Last December, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ flagship university started a new holiday tradition by holding a Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This week, at least six separate Easter-related events will take place on campus.

“Part of it is with BYU 150, we wanted to do everything a little bit bigger and better this year,” said BYU spokesperson Aaron Sorenson. “But part of it is following the church’s example and really leaning into Easter and Christmas a little more.”

An Easter-themed service project was held Monday at the Wilkinson Student Center in coordination with BYU Wellness and Tabitha’s Way.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, BYU will hold a “Path of Light” where people can take a guided journey through campus that reflects Holy Week.

“It’ll be a guided walk. Bring headphones. There’s going to be some narration, talking about the Savior’s last week,” Sorenson said.

Also on Tuesday is a BYU 150 Easter Devotional, where students and employees will share messages about the light of Christ. A BYU Easter Conference will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the JSB Auditorium. School President Shane Reese will be the keynote speaker at the conference, and ancient scripture professors Robbie Taggart and Amy Easton will present. 

Elsewhere on campus, the Way Of The Cross exhibit by David Habben is on display at the BYU Museum of Art, showing Habben’s own interpretation of the 14 scenes of the Stations of the Cross, which remember Christ’s final hours of suffering.

Two new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-commissioned Easter paintings are on display in the Reflection Room at the Wilkinson Student Center.

“An Invitation” by BYU alum Stacy Minch shows Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives as he embarks on his entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. “Gethsemane” by BYU alum Brian Call shows Christ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Church services 

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, the oldest and largest Catholic church in Utah County, has a busy week of services to honor Holy Week.

Mass will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. On Holy Thursday, there will be English Mass at 5:30 p.m. and Spanish Mass at 7:30 p.m.; silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 9 p.m. to midnight. 

On Good Friday, Stations of the Cross is at noon, Divine Mercy Chaplet is at 12:30 p.m. in English and 2:30 p.m. in Spanish. A Reenactment of the Passion begins at 3 p.m., and the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion with Holy Communion is at 5:30 p.m. in English and 7:30 p.m. in Spanish. Easter Vigil Mass is 9 p.m. Saturday and Easter Mass at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. in English and noon and 2 p.m. in Spanish. 

Adriana Perez, St. Francis’ parish secretary, said the Holy Week schedule comes from the Vatican and is followed by every Catholic Church worldwide.

“Everybody joins together. And we really want to have that moment being with Jesus, knowing how much he suffered,” Perez said.

CenterPoint Church in Orem has four sermons Sunday at 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Utah Valley Church will hold an Easter service at the Angelus Theatre 10:30 a.m.

Provo Bible Church will have Easter services at 9:30 a.m. Sunday and the Springville Community Presbyterian Church’s Easter Sunday services are at 1:30 p.m.

Easter Egg Hunts 

Numerous cities will host their own Easter egg hunts Saturday

Spanish Fork’s Easter egg hunt starts at 8 a.m. at the Sports Park, while Highland’s Easter egg hunt is at 9 a.m. Saturday at Heritage Park. Payson’s is at 10 a.m. Saturday at Hillman Fields.

Vineyard’s Easter Bunny Hop Egg Drop is 9 a.m. at Vineyard Grove Park and University Place in Orem will hold an Easter Extravaganza from noon to 4 p.m. at The Orchard.