Where Can I Turn for Peace?

Easter is a sacred reminder that remembering Jesus Christ is not just something I do once a year — it is something I try to do intentionally, every day. Still, there is something about Easter that invites me to slow down, reflect more deeply, and center my heart again on the Savior. I think about His life, His love, His sacrifice, and most especially His Resurrection. Easter reminds me that because He lives, there is always hope — no matter what challenges, losses, or uncertainties we face.

I intentionally remember the Savior in quiet, simple ways. Sometimes it is through prayer in the early morning, asking how I can be His hands and have eyes to see those with needs. Sometimes it is through scripture study, reading about His compassion, His healing, and His patience, and asking myself how I can show those same qualities to others. I try to remember Him when I choose kindness, when I offer forgiveness, when I serve quietly, or when I reach out to someone who may be struggling. These small, intentional moments help me keep Him close in my heart.

Recently, I found myself sitting with a dear friend who is nearing the end of his life. The room was quiet, tender, and sacred. As I held his hand, I thought about the Savior — how He comforted, how He mourned with those who mourned, and how He brought peace in moments of deep uncertainty. In that stillness, I felt that remembering Him is not just about words or traditions, but about being present, offering love, and holding hope when it is hardest to do so. In that moment, Easter felt very real. Because of Him, death is not the end. Because of Him, goodbye is not forever.

As I reflect this Easter, I also think about the many trials and struggles among members of the St. Cloud Stake. Some are facing serious health challenges. Others are carrying quiet burdens — loneliness, financial strain, family struggles, uncertainty about the future, or the weight of caregiving. Some are grieving losses, while others are searching for peace and direction. These experiences remind me that we are all walking difficult paths at times. Yet in each of these stories, I also see faith. I see people continuing to serve, to pray, to show up, and to trust in the Savior even when life is hard.

Where can we turn for peace in moments like these? Easter gives us the answer. We turn to the Savior. He understands every sorrow, every worry, and every heartache. Because He overcame the world, He offers us strength to keep going, peace in the middle of trials, and hope that brighter days are ahead. The Resurrection is not only a promise for the future — it is a source of power for today. It is the assurance that light will come, healing is possible, and no one walks alone.

This Easter, I am especially grateful for the Savior who walked the path of suffering so He could walk beside us in ours. I am grateful for the peace that comes from remembering Him intentionally — in joyful moments, in quiet moments, and in sacred moments beside a friend preparing to return home. I am grateful for the faith I see in the members of the St. Cloud Stake, who continue to trust in Him through their own personal Good Fridays, holding onto the hope of Easter morning.

He lives. And because He lives, there is hope, healing, and peace for all of us.

Happy Easter. He lives!

Sister Nicole Kummala

St. Cloud Stake Relief Society President