Brett Soloai

This is a special time of the year as we celebrate the Easter season and the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. During Jesus’s mortal life, there was much unrest in the old world — and not that dissimilar to the challenges of our time today. 

Given the current worldwide pandemic with its economic distress, physical and emotional hardships, and the disharmony of one towards another, the love of self and all things worldly of which the Apostle Paul foretold in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, I feel at times that our day can be a lot like the analogy of a small boat on a large ocean — being tossed and turned and thrown to and fro by strong winds and waves caught up in a stormy night searching for the safe harbor.

Feeling uncertain whether you’ll make it through the night, and at times wondering if you’re still on course and feeling a sense of despair, you suddenly glimpse a beam of light from a distant lighthouse on the shore as you crest a large wave. Those fears that you may be lost in the storm-tossed ocean of life flee.

This light represents our resurrected Jesus Christ, which we celebrate at Easter time each year. His light is forever shining, showing us the way home while providing the needed hope, comfort, reassurance and guidance in our life’s journey as declared John 8:12.

Beckoning to each of us to reach the safe harbor which he has lovingly paid the infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice on our behalf in the Garden of Gethsemane, on the cross at Calvary and with his miraculous triumphant day of ascension (Matthew 11:28).

I hope that when we gather together as families and friends to enjoy the Easter season participating in those timeless traditions and practices of the world, that we may always remember to be looking and searching for that eternal LIGHT for which we celebrate Easter.

(Brett Soloai is a lay minister of the Powell 4th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)