A Savior-Centered Easter

And an Easter-Centered Life

By Benjamin B.

We can all access the Savior’s power of comfort and change.

Photographs by Janae Bingham

Editor’s note: According to 16-year-old Benjamin B., he has “a pretty boring life.” But most people would probably disagree. Ben plays the bass in his school’s orchestra and bongos in his school’s jazz band. He carries a kazoo in his pocket to play randomly, just for fun. And he enjoys learning, especially about physics, psychology, philosophy, paleontology, and pharmacology.

So yes, Ben is pretty interesting. And last Easter, he decided to focus on the Savior in some pretty interesting ways. But even more importantly, Ben focuses on the Savior in his everyday life, relying on Christ’s Atonement to repent, change, and serve.

Here are some of Ben’s (definitely-not-boring) experiences in his own words.

In seminary, we talked about what Easter really means and how we should celebrate it. It’s not just about candy and bunnies—it’s about the Savior. I asked myself, “What Easter traditions can I start in my home that focus more on the Savior?”

What Easter traditions can I start in my home that focus more on the Savior?

I like to build stuff with LEGO^® bricks. I found a picture of the Savior from the Gospel Library online and had it converted into brick instructions. I worked on the brick picture while I listened to general conference. When I finished, I hung it up in my home.

Handing Out Savior Figurines

I also bought a big box of figurines of Jesus Christ for Easter. At first I was going to hide them all over my school. But when people at school saw the box, they asked for figurines. Teachers started asking too. And then kids who I never thought would want a figurine of Jesus asked for one. And so I gave them out to everybody I saw.

No matter what you think you’ve done, there’s always room for Jesus Christ in your life.

The Savior wasn’t afraid to talk to anyone, even the most outcast people in His society. He was friends with them. He spent time with them. He ate with them. Handing out the figurines taught me to be more outgoing, like the Savior was. It also taught me that no matter who you are, no matter what you think you’ve done, there’s always room for Jesus Christ in your life.

Changing Through the Savior

All my life I’ve wondered, how do I access the Savior’s Atonement? But this Easter, I learned that if I make changes in my life to become more like the Savior, His atoning grace is working in my life. And if I try each day to change the little things, then I’ll start to become better.

For a few years in my life, I struggled with pornography use. After a lesson in seminary, I was inspired to talk with my bishop. It was a lot easier to start overcoming my struggle once I finally told my bishop and my parents, because it’s really hard to go through it alone.

I started trying to pray and read my scriptures each day, and I tried to be kinder at school. It helped me because I was focusing more on the Savior than on my sins. I turned more towards Him than to where I was in the past.

Through Jesus Christ’s Atonement, I’ve overcome my struggle with pornography. I’ve become more of who God needs me to be. Now I’m able to bless the sacrament because the Savior changes me and cleanses me. I’m grateful to be worthy to use the priesthood to bless the lives of those around me.

Connecting Easter to Me

This year during seminary, I had a really cool experience when we were talking about the Savior’s sacrifice. I had the thought that while He was suffering, He could have stopped it at any moment. But then I imagined Him thinking, “No, I need to keep doing this. I need to do this for Ben. He needs this.” For me, that thought just really connected my relationship with the Savior to Easter.

I know that the Savior lived and died for each one of us personally.

Next Easter, I’ll probably work on another brick picture of Jesus. I definitely want to hand out more figurines. Either way, I’ll be thinking about Christ’s suffering and His Atonement for me. Because of Him, I can repent of my sins and make it back to Him and Heavenly Father one day.

I know that the Savior lived and died for each one of us personally and that He knows who we are and what we need. If we really try, we can access His power of comfort and change, and we can become better people.

The author lives in Idaho, USA.