all of its family activities, traditions, and celebrations are nearly upon us. This makes it a time of renewal, faith, and family togetherness. It is a perfect opportunity to reflect on Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice and Resurrection and to explore our own family history while we're at it, connecting past generations with the present, but maybe without those jellybeans from the 1980s. 😂 By merging Easter with family and especially some historical exploration, we create meaningful experiences.
Family History Activities for Easter
Create a Family Tree (Of course!) – Easter symbolizes new life, making it a great time to revisit and document your family lineage. Work together as a family to create a family tree, sharing stories of faith and perseverance from past generations. This can be more online with FamilySearch, Ancestry, or Puzzila or can be physical and creative with a tree limb and some masking tape.
Storytelling and Testimonies – At one of the natural family gatherings that occur, gather loved ones and share stories of ancestors, especially Easter or Christ-related ones. Reflect on how their trials and success parallel the message of hope found in Christ’s Resurrection. Maybe someone started a tradition your family still does today. Why is that?
Resurrection Egg Hunt – Incorporate scripture passages into a traditional egg hunt by placing written or printed Bible verses related to Jesus’ Resurrection inside each egg. For another fun twist, you can add glitter, small objects that help with symbols in the verses, or flowers. As children find them, discuss the significance of each verse. Encourage discussion while waiting for the next egg to be found.
Write Letters to Future Generations – Encourage family members to write letters sharing their testimony, Easter memories, or thoughts on faith. These letters can be saved in a family history book to inspire future generations. Pictures of family, drawings, and pressed flowers are other additions.
Easter Time Capsule – Have family members contribute meaningful items such as letters, photos, scripture verses, or small mementos that reflect their faith and Easter celebrations. Seal them in a container to be opened at a future Easter gathering, creating a lasting connection across generations. Challenge Version: Fit it all into one Easter egg to be found for the next year!
Connecting Easter to Christ and Family
Just as Jesus’ resurrection brings the promise of eternal life, our heritage and family stories remind us of the little things that matter. By remembering and honoring our ancestors, we strengthen our personal and familial identity and deepen our appreciation for God’s plan.
Song of the Month
General Conference Helps
Here are five ideas for each age group to help make watching LDS General Conference more engaging:
Toddlers
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Conference Activity Box – Fill a box with quiet toys, coloring supplies, and simple puzzles to keep little hands busy. It's a great opportunity to practice for church attendance and public meeting settings as well that young ones oftentimes struggle with.
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Conference Snack Time – Prepare snacks such as graham crackers or marsh mellows that can be utilized during slow parts of the conference.
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Music & Movement Breaks – Let toddlers dance to conference hymns or move around between sessions.
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Sticker Chart – Give them a sticker each time they hear words like "Jesus," "love," or "family."
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Blanket Fort – Like King Benjamin's people pitched their tents around his tower, you can set up a cozy corner with pillows or a blanket fort directed toward the modern revelation.
Kids
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Conference Bingo – Create a bingo card with words or topics likely to be mentioned (e.g., "temple," "faith," "service") or pictures of potential speakers such as the First Presidency and twelve apostles.
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Building Challenge – Have kids build something with blocks or Legos based on a talk’s theme such as bridging faith or the Good Samaritan.
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Quiet Busy Bag – Fill a bag with gospel-related activity books, stickers, and small fidget toys. Have them regularly alternate between activities if they tire easily.
Tweens
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Note-Taking Challenge – Provide a fun journal for doodling, writing quotes, or recording impressions. You can use the same one every year or pass the notebook around the family.
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Prophet & Apostle Match-Up – Print photos of speakers and have tweens match them to their names as they come up to speak. You can also add fun facts about them on the back of the pictures.
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Conference Word Search – Create a word search with gospel terms related to conference.
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Snack Break Rewards – Let them pick a favorite treat after listening actively to a talk. Yes, even tweens get hangry.
Teens
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Social Media Share – Encourage them to share a favorite quote or thought online.
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Fantasy General Conference – Ask them to fill out a bracket before starting and see how correct they are throughout the conference.
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Artistic Expression – Let them create digital art, hand lettering, or a meme with a favorite quote from the session or conference.
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Spiritual Goal-Setting – Challenge them to set a personal goal inspired by conference messages and write it down.
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Conference Walk & Talk – Take a short walk between sessions while discussing insights. This also refreshes them for the next session.
Young Adults
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Group Watch Party – Invite friends or roommates to watch together with food and discussion breaks.
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Live Tweet or Journal – Take notes or post about inspiring quotes in real time. Sketch notes are also really fun.
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Temple Trip Plan – Write down everything related to temples and family history. Use conference as motivation to plan a visit to the temple soon, giving you insights on how to plan it for you and your friends.
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Hot Cocoa Bar – Set up a shop-style atmosphere with warm drinks and cozy seating on a morning session of conference. Apple cider and other cozy drinks are great alternatives.
Parents
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Themed Treats – Make themed snacks related to gospel topics (e.g., "bread of life" cinnamon rolls).
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Family Ponder & Share – Encourage a brief reflection time after each session. Three minutes or less is achievable!
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Multi-Task – Fold laundry, meal prep, or do light tasks while listening.
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Personal Study Journal – Write personal impressions and ways to apply talks in family life. Try to be specific to yourself and your family rather than writing down what was said.
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Couple Discussion Time – Share favorite moments with your spouse after each session.
Grandparents
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Virtual Conference Chat – Set up a family group chat to share thoughts during talks or real-time watch the Conference together with loved ones that live far away.
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Conference Traditions – Create a special tradition, like a family meal between sessions or a board game.
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Send a Post-Conference Letter – Write a letter to grandkids about a favorite talk and testimony.
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Personal Reflection – Use conference time to ponder legacy and personal gospel insights. Record thoughts in a journal.
Consultant Lessons
Consultant Lessons are held weekly on Thursdays at 6:00 pm taught by Shelley Miles. She will be using Zoom Class Replays as taught by the Los Angeles Family Search Center. It may be geared for ward and stake temple and family history consultants, but all are welcome to come learn more about FamilySearch.
Classes Include:
- Consultant’s Best Resources
-The Basics/Descendency Tree
-Blue Dots and Source Linker
-Family Search Catalog
-Family Tree Apps
-Fan Charts
-Memories
Calendar
Check the calendar for classes and other opportunities!
Important Dates
April 5th-6th General Conference
April 12th Passover
April 13th Palm Sunday
April 20th Easter Sunday
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