Jordan Bench

This Easter was different for me than any Easter I've ever had. Just a few days earlier, on March 29th, I lost my dad to cancer. Losing him has been incredibly hard. But in the middle of the grief, I've found myself leaning deeper into my understanding of Jesus Christ, His gospel, and the eternal perspective it offers.

One of the clearest moments when I felt Christ's comfort was at my dad's funeral. Each of us—my siblings, my mom, and I—stood up to share stories and memories of Dad. Even though it felt like an overwhelming thing to do at first, it turned out to be one of the most uplifting and healing experiences I've ever had. It was a powerful reminder that Jesus was right there, giving us the strength and words we needed.

The night before Easter, Abbey, Beau, and I went to see The King of Kings, an animated film about Jesus's life and miracles. It was really special to see Beau, our four-year-old son, react to the movie. We'd been reading about Palm Sunday beforehand, and Beau got so excited when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey. "Dad, look! The palms!" he shouted, amazed as the stories we'd read together came to life.

The movie did an awesome job illustrating moments from Christ's life that deeply resonated with me. One was when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. This might sound simple now, but back then it was something only the lowest servants did because feet were always dirty from walking in sandals on dusty roads. Jesus intentionally chose this humble act to teach true humility and love. It made me ask myself honestly, "Would I be willing to serve others that humbly?"

Another scene that stood out to me was Jesus feeding the multitude with only a few loaves of bread and fishes. What seemed impossible to everyone else became reality because of Jesus. It showed how His humble, compassionate service drew people towards truth and hope.

I also learned something new about the crucifixion. It wasn't just another form of execution; it was designed by the Romans as the ultimate humiliation to discourage rebellion.

Realizing this made me appreciate Jesus's sacrifice even more deeply. His crucifixion fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament, like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, and symbolically carried all our sins publicly. Understanding this really deepened my gratitude for His willingness to endure such humiliation and pain because He loves us.

President Nelson recently talked about having confidence in the presence of God through charity (being peacemakers) and virtue (positive thoughts, words, and actions). Watching Jesus in the movie, I saw exactly what President Nelson was teaching. Jesus demonstrated a quiet, humble confidence that came from His divine identity and purpose. It inspired me to try and live with that same kind of confidence—not prideful, but deeply rooted in Jesus and His teachings.

Our son Beau's prayers during this difficult time have been incredibly comforting. He's beginning to understand what death, resurrection, and atonement mean through the simple yet profound experience of losing his grandpa. Hearing him pray sincerely for grandpa to feel better in heaven has been incredibly touching and a beautiful reminder of the pure faith children have.

Someone recently shared a quote with me that really stuck: "Not all clouds have a silver lining, only those with the sun behind them." Thinking of the "sun" as the "Son," Jesus Christ, makes this quote even more meaningful. Life is hard—that's just a fact. But when we let Christ's light shine on our struggles, we can find genuine hope and joy.

This Easter combined grief and hope in a way I've never experienced before, bringing me closer to my Savior. I know life will continue to bring challenges, but there's real strength and peace available through Jesus Christ. My hope is that I can always shine His light onto my own difficulties and live confidently, inspired by Him, sharing that same hope with those around me.