Easter seems a bit early this year, but since winter either never started, hasn't started yet, or lasted three and a half days total, who can say anymore?  Whatever the case, we wish you all the best as you hunt eggs, gather together, worship, relax, or whatever your traditions may include.  The playground in City Park was unofficially opened last week, but the Easter egg hunt is planned as usual at the park at 10 am, though only on the west side.  The Teen Scavanger Hunt will start again on Friday the 3rd, with tickets available 12-1 at the ambulance bay (85E 50S).  A QR Code with a link to a map for the Easter Egg Hunt is included on page 2.

Easter Grandeur 

by Helen Steiner Rice

From “Words of Life” edited by Charles L. Wallis

God, give us eyes to see 

the beauty of the Spring, 

And to behold Your majesty

 in every living thing – 

And may we see in lacy leaves 

and every budding flower 

The Hand that rules the universe 

with gentleness and power – 

And may this Easter grandeur 

that Spring lavishly imparts

Awaken faded flowers of faith

lying dormant in our hearts,

And give us ears to hear, dear God,

the Springtime song of birds

With messages more meaningful

Than man’s often empty words

Telling harried human beings

Who are lost in dark despair –

‘Be like us and do not worry

For God has you in His care

   ~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Easter Message from the First Presbyterian Church of Malad 

by Marlys Evans

On Good Friday (God’s Friday) we hear the story of the suffering and death of Jesus. Many of us felt like “NO! That’s terrible!” and we don’t want to hear about it. But on Easter Sunday we hear the rest of the story and we can now exclaim, “Yes! That’s totally awesome!” We can sing Halleluiah! This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Why do we rejoice today? We rejoice because our faith in Christ has been vindicated, truth has triumphed over falsity, justice over injustice and tragedy has turned into comedy. And we feel happy inside at the triumph of justice.

The story of the suffering and death of Jesus on Good Friday is the story of the triumph of falsity over truth, of injustice over justice, of evil over goodness. Jesus was falsely charged of crimes He did not commit, and unjustly sentenced to a death He did not deserve. It is a story of betrayal and lies, dishonesty and meanness, unfaithfulness and wicked violence directed against an innocent and apparently helpless victim. All this comes to a head on Good Friday when we see Jesus scourged, mocked, led on the death march, nailed to the cross where He dies after a few hours and hastily buried in a tomb. If that were the end of the story, that would be a terrible story, a tragedy indeed! But glory be to God that it is not!

Death is not the end of the story. There is one more chapter. This is the most important chapter in all of history. In the last chapter of the story of Jesus we see Him rise from the dead in all glory and majesty! (Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-7; John 20:11-17). He is vindicated. His enemies are shamed and confused. Jesus regains His eternal glory with the Father. He is the Lord who will prevail over all mankind, His enemies included. For us, His embattled followers, this is good news.

It is good news to know that Truth is immortal. We can suppress Truth, accuse it of being a lie, condemn it, torture it, kill it, bury it in the grave but on the third day Truth will rise again. Remember this and do not give up on Truth even when everybody else seems to give up on it. Do not give up on Truth; do not give up on Justice. Do not give up on doing what is right. True will always be true. Just will always be just. Right will always be right even when the world around us would have it otherwise. We must learn to believe in the sun, even when it is not shining, knowing that by and by it will shine again. It is the end of the story that counts. That is why we should “rejoice and be glad”, even when we are going through very difficult times, even when the enemy seems to be winning the battle over our lives. We know Christ has won. And we know that in Christ we shall overcome. Jesus is alive and we can know His presence today. Because of his atoning death and the empty tomb, we can have eternal life. We can live confidently and filled with hope in this earthly life because Jesus conquered death through His resurrection. “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O Death, is your sting?” (1Corinthians 15:54-56)

We can exclaim with Christians around the world: “Christ the Lord has risen! He has risen indeed! Halleluiah! Praise the Lord!”

Easter Message

Malad LDS Stake

As the hour of His atoning sacrifice and crucifixion drew near, the Savior shared timeless counsel with his disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27). His disciples would need that peace as they faced an uncertain future. We too live in uncertain and often troubling times. As we approach this wonderful Easter Season, you may be asking, where can I turn for peace? Peace - eternal peace, everlasting peace, peace which “passeth all understanding” - is found in and through Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. 

On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene and the other women came early to the Savior’s tomb bringing spices and ointments to complete the anointing begun before the Jewish Sabbath. She was greeted by an open sepulcher, the covering stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Two angels stood inside and declared: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead” (Mathew 28: 6-7). Later, Mary saw and talked with the risen Lord and became the first witness to His glorious resurrection. That same day He appeared to Peter; to two disciples on the road to Emmaus; and in the evening to ten of the Apostles. To the apostles He said, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:34; Luke 24:13-35; 39). Jesus had done what no mortal had ever done - returned from the grave, never to die again. He had triumphed over “death and hell and the devil” and because he did, so can we! (2 Nephi 9:26). “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is they victory? (1 Cor. 15:55). Jesus, out of a love beyond comprehension, gave His life for each of us. Isaiah had prophesied, “In all their afflictions he was afflicted . . . in his love and in his pity he redeemed them, and carried them.” (Isaiah 63:9). 

Because he loved and carried us then, he will not abandon us now. Paul declared, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 35-39). His love is infinite and eternal. He knows each one of us, and will come to us in our time of need. 

Love is the antidote to fear and the pathway to peace. Love lifts and heals wounded hearts, including our own. Love diminishes anger in our homes, community and nation. Love reaches out to those who are lonely and provides comfort. Love is the reason we serve and bless others. Love is what makes life worth living, especially during troubled times. Love is what took the Savior into the Garden of Gethsemane two millennia ago, and it is His love that will carry us through the Gethsemanes in our lives. 

The Apostle Paul testified, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Cor. 15:22) Jesus Christ himself testified, “Because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14:19). Christ rose from the grave, and so will we! The resurrection of Christ is evidence that mortal life has meaning and purpose and that peace is to be found through loving and following the resurrected Son of God. These things I have spoken unto you” Jesus said, “that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). 

We bear our witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. We testify that He did rise the third day, resurrected and perfect. He lives today and loves each one of us. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored. We bear witness that prophets and apostles are again on the earth. We share our love for each of you and pray that His love and peace will be with you during this Easter Season and always. 

The Malad Stake Presidency 

He Is Risen/So Must We

Art Martinez,

Saint Paul Roman Catholic Mission

On the Sabbath of the third day following the crucifixion of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb to put spices on the body of Jesus as was Jewish custom.  The earth quaked and an angel from heaven sat on a stone in glistening white robes.  He spoke saying, “This Jesus that you look for is not here. He has been raised from the dead by the Father just as Jesus said that his Father would.”    Imagine that!  This Jesus that just two days earlier had been brutally beaten into total submission.   This Jesus who had been spat upon, whipped and crowned with thorns.  This Jesus who took upon himself the SINS of the world without so much as a complaint had just turned the world as was known totally upside down.  He had spoken often of carrying his cross and then he did that very thing.  Now just what did that mean then and what does that mean today?  Those three simple words, “He is Risen”.  

For those in Jesus’s day it meant that the Old Testament had been fulfilled.  Not in man’s way.  Not as a violent conquering soldier sent to destroy all enemies of Israel as had been previously thought.  But as a humble, self- sacrificing servant of his flock. One who preached this incredible theology of loving God first and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  By loving our neighbor, he said that we are showing God how much we love God.  Especially by loving those that we struggle with.  One who did his Father’s will in spite of the absolute horror that he knew that he would have to endure.

In today’s world with the incredible tension between who is right and who is wrong, what is right and what is wrong, we lose our own way to rising as we get so caught up in the worldly things. At least we did until recently.  We all have been given an incredible gift these past months.  Jesus has reminded each and every one of us that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He has reminded us that only through him we have hope.  Jesus taught us all that only by following his truth which is the Father’s truth, do we have hope for heaven.  When we seemingly have lost our way,   he has given this world reason to have greater faith and belief in His Rising.  As Peter said to Jesus in the gospel, “To whom should we turn too, You have the words of eternal life.”  I would propose that now is the time to listen to  Peter.  We ought to turn to Jesus and rise as he did.

So again, you may ask yourself what did our Lord and Savior actually accomplished by rising from the dead?  Well lets take a good look at what his rising from the dead means to us.  Do we love God first and foremost? Do we love our neighbor as ourselves and thus showing God how much we love him?  Especially those that we struggle with.  In order for us to take full advantage of this incredible gift of eternal life offered by our Savior by his rising, we must follow him by following his example.  Is our example one that bashes someone else’s beliefs concerning an issue because it is not ours?  Boy am I guilty of that.  Or do we truly try to understand our fellow man and respect them regardless of what they believe.  Do we slam everyone that does not hold our political beliefs and treat the opposition as though they were some kind of cancer that must be destroyed, or do we try to understand where they come from and make an attempt to at least be civil when we discuss our viewpoints?  We are coming upon an election this year that will test all of our beliefs.  How will we handle ourselves if we do not get the result that we want?

The example that Jesus Christ gave us while dying on the cross when he looked to heaven and said “Father, forgive them for they no not what they do”, are the words that we must live by today.  Our joy in the resurrection must first come from our following Christ’s example.  We as leaders of our different faiths in this faith community have a responsibility to be the Christ example for others who do not know him.  In spite of all the horrific treatment that he received without deserving any of it , he took up his cross and gave his life for us.  Not just some of us, but all of us.  And then he did the most incredible thing of all  “HE ROSE.”  As he rose, so must we.   

Easter Message 

April 5th 2026

Victory Baptist Church

Pastor Jack Harwell

The cross was not an example for us to try to live up to, but it was the Great Payment to open a way for mankind to come back to God!

People don't want to talk about the Blood or be told about the Divine Blood that was shed; it pulls upon their proud ego to think that such a price had to be paid for their wickedness. The message of the blood, the Cross, and Redemption is foolishness to people who would like to believe that man is not as bad as all that.

The cross is a place, a time, an event that changed the world—it's not a piece of jewelry or a marker on the top of a church. The Cross is where God in all His power moved to bring   mankind back to a relationship with Him. The Cross was where the sin of millions was carried to be blotted out. The Cross was the place where God tries to meet mankind by Redemption! The Cross is where God gave His Son because He loved us! The Cross is where our creator died for us. I am amazed that people are so blind to the price that was paid to take their sin away, for people to act as if it was nothing!

If anyone has studied the Old testament of the Bible, God showed a preview of what He was going to do every Passover when He put Adam out off the garden and made him clothes, because he had fallen. How God regarded a blood sacrifice for sin and the sacrifice had to die, not just be cut but it had to give its life. We see that the animal had to die for the person that had their hand on the animal.

People in this world have fallen away from God and man will boast of his nobility, his ideas, his progress, his works which can't redeem him. Men try to imitate Christ Jesus and they think that is enough, that God will give them eternal life with out being covered with the Blood
of Jesus.

The sacrifice of Christ on the Cross symbolizes man's utter helplessness to save himself. It reveals two basic facts that cannot be denied: the depth of man's depravity and the intensity of God's love.

I struggle to grasp the complete efficiency of the divine Blood of Christ! It's a mystery we can't comprehend or understand in our state of mind. But I know that all who by faith test its power discover that it can change lives and lift them to a higher plane in life!

When Jesus had the last supper with the disciples, He told them this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28). This Blood is indispensable and can't be substituted, and without its mark on us , we are unfit to come into the presence of a Holy and righteous God.

First the Blood Justifies and saves us and nothing else can, not works, or anything else (Romans 5:9). The blood is the only thing that can pay the dept we owe God.

Second the Blood is the only thing that can purge our conscience (Hebrews 9:14). We come away from the encounter with the burden of sin removed and we are clean as the day we were born! For those of you who your conscience is eating at you, you can be set free.

Third the Blood of Christ redeems us (1 Petter 1:18&19). Redeemed means to be buy back, to be set in the right place, freedom from the trap of Satan.

Fourth the Blood of Christ purchased the Church, His bride (Ephesians 5:25). Like the Passover, God tells us when He sees the Blood, he will pass over and death will not enter (Exodus 12:13).

Fifth, the Blood of Christ was shed for all (John 3:16 and Mathew 26:28). This appeal of the Cross of Christ is universal. There are people of every race, kindred and tribe who have trusted in Jesus Christ and His shed Blood for their salvation. This comes to you as an individua,l not an organized religion that has laws and rules to control people you have to bow to.  Jesus comes to the individual who are in need and that is how you have to accept Him, you alone with Jesus. The Word of God tells us if we will call out to Him, He will be there for us. Jesus stands at the door of your heart, knocking waiting for you to open the door of your heart and invite Him in and He will come in and sit with you and sup with you.

HAIL THE DAY THAT SEES HIM RISE

Text: Charles Wesley

Music: Robert Williams

“Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” evokes the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and is often sung during the Easter season. But it was actually written to commemorate the Ascension when the resurrected Savior ascended to heaven after spending 40 days preparing His disciples to take His gospel to the world.

The author, Charles Wesley, is one of the greatest English hymn writers of all time. Wesley wrote more than 6,000 hymns; this one was written in 1739 and originally had 10 verses. He was the founder of the Methodist Church.

The version in the new hymnbook pairs Charles Wesley’s text with the uplifting Welsh tune LLANFAIR, composed in 1817 by Robert Williams, a basket maker from the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. Blind from birth, Williams was a talented musician who could write down a tune perfectly after hearing it only once.

Excerpted from www.churchof
jesuschrist.org