“I loved how they brought the different scenes to life. It was a spiritual preparation for a week of reflection.”
It Was a Walk to Remember
April 12, 2025 - Lori Mortensen
Photos by Kari Hennefer
On April 11-12, 2025 from 5-8pm, at the Hacienda building in Cameron Park, members of The Church of Jesus Christ in the El Dorado Stake invited the community to walk through the last days of Jesus Christ’s life.
When visitors arrived, they were welcomed into the chapel area. While visitors waited for their tour to begin, singers and musicians of all ages filled the air with live music. Once the tour began, youth ushers escorted groups of visitors through rooms that depicted Christ’s journey. Scenes included His triumphant entry, the last supper with his disciples, Christ at the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas’ betrayal, Christ’s crucifixion on the cross, and His glorious resurrection on the third day.
Because of the organizers’ extraordinary efforts with wallcoverings, displays, palm leaves, baskets, pots, candles, plants, tablecloths, place settings, and videos, the rooms were truly transformed from ordinary Sunday School rooms into touching scenes from Christ’s last week.
At the end of the tour, visitors were invited into the cultural hall where they could view an amazing display of over 100 pieces of art depicting the Savior, read personal testimonies about Jesus, learn more about ways to serve our community in El Dorado County through JustServe.org, and indulge in some tasty treats.
“It was the most awesome program I have ever seen,” said Elizabeth Schleif. “I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish everyone could see it.”
One participant thought it was an especially wonderful way to start Holy Week. “I loved how they brought the different scenes to life,” said Kristin Hoggan. “It was a spiritual preparation for a week of reflection.”
With over 750 visitors attending over two evenings, sometimes the wait to start the tour was longer than expected. Cheryl Trapani, who ushered visitors to their seats, reported, “There was an older gentleman with a walker who came back through the chapel when he’d finished the tour and enthusiastically announced to those waiting, “It’s a long wait—but it’s worth it!”
In spite of the unexpected wait times that organizers plan to solve, perhaps one visitor summed it up best. “Very heartfelt and beautiful,” reported Dennis Schleif. “Please do it again next year.”
