‘Greater Love’: Members of the Church Open Their Doors and Their Hearts This Easter Season

On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the Philippines gathered for their weekly worship service, the centerpiece of a season that had been building since late February. The pews were fuller than usual. Some of those seated were first-time visitors, drawn by a card handed to them by a neighbor, a poster outside a chapel, or a message shared on a phone. All of them had come for the same reason: to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This year's Easter celebration carried a theme drawn from the Gospel of John: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The phrase, and the campaign it anchored, was not new. This is the second year the Easter initiative has been "Greater Love," and the Church tracks its reach closely each year, with tens of thousands of missionaries sharing it around the world, along with other Church members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In the Philippines, that reach was personal and local.

A Season, Not a Single Sunday

In recent years, Church leaders have encouraged elevating Easter observance from a single day to a season. Like Christmastime, Easter provides a natural opportunity to love, share and invite all to learn about Jesus Christ, and the Church encourages its members to participate in this expanded Easter season. 

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led by President Dallin H. Oaks with President Henry B. Eyring as first counselor and President D. Todd Christofferson as second counselor, released the season's Easter message in February, testifying that "Jesus Christ is risen. He lives!" and inviting members and the public to "seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written" (Ether 12:41). 

The seasonal celebrations began on February 22 with the publication of the First Presidency's Easter message, peaked with Holy Week extending from Palm Sunday on March 29 through Easter Sunday on April 5, and continued through the weekend of the Church's 196th Annual General Conference held on the same Easter weekend. 

The First Presidency noted that Palm Sunday, Easter, and General Conference are "wonderful opportunities" to commemorate the Savior's Atonement and Resurrection through music and inspired messages, and encouraged all to invite friends, family, and neighbors to join in worship. 

Banners, Cards, and an Open Invitation

In the weeks leading up to Easter, the invitation to worship was visible in the communities where members live. The Church provided downloadable banner and sign templates that local congregations could customize with their worship times and display outside their chapels. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In neighborhoods across Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and provincial cities, these signs appeared outside meetinghouses, carrying the words of the Greater Love theme in bold print.

Members were also encouraged to use pass-along cards to leave with friends as a reminder of their worship service time. On Easter Sunday, the weekly worship service was the only meeting held, making the day's gathering simple, focused, and open to anyone who wanted to attend. 

John Boswell, senior director in the Church's missionary department, described the Easter weekend as "a perfect time for an invitation to come and worship with us, or even to watch the video together," noting that the message of Easter brings "joy and peace and hope and love" at a time when many people are searching for exactly those things. 

Inside the Worship Service

For those who accepted the invitation and walked through the chapel doors on Easter Sunday, the worship service they found was quiet, participatory, and centered on Jesus Christ.

The service opened with congregational hymns, many drawn from the Church's collection of Easter and resurrection-themed music. Members of the congregation offered prayers, and the bread and water of the weekly communion were prepared and passed among those present in a moment of collective remembrance, inviting each person to renew their commitment to follow the Savior.

Brief messages were delivered by members of the congregation, not professional clergy, reflecting on the meaning of Christ's resurrection for their own lives. Themes of hope, healing, and the love of God ran through each. Newer visitors and longtime members sat side by side.

The Church also released an Easter video titled "Jesus Christ's Greater Love for You," depicting the final week of the Savior's life including His entry into Jerusalem, His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, His crucifixion, and His resurrection, and what it means for each person today. The video concludes: "The joy that sustained him in his suffering was his love for you. Through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, all will live again. No one will be forgotten. Because of him, you can experience a fullness of joy. This is greater love. This is Easter." 

In many congregations across the Philippines, the video was shown as part of the Easter gathering, offered as a gift to visitors and members alike.

Easter and General Conference: A Spiritual Convergence

Easter is among the most sacred seasons for millions of Christians across the Philippines. During Holy Week, many honor the Savior Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, scripture study, and time with family. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joins Christians worldwide in celebrating Easter as a season of renewal and a reminder of Christ's love. 

This year carried an added dimension. Easter Sunday fell on the same weekend as the Church's worldwide General Conference, a twice-yearly broadcast in which Church leaders address members globally. All were invited to experience this Easter by listening to messages from the April 2026 General Conference, which offered a moment to pause and remember that God still speaks to His children today. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In the Philippines, the General Conference was rebroadcast on GTV beginning April 10, 2026, with four conference sessions aired across Monday and Tuesday. All sessions were free to watch and open to all, with no prior familiarity with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints required. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

"He Gets Them"

The Greater Love campaign was designed not only for members but for anyone navigating a difficult season of life. Research conducted by BYU students in partnership with the Church found that young adults wanted to reflect on the whole of Easter week, not just the triumph of Sunday. They said they needed reassurance that Christ understands what a difficult Friday feels like, and that His love is sufficient.  

That message found a natural home in the Philippines, where Holy Week carries deep cultural and spiritual weight. For Latter-day Saint members here, Easter 2026 was a season to do what they had been invited to do: seek Jesus, share His love, and open the door a little wider.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worship each Sunday in congregations across the Philippines. All are welcome to attend. For more information, visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org or Sacrament Meetings