Do Mormons Celebrate Good Friday?

The Mormon Church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, takes a distinctive stance on religious holidays. Mormons do not typically place as much emphasis on Good Friday as many other Christian faiths do, even though it is a solemn commemoration of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Rather, they concentrate more on the whole Atonement of Jesus Christ, which includes His crucifixion, resurrection, and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Mormons Celebrate Good Friday

There is no formal church-wide observances, ceremonies, or customs devoted to Good Friday; however, individual members may consider the day and its significance on their own. Easter Sunday is very important to Mormons, who celebrate Christ’s resurrection with worship, music, and teachings that highlight His triumph over death.

Do Mormons celebrate Palm Sunday?

Some Mormon families prefer to commemorate Good Friday in their own unique ways, even though it is not officially observed. For instance, even though it’s not a regular church tradition, a group of Latter-day Saints in Texas hosted an unofficial devotional on Good Friday in 2015 that combined hymns and biblical readings to consider Christ’s sacrifice.

Like Good Friday, Palm Sunday is not officially recognized as a holiday in Mormonism. The LDS Church does not have a formal tradition honoring Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but many Christian groups do, with special church services, palm branches, and scripture readings. Mormon congregations might, however, hear discussions or lessons that touch on the significance of Jesus’ last week on earth, especially His entry into Jerusalem, during the Sunday services preceding Easter.

In 2021, a Utah congregation chose to highlight the historical significance of Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem during their sacrament meetings by including components of Palm Sunday. The congregation had in-depth conversations about Christ’s mission and the significance of His teachings at that time, despite the absence of palm branches and official ceremonies.

Holidays Mormons Do Not Celebrate

Certain liturgical holidays that are important in other Christian faiths are not customarily observed by Mormons.

These consist of:

Lent:

Mormons do not formally observe Lent, in contrast to many Christian faiths that observe the 40 days before Easter via penitence, prayer, and fasting. Fasting, however, is a crucial component of their faith and is observed periodically rather than during a particular Lenten season.

Ash Wednesday:

In Mormon tradition, Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent, is not observed. Mormons do not engage in the imposition of ashes or other Ash Wednesday practices, despite the fact that they promote introspection and personal repentance.

Saints’ Day:

On All Saints’ Day, Mormons do not revere saints in the same manner that many Christian groups do on this day. They hold that God and Jesus Christ should be worshipped directly, without the involvement of any middlemen.

Holy Week Services:

Mormons emphasize the resurrection, which is celebrated on Easter Sunday, without the customary pre-Easter observances, whereas Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians mark the events of Holy Week with special services.

Historical Perspective:

In contrast to mainstream Christianity, Mormon pioneers aimed to establish a new religious and cultural identity when they first arrived in Utah in 1847. Since they concentrated on creating a community based on gospel principles and individual revelation, many of the holidays that are typically observed in other Christian groups were not included in their religious rituals.

Holidays Mormons Do Celebrate

Mormons celebrate a number of important national and religious holidays, even if they do not observe several traditional Christian feasts:

Easter Sunday:

Easter Sunday Easter is a major holiday in the LDS faith, and worship services are centered around Christ’s resurrection and the promise it offers.

Christmas:

Using nativity scenes, church services, and family customs, Mormons joyfully commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Pioneer Day:

The 24th of July, Pioneer Day This event, which honors the arrival of Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, is special to Mormons.

Thanksgiving and National Holidays:

Mormons frequently gather with their families to express gratitude and commemorate national holidays like Thanksgiving and Independence Day.

Pioneer Day is commemorated annually in Salt Lake City, Utah, with parades, reenactments, and a profound appreciation for the sacrifices made by early church members. Thousands of people attended a massive celebration in 2017 at the ancient Temple Square, where they celebrated the voyage of their ancestors through storytelling, music, and communal feasts.

Unlike many other religions, Mormons do not formally observe Good Friday, Palm Sunday, or other conventional Christian holidays, despite their strong devotion to Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Instead of organized observances of particular days, their worship activities emphasize introspection, thankfulness, and faith in Christ’s teachings.