At the elementary school I attended in Ghana, we got to bring palm fronds to school the Monday after Palm Sunday.
My parents helped me braid the leaves at home into beautiful patterns we then decorated with flowers. I always wanted my frond to be the most beautiful in my class. At school, we would march around the building waving our fronds and singing an Easter song our teachers taught us. My friends and I loved this day of the year and really looked forward to it.
When I was in first grade, I accidentally left my frond in my dad’s car when he dropped my siblings and me off at school. I was so sad I cried.
My friends noticed my tears and each of them tore leaves off their fronds and braided them together beautifully for me. Their kindness turned my sadness into great happiness.
I think I sang the loudest that day as we marched around the school waving our fronds.
As the years passed, I came to understand better why Jesus was welcomed in Jerusalem with fronds and songs of praise. My young friends’ kindness then became a powerful symbol to me of the Savior’s love. He invites us to learn of Him and know for ourselves that He is the promised Messiah. He comforts us and wipes away all tears from our eyes, just as my friends did for me that day. With Him, my joy is full.
The new frond also became a powerful symbol to me of inviting others to learn of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as my friends sacrificed pieces of their fronds so I could participate in the march, I sacrificed two years of my life to invite others to come unto Jesus Christ.
Today, I continue to find ways to invite others to partake of Christ’s goodness and know for themselves that He is their King.
Editor's note: This article first appeared in the March/April issue of LDS Living.
More articles for you:
▶ Palm Sunday: Do you know these 5 symbols?
▶ This Latter-day Saint hymn led my entire family to join the Church
▶ How one artist captures the Savior’s presence without painting Him
