2016 Manti Mormon Miracle Pagaent

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Mayor Soper’s Welcome Message

Author relates miraculous Mormon story

On behalf of the Manti City Council and residents, I would like to welcome you to the City of Manti.

Founded in 1849, Manti is one of the oldest communities in the state and was the springboard of settlement for much of central and southern Utah. Evidences of the early pioneer builders still exist today in the scores of rock buildings including homes, churches and public buildings.

A beautiful community of 3,300 people, Manti is a wonderful place to live, work, play and visit. Relax at one of our parks or cool off at our pool. Take a stroll down our historic Main Street and enjoy our shopping and restautrants or explore our city

and see some of the earliest buildings constructed in Utah.

For the outdoor enthusiast, Manti o f fe rs exce l l e n t camping, hunting, boating, fishing, Mayor Soper hiking and ATV riding all within a short distance from our city center.

Thank you for visiting Manti City and we look forward to serving you.

We appreciate your visit and hope that you’ll come see us again soon.

Sincerely, Korry L. Soper Mayor

Manti City Park offers overnight camping close to pageant site Camping at the Manti City Park, 200 North 300 West, is allowed only during the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Reservations are not taken, it is on a first-come first-serve basis.

The park is within walking distance of the temple grounds.

Bathroom facilities are provided but there are no showers. Set up tents/trailers. A camp fee collector will visit each site and collect fees.

Pricing depends on the size of tent or trailer and how many people in the party.

Palisade State Park hosts summer events with plenty to do for everyone James Tilson THE PYRAMID

STERLING— With summer weather here again, it’s time to plan a get-away. Palisade State Park in Sterling has you covered with a multitude of activities suitable for everyone in the family.

Palisade State Park is located on a lake, which offers fishing, picnicking, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding and camping. Boating equipment is available for rent, and there are boat ramps as well for those that have their own boat.

Camping is on the lake’s edge, and

accommodates tents, full RV hookups, and cabins. The camp sites are accessible to OHV trails nearby.

From June 14 through June 30 the park hosts the Palisade 5K run every day, with sign-ups starting at 6:30 a.m., and the races starting at 7 a.m. Also at the park, is the Palisade State Park Golf Course, an 18-hole course with beautiful views and a pro shop and restaurant on site. Several golf tournaments are scheduled for this summer.

Palisade Senior Amateur, June 13; Palisade Pro-Am, Aug. 1; Two-Man Scramble; Aug. 15; and Palisades Amateur, Sep. 17.

The script for the Mormon Miracle Pageant came as an idea as the author Grace Johnson, pondered man’s existence. “Why am I here? Where am I going? Is there a God? If a man dies, shall he live again?” She answered her question because Jesus gave the answers in the Meridian of Time. Again when a boy, Joseph Smith, who went into the woods to pray.

She wrote, “There ought to be a work portraying a picture of both Mormon theology and history in a single presentation. Not only fact but feeling. It’s so easy to become complacent and forget about the impact the ‘Mormon Story’ had on the settlement of America,” she said some years ago in an interview.

“The story of the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or ‘Mormons’, with their constant movement westward, until they finally settled in what is now Utah, was a factor that completely changed the face of America.”

They launched a thousand ships of immigration, flooding the New World with divergent cultures, bringing skills, trades and arts with them to meld a unique commonwealth as they worked together to make the barren desert blossom.”

She presented her lecture tour to service clubs in the eastern U.S. and thought she was probably the first Mormon woman to present the Mormon story from the lecture platform. Information of the success of the lecture tour reached LDS Church Headquarters.

Johnson was requested to present her “Mormon Miracle” in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, as part of the June Conference of the church in 1947, which commemorated the centennial of the arrival of the first Mormon pioneers in Utah.

From there, “The Mormon Miracle” was published by Deseret Book Company and was subsequently sponsored for a tour of LDS Stakes in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada and Utah, concluding with a presentation at the

A 14-year-old Joseph Smith knelt in a grove of trees to ask which church he should join. He received a vision from God and His Son, Jesus Christ, who told him not to join any church. He was persecuted for relating his story and later organized the LDS Church.

Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City.

Brigham Young University presented it in 1964 with a cast and narrators and with music provided by a 75 voice choir. It was also presented as a baccalaureate service in the LDS Church College of Hawaii.

It might be said the pageant is a product of many dreams and aspirations.

It was quite a few years after Johnson’s original lecture tour in New England, and after her historic presentation in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and subsequent lecture tour that Trevor and Clover Christensen, who were then working in an administrative capacity at the Church College of Hawaii, read Miss Johnson’s story of The Mormon Miracle as part of the graduation exercises.

On a later visit to Trevor’s mother, they again presented Grace’s story in a ward sacrament meeting in Ephraim. About the same time, a number of people in the area were discussing what could

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be done to hold a meaningful celebration on the 24th of July.

Some felt it might be fitting to return to the old-time celebrations that would stir up a feeling of patriotism and love for the nation, as well as something that would help people hold in sacred remembrance the sacrifices of those early pioneers who settled the Sanpete valley, and the cause for which they came.

It was felt that perhaps a daylong activity with a proper program, parade, flag drills, racing and ball games would be symbolic of earlier celebrations. Maybe there could be a campfire in the evening, surrounded by square dancing and drama to help us remember who we are and why we are here. There was talk of having ice cold melon and other treats available.

And then someone said, ‘ ‘Why not dramatize Grace Johnson’s Mormon Miracle?” It was as if many people were thinking along the same lines at the same time.

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Manti Temple built with fortitude, Splendid LDS Temple site of pageant cash, and lots of ‘Sunday Eggs’ Standing majestically on a hill on the north end of the city, the Manti LDS Temple is an unforgettable sight, especially at night when all the lights are on and it seems to glow.

Admired for the beautiful design and craftsmanship, the wonderful example of pioneer architecture recalls the artistic sensitivity, technical skill and religious devotion of the early settlers.

Long before the temple was built, the hill where it stands was the center for much of the history of the area. When the first families were sent to the Sanpete Valley by President Brigham Young, arriving in November 1849, they sought shelter in dugouts on the side of the hill from the bitter winter storms.

The settlers found layers of oolite stone, which was later used for the building of the temple and many other structures throughout the valley.

The stone was also used in areas all across the U.S. A temple in Manti had been discussed as early as 1854, but it was not until April 25, 1877, just three months before his death, that President Young formally dedicated the site.

Settlers in the valley and surrounding areas worked, sacrificed and gave freely of the time and labor for the 11 years of temple construction.

Much of the cost had to be paid from local contributions.

Volunteer labor, cash, lumber, meats, butter, wheat, cloth, quilts, tools and many other items were accepted as donations. Eggs laid on Sunday were called “Temple Eggs” and were donated to the temple storehouse.

By March 3, 1879, less than two years after the ground was dedicated, $117,406.29 had been received in “Sunday Donations,” with an additional $4,889.74 from monthly donations of $.50. This was at a time when money was scarce and people lived in humble circumstances.

Preparation of the temple site took two years of labor with horse-drawn scrapers and dynamite. William H. Folsom, a Salt Lake City architect, moved to Manti to supervise construction. Canute Peterson, a Danish convert, supervised raising of funds.

Many of the workmen were artisans and craftsmen who brought with them excellent skills learned in Europe.

Most building materials were obtained locally, although some fine hardwood for the interior was imported from the east.

Buttressed walls and battlements show the influence of the Gothic Revival. The stone walls were built three feet thick at the base and the elegant towers recall the French

Perched atop a rising knoll, known as “Temple Hill,” the magnificent Manti Utah Temple dominates the Sanpete Valley of central Utah.

Located just off Highway 89, approaching travelers can glimpse the distinctive towers from miles and miles away.

Thousands flock to the spacious temple grounds each summer to watch the popular Mormon Miracle Pageant.

Temple Facts

Manti Temple was built with volunteer labor, cash, lumber, meats, butter, wheat, cloth, quilts, tools and many other items were accepted as donations. Eggs laid on Sunday were called “Temple Eggs” and were donated to the temple storehouse.

Second Empire style. The taller east tower rises 179 feet about the ground. Workmanship throughout is superb and two circular stairways rise 90 feet in graceful spirals without central supports.

Unlike most LDS Temples, there is no Angel Moroni on the temple spires, The only time anyone will see an angel up there is during the Mormon Miracle Pageant and that one is live.

The late temple president Ruel E. Christensen, said he supposed an angel with a trumpet to his lips, his robes blowing in the evening breeze as portrayed in a wonderful scene in the pageant, might suggest why the tower was finished with a platform instead of a spire on the tower.

Due to the fact that there is usually a breeze, sometimes a strong one, there is

a rod on the platform for the live “angel” to take hold of and steady himself. A former “angel” commented it is a “wonderous adventure” to be on the top of the temple during a rain storm.

Murals in the rooms were painted by well-known LDS artists CCA Christensen, Dan Weggeland, John Hafen, JB Fairbanks, Minerva Teichert and John Shepherd.

Thousands attended the temple dedication in May 1888. In almost continual use since that time, the temple was closed for renovation in the fall of 1981 and rededicated in June 1985.

Originally planned with terraces, the temple grounds were landscaped in 1907, when lawns, trees and shrubs were planted. The beautiful gardens form the setting for the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

The Manti Utah Temple was the third temple built in Utah. It sits on 27 acres and has a total floor area of 100,373 square feet and was originally named the Manti Temple.

The Manti Utah Temple was the only temple dedicated by President Lorenzo Snow. A private dedication was held May 17, 1888 and publicly May 21-23.

The temple design is castellated style having influences of Gothic Revival, French Renaissance Revival, French Second Empire and colonial architecture. There is no Angel Moroni atop this temple.

The Manti Utah Temple was built on a rattlesnake-infested site, known as the Manti Stone Quarry. Once Brigham Young designated the site for a temple June 25, 1875, it became known as Temple Hill. The quarry’s stone, Manti oolite, is the same cream-colored stone

Perched atop a rising knoll, known as “Temple Hill,” the magnificent Manti Utah Temple dominates the Sanpete Valley of central Utah. Located just off Highway 89, approaching travelers can glimpse the distinctive towers from miles and miles away.

Thousands flock to the spacious temple grounds each summer to watch the popular Mormon Miracle Pageant. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the pageant. used for the temple exterior.

On the morning of the site dedication April 25, 1877, Brigham Young confided to Warren S. Snow that Temple Hill was the spot where Book of Mormon Prophet Moroni dedicated the land for a temple site.

Open-center spiral staircases wind up each of the 179foot towers of the Manti Utah Temple. The dramatic stairways are an engineering marvel of the Mormon pioneers.

A large arching tunnel under the east tower of the Manti Utah Temple allowed cars to pass from one side of the temple to the other. It

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was once said the temple was the only one people could go through without a recommend. The tunnel was closed off in the 1960s.

The Manti Utah Temple is the oldest temple retaining original mural paintings on the walls of its progressive-style ordinance rooms: Creation Room, Garden Room, World Room, Terrestrial Room (no murals), and Celestial Room (no murals).

The Manti Utah Temple is one of two temples that still employs live acting for presentation of the endowment.

The other is the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

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Manti Temple boasts unique design and placement The Manti LDS Temple was the fifth constructed temple of the LDS Church. Located in the city of Manti, it was the third LDS temple built west of the Mississippi River, after the Mormons’ trek westward.

The Manti Temple was designed

by William Harrison Folsom, who moved to Manti while the temple was under construction. The temple dominates the Sanpete Valley, and can be seen from many miles, especially at night when it is lit.

Like all LDS temples, only church members in good standing may enter. It is one of only two remaining LDS temples in the world where live actors are used in the endowment ceremonies; all other temples use films in the presentation of the endowment.

The decision to build an LDS temple in Manti was announced June 25, 1875, by Brigham Young.

The Salt Lake Temple had been announced in 1847, but construction was still underway and not finished until 1893.

The Manti Temple was built, along with the St. George and Logan

The temple was completed in 1888, and a private dedication was held May 17, 1888, with a prayer written by Wilford Woodruff. Three public dedications were held May 21–23, 1888, and were directed by Lorenzo Snow.

Renovations

The Manti LDS Temple sits majestic atop temple hill, overlooking Manti City.

The temple is visible along U.S. Highway 89 and is especially picturesque when lit at night. temples, to satisfy the church’s immediate need for these structures. The site for the temple was the Manti Stone Quarry, a large hill immediately northeast of town.

Early Mormon settlers in the area

had prophesied that this would be the site of a temple. When Brigham Young announced the building of the temple, he also announced that the 27-acre plot would then be known as “Temple Hill.”

The Manti LDS Temple has undergone various remodeling and renovations. Construction of a great stone stairway leading up the hill to the west temple doors began in 1907.

In 1935, the temple was fully lit at night for the first time.

In 1940, the stone stairs were removed and work began to beautify the grounds. Between 1944 and 1945 the annex, chapel, kitchen, Garden Room and men’s and women’s areas were remodeled. There was once a tunnel beneath the east tower of the temple through which wagons and cars could pass, but it was closed off in the 1960s.

In 1981, church officials decided the interior of the temple needed extensive remodeling. The renovation took four years, during which

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murals and original furniture were restored, offices were enlarged and remodeled, a separate door was made to the baptistry, water and weather damage were repaired, an elevator was installed, and locker rooms were improved among many other projects.

In June 1985, Gordon B. Hinckley directed the rededication ceremonies. Exterior preservation efforts have also occurred since that time.

Style

The Manti LDS Temple combines the Gothic Revival, French Renaissance Revival, French Second Empire and Colonial architectural styles.

The temple has 100,373 square feet of floor space, eight sealing rooms, four ordinance rooms and a Celestial room.

The exterior is made of fine-textured, cream-colored oolite limestone from quarries in the hill on which the temple now stands. The two towers of the temple are 179 feet tall and the open center spiral staircases inside the towers are marvels of pioneer ingenuity.

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Many hands make pageant a possibility

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“Being in the pageant was the highlight of every summer.

I always missed it when it was over.”

Former Mormon Miracle Pageant cast member Another several hundred people, the directing crew, wardrobe and make-up artists, ushers and security personnel, stage and production crew, as well as those who serve dinner to the cast, volunteer in various ways.

Sanpete County Search and Rescue and MantiEphraim Emergency Medical Technicians are also on hand to assist when needed.

Lastly, dozens of Primary children and adult leaders from local wards of the LDS Church walk the temple grounds the morning after performances to clean up trash.

“I doubt there are this many volunteers for an ongoing project anywhere else,” said Merilyn Jorgensen, a longtime Manti resident and official pageant historian.

Samuel the Lamanite preaches to Nephites

Samuel The Lamanite, stands atop a wall to preach to the Nephites and calls them to repent of their many sins and abominations. He also prophesied about signs of the birth of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem. Nephite archers tried without success to shoot him down off the wall.

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For participants, visitors and residents of Sanpete County, The Mormon Miracle Pageant held annually in Manti, plays an important role in their lives. Participants, whether as part of the cast or crew means being part of an exciting and unique production.

“Being in the pageant was the highlight of every summer,” said one former cast member. “I always missed it when it was over.”

Even though pageant participation means many long hours of practice and preparation for cast and crew, it is a wondrous and memorable time.

It gave them a chance to have fun and socialize with a group of kids they would not have met otherwise.

Participation in the pageant brings satisfaction and friendships that could be found in other summer activities, but the pageant brings another dimension of meaning.

A former pageant president mentioned the participants come away with more understanding of the great heritage of the west, pioneers, settlers, their sacrifices and challenges.

The pageant also provides unique opportunities to play the part of someone cast members may have read about in a book.

One cast member asked, “How often can people read a book and get to play a person they are reading about?”

He said it made the stories of LDS Church history, the Book of Mormon and American History come alive.

Many visitors also find they enjoy the atmosphere of excitement and inspiration when they include the pageant in summer activities.

Because there is not as much instant entertainment in rural areas, families and groups that visit the pageant count on each other to make their own fun.

Participants discover things about each other they wouldn’t otherwise, because they have to rely on each other, making it more meaningful that way.

The pageant also gives visitors an opportunity to spend time rubbing shoulders with others. One person said, “Not a year goes by that I don’t see someone in the crowds at pageant that I haven’t seen in years.”

The pageant provides the perfect atmosphere for people to come together and renew acquaintances.

Visitors who come find they get more out of the pageant experience than just a social interaction.

The inspiring message of the play, combined with the unique setting, reinforces the spirit.

“To get out into the country and the mountains in the cool evenings and to be in the influence of the beautiful temple as a group, couple, single or as a family is a treasure.”

As people think toward the summer ahead, many automatically think of the treasure that awaits them as they spend at least part of their time at the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

Some make it an annual part of their year.

Approximately 400 people set up and later take down about 13,500 metal folding chairs.

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Joseph Smith translates as Oliver Cowdrey writes

A blanket separated Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey during the process of translating stories from metal plates into what became known as the Book of Mormon. The process was hampered by those wishing to steal the “gold plates,” causing Smith and his family to move several times.

Many youth participate in MMP production Each year hundreds of Latter-day Saint youth participate in the Mormon Miracle Pageant. In the pageant cast members have the opportunity to share their testimonies by reenacting stories surrounding the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

People come from all around

the world to see the pageant held in Manti, every year in June.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes peak at what it’s like to be a cast member in the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

Being a cast member

A month before the

Mormon Miracle Pageant begins, cast members practice two or three times per week for about two hours. As the pageant draws closer, cast members practice Monday through Saturday from 8 p.m. until about midnight.

Despite some very cold nights, children of all ages

gather to rehearse their parts.

It is sweet to see older children give their jackets to smaller children so they will stay warm.

Besides the cool weather, some challenging aspects of practicing include practicing on Manti LDS Temple’s steep and often slippery hill.

Another challenging aspect for cast members can be switching costumes in between scenes.

For example some cast members are dressed as Native Americans in one scene and pioneers in the very next scene.

Costumes

Every cast member in the

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Mormon Miracle Pageant has a costume to wear, many of which are homemade. On top of their costume, cast members wear an identification badge. Generally cast members cannot take their costumes home, rather, they wear their costumes for the duration of the practices and then return the costumes to be cleaned.

According to cast members some of the most interesting costumes include the costumes for Queen Lamoni, Lamanite dancers, warriors and the sacrifice.

Set-up

Several weeks before the Mormon Miracle Pageant begins, pageant staff begin setting-up. This includes placing artificial rocks and trees on temple hill. Several large light and speaker towers are erected. As the pageant draws closer local priesthood leaders enlist local volunteers to set up thousands of chairs.

In between each scene cast members move around props, such as handcarts, a volcano and an ancient temple.

Cast missionaries

Before each performance of the pageant, many of the cast members go out in costume to mingle with the audience.

They have a special cast missionary meeting before going out. They go in pairs of two following the pattern of fulltime LDS missionaries, welcoming the audience, bearing testimony of the gospel and asking people for missionary referrals.

Devotionals

Before each performance, there is a special cast devotional. Sometimes general authorities come to speak. It’s a great way to keep the whole cast in a spiritual mindset, strengthen their testimonies and remind them of the purpose of the pageant. The devotional helps cast members understand their role in helping the audience feel the spirit of the message of the Restoration.

“For years I have been waiting for someone to do justice in recording in song and story and painting and sculpture the story of the Restoration. Our writers, our motion picture specialists, with the inspiration of heaven, should tomorrow be able to produce a masterpiece which would live forever.”— Spencer W. Kimball One of the Boekweg twins said, “I enjoyed participating as a cast member in the pageant for several years.

It strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ and the church He restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.

If you’ve never had a chance to see the pageant, I’d highly recommend it.”

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Angels raise questions during local pageant Merilyn Jorgensen PAGEANT HISTORIAN

Angels are an integral part of miracles. Humankind seems to yearn for a personal connection to angels, as guardians, protectors, guides and teachers. Angels are traditionally perceived as Divine messengers in our lives.

The Mormon Miracle Pageant begins with a search for Divine direction and ends with the angelic reward for following the path given.

There is a fascinating mystique about angels and angels portrayed in the pageant carry this same quality.

There are certain scenes that have always seemed to elicit comments like, “Ooh, how did they do that?” Not surprisingly, these “mystery” scenes contain angels.

Every time a single angel is seen in the pageant, one particular person, Moroni, is the one represented. He is portrayed in the production as a mortal man and then as a glorified, resurrected being.

Several years ago, new scenery required some major changes in staging, so the first “Ooh” scene occurred prior to that time. This scene took place as the Angel Moroni appeared to a young boy named Joseph Smith.

“Moroni” was lighted gradually, until his white personage appeared very bright.

With use of a hand-painted theatrical scrim and with benefit of the sloping hill, the “angel,” beautifully, seemed to materialize and stand in the air. Audience reaction has always been quite audible.

The next angelic appearance comes shortly after the bedroom scene. Moroni again appears, this time on the hillside.

Both scenes are made very impressive with clever costuming, lighting and makeup.

The bright spotlight, turned onto a dazzling white robe in the same instant the black covering is removed, gives a stunning effect.

T h e n e x t t i m e A n ge l Moroni is seen, he stands on the top of the west tower of the temple. This is definitely another “Ooh” for the audience. Questions such as, “How did he get up there.”

“Is that a real person,” How come he doesn’t blow off?” have all been heard.

Another related question is, “How come the Manti LDS Temple has a flat top on the west tower?” A native of Sanpete might facetiously a n swe r, “ S o t h e A n ge l Moroni can stand there for the pageant.”

Answers to the other questions are the angel “gets up there” with a temple escort via a narrow stairway in the tower, through a small trap door, out onto the approximately six-footsquare platform.

The little decorative railing is only about 18-inches high, but the angel doesn’t “blow off” because of support. In the early years, that stabilizing consisted of the temple escort, John Henry N ielson and later, Dean Harmer, reaching through the trap door opening to hold Moroni’s ankles. Now however, there is a steel rod with a waist-high back brace into which the performer leans.

The performer sometimes has raised the trumpet to his lips after the light comes on, to show he’s an honest-togoodness living person.

The beautiful robe glows brilliantly and flows in the breeze, which usually hips the fabric handsomely. However, once in a while, there is dead calm, no breeze at all. On one such occasion, Brother N ielson tried to remedy the calm by blowing as hard as he could to get the robe to move. After that performance, a small fan was positioned at one corner, just in case.

Many stories have been to l d a n d re - to l d a b o u t unsuspecting travelers driving down the highway toward the temple, when suddenly an “angel” appears in the dark sky. Some reports have

had the car going off the road as the shocked driver vows to “repent” or to “never touch another drop!” Whatever truth is in these stories, the fact is, the Angel Moroni on top of the Manti LDS Temple is indeed a real person, not just a statue, as is found on other LDS temples.

The beginning of the final “Ooh” scene is when one of the lead characters, Robert, dies, leaves his mortal body behind and is “resurrected.”

It is truly a memorable scene and this writer has no wish to spoil the surprise by revealing the secret of the resurrection.

So that part must remain a mystery. Suffice it to say, Robert and wife, Mary, rise to be greeted by a spectacular heavenly host of angels. If this sight doesn’t produce chills, you haven’t been watching.

The technical logistics of getting this host of well over 100 young angels on the hill positioned, then off the hill, in the dark, is no small task.

These angels wait on the north side of the temple until near the end of the pageant.

Their trek up behind the temple to the top has been an evolution, from a climb in darkness and with obstacles, to a well-lighted path.

Lighting that scene is another huge challenge. In recent years, extra spot lights and a new lighting system have aided tremendously with safety, as well as ease.

Prior to about 1997, the spotlights were arranged in rows on the hill and the angelic girls had to get on an off without tripping over the light cans.

There have been several sprained ankles and numerous scrapes, but in all the yea rs, o n ly o n e b ro ke n bone. Another little miracle of course.

One humorous incident with angels occurred on an extremely windy performance night. The angels were going through their routine just behind the gate to the top of the hill where they appear. As they raised their arms, the wind caught the full sleeves of a very small angel and literally blew her over. No injury, but a story to remember for one actually “blown away” by the pageant.

Costumes have evolved from tinsel-trimmed old sheets to lovely, soft cotton, still with tinsel on sleeve, belt and in the hair. Christmas tinsel may sound amateurish, but it does catch the light beautifully.

T h e s e c o s t u m e s we re mostly made by the mothers of the “angels.” By 1992 or so, the costumes were made of tricot, still with tinsel trim. The present costume is a double-knot material and is brimmed with braided sequins in place of the tinsel.

At least one major miracle concerning the lights on the angel choir needs to be

reported. Some years back, a fierce electrical and rain storm passed over the valley just before pageant, not unusual.

The storm quieted just as the performance began, again, not unusual, but it left no time to check the myriad of lighting cables, connections, fuse boxes and sockets. These all had to be checked prior to the beginning of each scene. They had to empty rain water from some of the home-made, tin-can lights as they went, a miracle, of course, that no one was shocked.

As a young Mr. Findlay sneaked up to check the lights for the angel choir, he called on the headphones to the control booth, reporting possible trouble. Everyone said silent prayers, repositioned all the spot lights to the hill top and waited.

At the appointed time, the switches were flipped and all the lights came on. A collective sigh of relief and gratitude went up from the crew.

“Coincidence” you say?

“Blessing” you say? Or more appropriately, “Angelic miracle?” Whichever it was, few in the cast or crew that night knew of the discovery made when the electrical system were inspected. The lightning strikes prior to performance had hit the fuse boxes on top of the hill, those fuses were melted.

Lights without fuses are “Impossible” you say?

Maybe. Unless, of course, yo u b e l i eve i n a n ge l s and miracles.

Jesus Christ appears to Nephites

Jesus Christ made an appearance to the Nephite people following His crucifixion in Jerusalem.

Three days of darkness and terrible destruction had occurred when He died on the cross. He blessed and healed the people and their children who had survived the destruction.

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Important travel, convenience pageant information The Mormon Miracle Pageant takes place at the foot of the Manti LDS Temple in the central Utah town of Manti.

The best mode of transportation is by charter bus or car, which requires an approximate driving time of two hours from Salt Lake City in northern Utah or just under two and one-half hours from Cedar City in southern Utah.

There are two separate routes to take coming from northern Utah.

The first is as follows: I-15 south to U.S. Highway 6 in Spanish Fork. Take Highway 6 east to U.S. Highway 89.

Turn south on Highway 89 which takes you directly to Manti. The other route from the north would

follow I-15 south to U.S. Highway 132 in Nephi. Take Highway 132 east to U.S. Highway 89. Turn south on Highway 89 which takes you directly to Manti.

The best route from southern Utah would be I-15 north to I-70.

Take I-70 east to U.S. Highway 89 in Salina. Turn north on Highway 89 which takes travelers directly to Manti.

Convenience locations

Translators: Language translation will be provided by missionaries at the missionary booth on the southwest corner of the temple grounds.

Approximately 200 headphones will be available to those speaking

Spanish or Japanese.

Hearing impaired: Signing for the hearing impaired will be available on a TV monitor each night instead of being signed live so that the service can be offered for each performance.

Culinary water: Drinking fountains are located directly west of the temple on 100 East.

First aid: The Visitor’s Center will provide first aid information. An ambulance will be on stand-by during pageant performances.

Wheelchair, handicapped: Accommodations for wheelchairs and handicapped seating are available at each performance. Ushers will be able to assist with locating these accommodations.

Restrooms: Restrooms are located in four trailers behind the distribution center and in three trailers on the east side of temple grounds, next to temple worker housing.

Lost and Found

The Mormon Miracle Pageant also maintains a “Lost and Found” station where lost and found items are reported and turned in. Lost children or family members are also taken to this location for quick and easy reuniting with family. The “Lost and Found” station is located northwest of the Temple grounds at the east door of the Family History Center.

For emergency medical treatment, a first aid station is located on

the west side of the Manti Temple at 450 North 100 East. There will also be emergency medical personnel patrolling the temple grounds on four-wheelers. For all other emergencies, contact the Sanpete County Sheriff’s office at (435) 835-2191 or dial 911.

For security purposes, there are at least 30 security personnel and 20 ushers on site for the Friday and Saturday performances.

For more information on the Mormon Miracle Pageant or tourism information for the Sanpete area, listen to the county information radio station at 1610 AM on the radio; or call (435) 835-3000 or (888) 255-8860.

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Moroni appears to Joseph Smith

Moroni, the young son of the prophet Mormon, appeared to Joseph Smith multiple times from 1823 to 1827, instructing him about the plates of brass that contained the history of the ancient inhabitants of the land before finally allowed Smith to take possession of the plates. Following the translation, Smith returned the plates to Moroni.

Pageant changes through the years

Costumes are an intricate portion of the pageant and changes have been made periodically through the years, due to wear-andtear and other issues. Costumes are hand-made by individuals throughout the county.

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History of buses, gates, security important part of pageant The following are a few selected portions of the Mormon Miracle Pageant book being compiled by Pageant Historian Merilyn Jorgensen.

The book is expected to be published within a year.

Bus Ushers

“Bus Usher” may sound a little strange, but that is just what Dorothy Gray was in the early years of the pageant. After all, she felt responsible that so many buses were coming, she had personally called as many of the tour-bus companies as she could, to encourage them to bring groups to the Mormon Miracle Pageant. And come they did.

The dynamic little lady could be seen hurrying up and down that graveled road on the west side of the Manti City Cemetery, motioning to bus after bus to come, as she directed them to park at an angle in order to get as many as possible all along both sides of the two-block roadway.

Kim Aagard, one of Mont Madsen’s Moroni committee for many years, explained that they tried to also give helpful instructions, such as telling guests to remember the number on their bus and recognize their bus driver. With 40-to-90 buses, it was important that the people not get on the wrong bus and wind up at an unintended destination.

Gates

Ushers at the gates to the Mormon Miracle Pageant seating area on

the temple grounds, and also those assigned inside the seating area, at first just wore a long ribbon-badge labeled USHER. Much later they were furnished with blue USHERmarked vests.

They were responsible for those entering the gates to the temple grounds, pointing out seating areas, answering questions and, for many years, watching for food containers, pets etc. Much of the early work at gates was originally done by the Ladies Guild.

Merrill Ogden explained it was difficult to ensure the sections ropedoff to reserve an area for the seating of bus-tour groups stayed “reserved”.

Some people are not inclined to observe restrictions; they sit where they like, and are not amenable to moving once they are settled.

Almost all ushers at the gates agree that one of the “not fun” things was trying to keep food and drink from being brought onto the temple grounds. Even though there are grassy areas just outside or adjacent to the fenced seating area, there are those who insisted they needed to bring forbidden items inside. In a more recent time, these restrictions were lifted, making ushers’ jobs easier, but cleanup a much more difficult and “messy” task.

Security

Security people wore bright yellow vests for a time, then they evolved to bright red. These people may be

seen mingling in the crowd, outside the grounds, but also at the gates, especially guarding the roadways to the top of the hill where equipment, wiring etc. would be a danger.

These people make sure that no one without the ID badge of cast or crew goes past the seating area.

With cast members, not to mention necessary staff, numbering well over 1,000 it is imperative that badges be checked carefully.

Pageant security works closely with the temple security to keep people in safe places and solves a myriad of problems quickly. They also watch to diffuse any disagreements between pageant goers or between guests and those who have come for many years to “protest” the church and message of the pageant.

Flag poles

For almost 40 years, from the mid1970s to about 2011, large flag poles were put up all along the curved entrance on Manti’s north Manti Street. It was an impressive sight to come into town and be greeted by all the beautiful flags, flying just west of the temple hill.

The poles were donated by Manti City, but flags for more than a decade were put up during the Mormon Miracle Pageant season by E. Donald Olsen and his sons. During a span of years, those flags were international flags, sent home by LDS missionaries from the Sanpete South Stake,

Manti, Ephraim and Sterling.

Grounds care, greenery

The production of the Mormon Miracle Pageant requires abundant greenery at a number of sites and stages. With hundreds of cast, in positions all over the temple hill, it’s more than a small concern to preserve the beauty of the flower beds and general condition of the grounds.

The Manti LDS Temple grounds crew are heavily involved, supervising placement of light towers, scenery, stages, fencing, etc. Platforms have been constructed and placed in key spots to make it possible for dozens of cast members to climb over the flower beds and onto the hill without completely destroying the flowers. No matter how careful, there is some damage to flower beds.

Ted Olson recalls the many hours spent with his dad in the mountains cutting the greens, about every other day. He said they had specific instructions about what was needed and specific sizes. “And we didn’t go poke them in a hole just any place. We had to wait for Macksene to come and tell us exactly where to put them.”

Ken Lindsay now acquires artificial greenery to aid at the various scene stages. That has more recently negated the need for numerous trips to the canyon during each season, to cut dozens of Quaken Aspen saplings and other greens, which needed to be replaced every couple of days during

each season.

Pageantry

Pageantry is, “One of the oldest and most versatile theater art forms, pageantry transcends the limits of a play and may be likened to a single wall of an extended mural, painted with broad strokes to be viewed from a distance. Usually featuring a central theme, developed through narration and dialogue, the action is described and made clear through a series of related incidents. Traditionally, pageants are colorful, spectacular, and build to an emotional climax in the last scene.” (Quote from an early pageant program.)

A pageant covers so much more, in terms of space and time than any other type of play or stage production. It may actually include a saga covering centuries. The Mormon Miracle Pageant fits perfectly the definition of a pageant.

Another thing about pageantry is that in spanning several eras, it is not possible to show details of everything. There isn’t time to “cover” the long history. So, scenes are developed which put bits and pieces of several different events or phases together into one scene to leave strong impressions of all of the related ideas So, just a bit of literary license is used in order to bring all of the elements together into one short scene, with impressions of all of the component parts.

Lamanites, Nephi battle throughout Book of Mormon

Clashing armies and phenomenal natural events depict the rise and fall of two ancient American civilizations. Remnants of Lamanite civilizations remained when Columbus landed, but the Nephites had been destroyed, leaving records carved on plates of ore, telling stories of both turbulent and peaceful times.

Mormon engraves plates of ore during last battle

Let’s face it. You’re ready for more speed.

An ancient prophet who lived during the last, devastating battle between the Nephites and Lamanites carefully engraved events and his feelings on plates of ore, which later was translated by Joseph Smith into the Book of Mormon. According to the record, Mormon was the last surviving Nephite and lived alone for more than 30 years, hiding from the Lamanite army.

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History of MMP through the years On July 23, 1967, a small crowd of about 2,000 people sat quietly chatting together in the early evening in the grandstands of the Sanpete County Fairgrounds in Manti, and listened as rain fell on the metal roof above them.

Two angry dark storm centers wheeled together overhead and occasional flashes of lightning were answered with the sharp cracking and rolling of thunder. In the arena where broncos and bulls are ridden at fair time, the soft earth had been set with transplanted sagebrush, a grove of trees and a wooden platform which served as a stage.

The pioneer movement was represented by one handcart. Two Book of Mormon prophets, Mormon and Moroni, were seen on Temple Hill across the fences to the east, portrayed as a mortal on the west slope by Larry Stable, and as an angel on the temple annex by LeGrand Olson.

Doug Barton had hung 100 watt light globes in gallon cans on steel posts to light the hill. Trees east of the fairgrounds had been trimmed to make the temple hill visible to the audience.

Directors for that first production were Helen and Morgan Dyreng, with Jane Braithwaite assisting.

Communication between the set on the fairgrounds and those on temple hill was maintained by walkie talkie’s, hand-held by Lynn Nielsen and John Henry Nielsen.

A 25 piece orchestra composed mostly of local musicians trained

by Richard Nibley, would serve as accompaniment to the songs and incidental music used as background for the pageant. McLoyd Erickson, Evan Bean and Harry A. Dean were music directors, and Richard Nibley would play first violin using his imported instrument. Ted Olsen ran up temple hill to blow his trumpet as Moroni made an appearance. Unfortunately, that

part of the program was later cut.

A choir from Sanpete South LDS Stake was seated on open bleachers. As they tried to protect their music from the light rain that was falling, some wondered how much rain it would take to ruin a violin.

One lone woman sat apart from the audience, oblivious to threatening storm, but reluctant to take shelter in the grandstand. When encouraged to come up into the protected seats, she commented that this first night of the pageant was very crucial. “If it doesn’t go tonight, it will never go.”

She chose to sit by herself in the rain. That woman was Grace Johnson.

And although she felt the initial presentation was vitally important, she could never have known the scope and grandeur that would come to the pageant, or the impact that it would have on the lives of people world-wide years later.

As time for the first presentation of the Mormon Miracle Pageant drew near, an air of expectancy was felt by those assembled. A roving dog trotted onto the stage area, and Johnson, who was also known for her efforts in behalf of animals, and anxious that nothing disturb this fledgling production, called the dog to her and held it.

As LDS Stake President Vernon L. Kunz stood to give the opening prayer, his supplication was simple and direct, and he prayed for the elements to be held in abeyance during the performance.

Rain did stop falling as the pageant began and everyone was soon engrossed in the production as Duane and Martha Ryan stood at a portable lectern and read the words to the story written by Johnson.

Action suited to the spoken word took place in the setting before them. There was a boy kneeling in humble prayer in a grove, there was a handcart and pioneers. There was

dancing and laughter, heartache and dying, eviction from civilization, and triumph in the valleys of the mountains.

Music from the chorus and orchestra supported the changing scenes and lightning broke forth occasionally to emphasize the pathos of “12,000 homeless, under rain drenched skies.” Then as the pageant concluded, before everyone could get to their cars, the clouds broke apart and rain came down in torrents.

That first year was something those who were there will never forget. Even though it was modest by today’s standards, still that first performance was memorable and many remember the warmth of the special spirit that has prevailed each year at the pageant. It is the spirit of peace and love and brotherhood to which people respond.

The first stage was a raised platform directly in front of the grandstand at the Sanpete County Fairgrounds, draped with curtains borrowed from the Manti American Legion Hall. Plywood panels on the left of the stage hid the waiting cast from view of the audience.

Both readers stood at one lectern. Make-shift spot lights in the grandstand focused on the stage, along with two Leiko lights from Snow College. Local square dance caller Merritt Bradley loaned his sound system. A ‘Ways and Means’ committee was organized to raise funds for the pageant, with Claude Braithwaite as chairman. Donations of all kinds, including monetary gifts, supplies, materials and labor made those first years possible.

The second year the pageant was moved to a natural terrace on the southwest slope of Temple Hill.

Manti LDS Temple President Bent Peterson agreed to have the pageant on the temple grounds with the understanding that no cars or vehicles could be brought into the area.

All scenery and equipment had to be hand-carried from trucks, backed up by the fence, to the stage area.

The street immediately west of the temple grounds was blocked off for seating. Bleachers, moved from the fairgrounds and additional chairs, brought by members of the audience, were placed in the street.

The choir and orchestra were set up below the stage and again furnished background music as the scenes unfolded. Some of the scenes of the pageant took place on a wooden stage loaned by Snow College, and some on various areas higher on the temple hill.

Two more locally-built handcarts were used that year. The pageant was held in August of 1968, and played for two nights. Threats of rain were still present, so the next year pageant dates were moved back to July to be nearer the anniversary of the arrival of the first pioneers in Utah.

The move to the temple hill was a great step forward. However, tall trees partially blocked the spectators’ view, making it difficult to see the progression of the story. More than twice as many people viewed the pageant the second year and there was a call for it to be repeated the next year.

Permission was again given to use the temple hill and the First Presidency of the LDS Church agreed to have a few trees removed to make the stage more visible to the audience. People were allowed to sit on the grass among the trees near the base of the hill, but equipment and staging still had to be carried in by hand.

In 1978 Richard Olsen designed and built a large ramp leading from the upper stage to the stone stairway by the retaining wall south of the temple for Robert and Mary in the finale. Someone once said, “That must have been a lot of work to build the wall for the pageant.”

Surely the Lord’s hand was in the making of a setting for the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

The wide, sloping lawn under the shadow of the great temple offers peace and serenity, beauty and simplicity found in but few places on the earth. The pageant continues to improve each year and is now the one of the largest and most attended pageants in the U.S. Even with additional seating, the crowds were so large that some in the streets had to stand.

Author Johnson set the stage for the evolution of the Mormon Miracle from a one-woman show to the spectacle of drama, music and technical effects it became.

“To fulfill itself, there must be in this pageant a free flow of ideas. It must improve from year-to-year. If there are better ways of telling the story, they should be used.”

Some changes were forced by human circumstances. When the talented narrators of the first two seasons moved from the valley, replacements were sought. R. Clair Anderson called Francis Urry to narrate and asked him to recommend a female voice. He submitted the name of Macksene Rux. Rux, who like Urry was an established artist in theatre and broadcast, had never been to Manti.

When contacted by telephone, she was initially reluctant to commit herself to the project. She later related that after hanging up the telephone she turned to her husband in disbelief at her own affirmative response. “Did I really say I’d do that?”

She confesses the only thing which kept her from immediately returning the call and declining the request was that she had forgotten the name of the man who called.

For the two performances of the 1969 season, Rux and Urry narrated the Mormon Miracle live in front of screens on either side of the stage.

Manti Utah LDS Temple to close early during pageant Persons wishing to attend the Manti Utah LDS Temple during the Mormon Miracle Pageant will need to be aware the last temple session of the day will begin at 3:30 p.m., due

to practices for the pageant.

The early closing also assists with traffic flow and maintaining reverence. The temple is open to all members of the LDS Church who hold a

current temple recommend.

Endowment sessions are Tuesday through Saturday every hour on the half-hour beginning at 7:30 a.m., with doors opening at 7 a.m. Groups

of 10 or more are encouraged to make an appointment.

Anyone wishing to use the baptistery must make an appointment. Those without an appointment will

regretfully be turned away.

Sealings during the pageant will be confined to family files only.

There are no facilities in the Manti Utah LDS Temple for language sessions

except English.

However, language cards are available by request for some aspects of the ordinances.

American Sign Language interpreters are available by appointment only.

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Visitors offered array of activities, recreation during pageant While visiting Manti City and the Sanpete Valley, there are several activities and places of interest to be enjoyed by the entire family. The Sanpete area offers some of Utah’s best opportunities for outdoor recreation such as fishing, hunting, camping and ATV riding. Visit Sanpete county’s tourism web site at http://sanpete. com.

For interesting things to do before the annual Mormon Miracle Pageant, the Historic Manti City Hall, 191 North Main Street is open from 3-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The building is also the Tourist Information Center to answer questions about the Pageant, where to eat or stay and places to go for fun and sightseeing.

The Historic Patten House, 97 West 300 North, is open 2-8 p.m., every day of the Pageant; Manti Aquatic Center 50 West 500 North, is open from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday and noon to 8 p.m., Monday.

The replica pioneer dugout will be open for tours from 5 to 9 p.m., everyday during the Mormon Miracle Pageant. A volunteer will be on hand to give an oral history of the dugout’s use by early pioneers.

The Granary Art Center, 86 North Main Street, Ephraim, will also be open during Pageant. Current art displays include Rat Fink, the work of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, beloved famous custom car designer and resident of Manti, curated by Laura Allred Hurtado; and The Covered Cars, photographs produced by Todd Sanchioni.

The Horseshoe Mountain Quilt Guild will host a quilt show during the Manti Mormon Miracle Pageant.

This is the 18th year for the popular show. Visitors can view a wide array of beautiful and unusual quilts on display and then vote for their favorites, to be given “Peoples Choice” cash awards.

As usual the guild will also have a pieced quilt, of a “Red and

White”design, to be raffled off for a charity. Plan to visit the quilt show at South Sanpete School District Offices, 39 South Main Street, Manti. Open from 2 to 8 p.m., June 16-25, closed Sunday and Monday.

There is no charge.

Snow College Activity Center, located in Ephraim, 350 East Center Street, has a variety of activities for the entire family. They offer an indoor swimming pool, racquetball courts, indoor tennis and volleyball courts, basketball, weight lifting and exercise room, indoor soccer, a climbing wall, and more.

Hours for the Activity Center are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call (435) 283-7039 and for group reservations (435) 283-7040.

Fairview Museum of History and Art. 85 North 100 East, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Skyline Drive winds for over 100

miles along the top of the Wasatch Plateau. At elevations ranging from about 9,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest roads in America.

Palisade State Park offers a picturesque small lake, 18-hole golf course, camping and other facilities. The park is located one mile up the canyon from Sterling, about five miles south of Manti. For more details, call (435) 283-4653.

Skyline Mountain Resort Golf Course in Fairview has an 18-hole private golf course, open to the public with reservations. Call (435) 427-9590.

Maple Canyon is a popular area to camp, hike and rock-climb. It is located in the Manti-La Sal National Forest west of Fountain Green. A developed campground in the canyon provides restrooms and drinking water.

Palisade Lodge and Resort in Sterling offers both guided rides and horse rentals for rides on easy trails near the

resort. They also offer four-wheelers, paddle boat and canoe rentals. Call (435) 835-5413 for more information.

There are several terrific places to ease hunger pangs, from the ice cream parlor at the Manti Motel to fine dining at the Manti House Inn, drive-in favorites at Miller’s Drivein and Bakery, Main Street Pizza and hamburgers and other goodies at the Fred’s Sports Grill.

The ghost town of Clarion, located west of Gunnison, was a settlement of Jewish immigrants, founded in the fall of 1911. They tried to earn a living from the poor, rock-strewn soil with very little resources and abandoned the site in November 1915.

The entire town of Spring City is a National Register Historic District, making this an area visitors don’t want to miss. Spring City, originally known as Canal Creek, was settled by James Allred from Manti in 1853. It is also the final resting place of Orson Hyde, an early apostle and figure in LDS Church history.

Visiting Manti during MMP offers relaxation, reflection Manti, Sanpete County seat, hosts travelers seeking quiet relaxation and historical reflection. Visitors spend a night or two at the quaint bed and breakfasts, or tour the grounds of the historic Manti LDS Temple, built in 1888.

Others come for the thrills offered on any of the nearby ATV trails. But in June of each year, Manti takes on new life and excitement.

In June, the temple grounds turn into a giant stage, larger than a football field, for the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

The town truly comes alive as a cast of over 500 works to combine dance, music, and drama in a unique production for a large audience seated under the canopy of stars. The pageant runs for eight nights, June 16-25, except Sunday and Monday.

Each year, the pageant retells the account of the resurrected Jesus Christ visiting the people on the American continents.

The dramatization includes Christ healing and teaching the people, as well as blessing the children, just as he did in Jerusalem.

Time fast-forwards to the 1800s, when farm boy Joseph Smith received and later translated the record of this ancient American people. The record is known today as the Book of Mormon.

Finally, the presentation concludes with the story of a fictional couple searching for religious truth and enlightenment and the joy they find upon discovering that family relationships can be eternal.

First time pageant-goers will find the following tips

useful: Arrive early for optimum seating. First-come seating is provided for 14,500 and there is room on the grass for additional spectators. June evenings can be cool so bring a sweater or blanket. Blankets may be used on chairs but are not allowed in the aisles. The blanket area has been enlarged this year.

The pageant is free, but dinner is not. Bring a picnic dinner, or plan to purchase a barbequed turkey or roast beef dinner at the pageant.

The tasty meals are reasonably priced and are served each night of the pageant at the National Guard Armory, 100 West Union. No food or drink is allowed on the grounds.

Plan to stay overnight in Manti the night of the pageant. Traffic will be exceptionally congested at the conclusion of the production.

Many visitors find that staying at a bed and breakfast adds to the experience, providing a unique locals perspective, plus great service. Whether choosing a bed and breakfast, hotel, or campground, be sure to make reservations well Large crowds gather each year for the annual Mormon Miracle Pageant held on the Manti LDS Temple hill. The pageant is open to the public and free of charge. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis on more than 14,000 seats. There is also a large area where in advance.

Take some time before or families can spread blankets to view the event. The pageant will take place from June 16 through 25, except for Sunday and Monday. after the pageant to explore the region. Take scenic drives, rent ATVs, or visit the unique boutiques and craftsman shops.

For those not familiar with the story of The Book of Mormon, it may help to learn a bit about its history before attending the pageant. Background information can be obtained from locals or members of the LDS Church. Or check out a copy of The Book of Mormon from the library.

SPRING CITY SUMMER OF FUN! June 13 2nd Annual Pet Show 7 p.m. City Park bring pets & chairs PIONEER DAYS July 21 Saga of Spring City & Ice Cream Social 7 p.m. City Park –bring chairs

July 25 Fireman’s Breakfast 7- 9 a.m.

Fun Run/Walk 7 a.m.

Mammoth Parade 10 a.m.

No parking on Main Street!

Park Party 11 a.m.-3 p.m. bring chairs Pioneer Games for all ages, Old Car Show, Horseshoe Tournament, Music in the Park, Lunch in the Park, Hand-made Crafts, Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament Park Concert 7:00 p.m.

“Ophir Creek”

July 22 Co-Ed Volleyball Tournament 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. City Park Family Street Dance 8:30 -10:30 p.m.

“Junction 89”

Other Spring City summer events: Aug 5-6 Bluegrass Festival days & evenings

July 23 Co-Ed Softball Team Tournament 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. City Park

Sept. 3 School Bell Run— 6:30 a.m.

1 mile Fun Run & 1 mile or 3K Walk/Run

July 24 Old Time Gospel Music Revival 7 p.m. City Bowery bring chairs

Sept. 3 Plein Air Painting Competition 10 a.m.

Artist Studio tours

n ope ow n

May 28 Heritage Day –all day Old School Historic Home tours

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Pageant cast selected for 2016 MMP performances Preacher 1..Jude Allen Preacher 2…Jack Keisel Preacher3…Geoffrey Westfall Young Joseph…Stockton Evensen, Cole Turner, Trevor Jensen Lucy Smith…Kristen Evensen, Farrah turner, Erin Jensen Robert…Justus Jorgensen, Elias Malone, Trevor Olsen Mary…Heather Fuqua, Kristlyn Peterson, Samantha Olsen Mature Joseph…Jordan Call, Brock Fletcher Angel Moroni…CJ Whitby, Jordan Durtschi Oliver Cowdery…Colby Christensen Captain Moroni…Rollin Nielson, Justin Bawden Zerahemnah…Marxhall Dotson, Nathan Olsen

Witch Doctor…Joshua Morris, Brent Hamblin

Indian Chief…Jeremy Hyde, Jeff Sumsion

High Priestess…Kalani Wallace, Sydney Howell, Alison Wegener, Jill Olsen, Kaley Gillette, Katelyn Cluff

Woman at Grave…Adalie Call, Paula Nelson

Sacrifice…Cari Carmody, Kyleena Boylan Spear Dancers…Luke Heugly, Joseph Nelson, Samuel Hebert, Caleb Haderlie Lamanite Platform (Girls)…Kara Harmston, Hannah Eddy, Hannah Cutler, Jessie Godfrey, Kayla Adams, Christina Peterson, Sierra Stull, Jennilyn DeHaan Lamanite Platform (Boys)…

Trueman Alder, Paris Reul, Jorgen Rasmussen Caller…Michael Kohut George Washington…Blain Sumsion Thomas Jefferson…Bill Jensen

Vignettes…Adalee Call, Leorah Malone, Emerson Becker, Emily Goates, Koby Christensen, Kristen Evensen Angel on the Temple…Jakob Durtschi, Courtney Robinson, John Sumsion, Michael Scott, Craig Carpenter

Heavenly Child…Autumn Heugly, Jaycee Purper, Lauren Monson

Mormon…Bryan Fletcher, Jed Worthington

Henshaw Son…Matthew Olsen

Mortal Moroni…Mitchell Fletcher, Stephen Kent

Oldest Henshaw Daughter…

Stevie Tillack, Addison Howell

Father Morley…Tom Morris, Taylor Call

Little Henshaw Daughter…

Charolette Jensen

Woman on the Plain…Emily Goates, Jessica Lee

Little Henshaw Son…Beckett Jensen

Nauvoo Father w/Family…Nate Watson Family, Jed Worthington Family

Abinidi Tableu…Caleb Call

Hyrum Smith…Jordyn Call, Brock Fletcher

3rd Nephi Family…Ray Tuineau Family, Curtis Harrison, Sydney Boorman

Nephi Platform…Tim Krzymowski, Nathan Bradley, Danny Dennis, Baltasar Alcaa, Emily Frischknecht, Cassity Whitby, Adreanna Judd, Brunn Peterson, Jasmine Alcala, Ambria Boylan, Breanna Hedelius, Jensen Tapp, Daniele Douglass, Ellie Christensen, Annie Bingham, Senora Childs, McKenna Cherry, Kierra Ruell

The Savior…David Allred, Andrew Bahlmann

Samuel…Joshua Peterson, Mark Heugly, Josh Douglas

Drummer…Joseph Earl Allen

Ammon…Caleb Call Lamoni…Molitika Vaaivaka, Justin Bawden Lamoni’s Queen…Atu Vaaivaka, Mariah Dillman Queen’s Lady…Lauinia Tuineau

John Taylor…Micheal Lutes Willard Richards…Keaton Jorgensen Brigham Young…Brandon Nordell Captain Allen…Nathan Schreiner Aid…Jude Allen Bugler…Colby Simons

Activities and recreation draw families to area While visiting Manti City and the Sanpete Valley, there are several activities and places of interest to be enjoyed by the entire family. The Sanpete area offers some of Utah’s best opportunities for outdoor recreation such as fishing, hunting, camping and ATV riding. Visit Sanpete county’s tourism web site at http://sanpete.com.

For interesting things to do before the Mormon Miracle Pageant, the Historic Manti City Hall, 191 North Main Street is open Friday and Saturday from 3 to 8 p.m. and Monday through Thursday, 9-5 p.m. The building is also the Tourist Information Center to answer questions about the pageant, where to eat or stay and places to go for fun and sightseeing.

The Historic Patten House, 97 West 300 North, is open every day of the Pageant from 2 to 8 p.m.

The Fairview Museum of History and Art, 85 North 100 East, Fairview, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Liberal Hall Museum, 80 West Main Street, Mt. Pleasant, is a n ewly- re s to re d 139 -yea r- o l d Wasatch Academy school house now serving as a museum, archive, research facility and cultural center.

The Relic Home, South State Street, Mt. Pleasant, is filled with pioneer histories and artifacts. The museum is open most afternoons but may be reserved by special arrangements by calling Judith Jackson, 435-462-3760; Judy Standlee, 435623-6633 or Randy Wootten, 702364-7059. For more information go to mt.pleasantpioneer.blogspot. com. The site is updated daily.

The Manti Aquatic Center, 50 West 500 North just east of Manti High School, is open Tuesday thru

Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and Mondays from noon to 8 p.m.

The replica pioneer dugout will be open for tours from 5 to 9 p.m., everyday during the Mormon Miracle Pageant. A volunteer will be on hand to give an oral history of the dugout’s use by early pioneers.

Granary Arts Center, located on Main Street in Ephraim, will also be open during pageant.

Snow College Activity Center, 350 East Center Street, Ephraim, has a variety of activities for the entire family. They offer an indoor swimming pool, racquetball courts, indoor tennis and volleyball courts, basketball, weight lifting and exercise room, indoor soccer, a climbing wall, and more. Hours are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Saturday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call (435) 283-7039 and for group

reservations (435) 283-7040.

Skyline Drive winds for over 100 miles along the very top of the Wasatch Plateau. At elevations ranging from about 9,000 to 11,000 feet above sea level, it is one of the highest roads in America. Palisade State Park offers a picturesque small lake, 18-hole golf course, camping and other facilities. The park is located one mile up the canyon from Sterling, which is about five miles south of Manti. For more details, call (435) 283-4653.

Skyline Mountain Resort Golf Course in Fairview has an 18-hole private golf course, open to the public with reservations. Call (435) 4279590. Maple Canyon is a popular area to camp, hike and rock-climb.

It is located in the Manti-La Sal National Forest west of Fountain Green. A developed campground in the canyon provides restrooms and

drinking water.

Palisade Lodge and Resort, Sterling, offers both guided rides and horse rentals for rides on easy trails near the resort. They also offer fourwheelers, paddle boat and canoe rentals. Call (435) 835-5413 for more information.

The ghost town of Clarion, located west of Gunnison, was a settlement of Jewish immigrants, founded in the fall of 1911. They tried to earn a living from the poor, rock-strewn soil with very little resources, and abandoned the site in November, 1915.

The entire town of Spring City is a National Register Historic District, making this an area you don’t want to miss. Spring City, originally known as Canal Creek, was settled

by James Allred in 1853. It is also the final resting place of Orson Hyde, an early apostle and figure in LDS Church history.

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Christ appears on American continent

Each year, the Mormon Miracle Pageant retells the account of the resurrected Jesus Christ visiting the people on the American continents. The dramatization includes Christ healing and teaching the people, as well as blessing the children, just as he did in Jerusalem.

11th Annual Fairview, Museum Car Show Free Admission

July 23, 2016

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Wednesday, June 15, 2016

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Music committee selects anthem soloists T h e Na t i o n a l A n t h e m is sung before each performance of the Mormon Miracle Pageant by soloists selected from many recordings sent into the music committee, headed by Barbara Barton.

The committee reviews each audition recording and selects nine talented soloists.

Sherri Boekweg will open the pageant by singing at the dress rehearsal Wednesday, June 15; Marylee Farnsworth, Thursday, June 16; Voice Male, Friday, June 17; and Kim Pratt, Saturday, June 20.

Madilyn Paige, Tuesday, June 21; Mary Kaye Knaphus, Wednesday, June 22; Shayla Osborn Beck, Thursday, June 23; Nathan Osmond, Friday, June 24 and Brian Stucki will sing the final night of the pageant, Saturday, June 25.

Sherri Boekweg

Sherri Boekweg was raised in a musical family, and she loves singing and writing music. She enjoys sharing music with others and especially e n joys p e rforming with her daughters. She has had many Boekweg opportunities to perform as a soloist for community events including, “The Messiah” at Snow College, Easter Musical Offering in Mt. Pleasant, as well as the Mormon Miracle Pageant.

She also enjoys musical theater and has performed the roles of Marian in “Music Man” and Grace in “Annie”.

Her favorite roles are those of wife, mother, and being grandma to her two adorable grandchildren. She and her husband, David, are the parents of four daughters and live in Mt. Pleasant.

Marylee Farnsworth

Marylee Farnsworth is a Utah native. She discovered her passion for music at a young age starting with piano and singing. She found that music was a great tool for healing and graduated with a bachFarnsworth elor’s degree in Music Therapy from Utah State University. As an active member of the LDS Church, Marylee has used her musical skills in many callings.

Marylee resides with her husband and three beautiful children in Saratoga Springs, where she has a music studio teaching piano, voice, and guitar.

PRESIDENCY From B2

years this service has continued. Most people thought it would be impossible to create such an event in a small community like Manti.

Then many said it will only

Mary Kaye Knaphus

Voice Male

Voice Male

Known as “Utah’s Favorite A Cappella group”, Voice Male has entertained audiences for over 20 years with their “a cappella awesomeness.” Voice Male is comprised of six unique individuals who somehow found each other over 18 years ago.

John Luthy came up with the Voice Male concept while singing with some of the guys in the Logan LDS Institute Choir.

Initially it took nine of them to cover all the parts, but a couple of years later they decided they no longer needed the nose flute player, the cowbell ringer, and the guy who claps, so they trimmed themselves down to just six.

Actually, some members had to move on and be grown-ups, so they decided to give it a go with just six. Over the years, they have had some pretty cool opportunities to sing in exotic locations (Sanpete County) and for some pretty great people (their moms).

Considering this is not their day job, they are lucky to pull together and accomplish anything at this point. They all graduated into careers ranging from Computer Networking (Nerd) to Real Estate to Law. When they are not working or singing, they are enjoying time with their supportive wives and children. The latest tally: 23 children who like to call each other Voice Male Cousins. As families grow, hair thins, and hips break, they hope to keep chuggin’ along.

As long as you’ll keep listening, they’ll keep singing.

Choir, and the All-State choir in Utah, and various choirs and ensembles in Texas. One tour included a performance in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. She also studied voice with soprano Norma Ashton.

Since high school, Kim has continued to share her vocal talents, singing in Florida, Texas, Utah, California, Washington, and Idaho.

Kim is also a fine pianist who, after only a few months of piano lesson, taught herself. She has accompanied high school choirs and played in various church callings, including choirs, congregational singing, and being the pianist in every primary she’s been in for more than 10 years.

She has taught both voice and piano lessons.

Kim’s greatest joy is being the mother of two adorable children. She is a financial services professional, who loves being in the great outdoors and loves running.

Madilyn Paige

Kim Pratt has been singing solos since she was six years old. When Disney’s The Little Mermaid was released in 1989, Kim could already imitate Ariel perfectly.

In high school, K im sang in multiple choirs, including A Capella, Show Pratt and Chamber

Madilyn Paige is a singersongwriter who has performed for audiences throughout the United States and Canada.

She was a Top-20 finalist on Season 6 of The Voice, and was also a contestant on the farewell season of American Idol.

Madilyn Paige won the “Next Big You Tuber” award at the 2015 CVX Live event, and is continuing to grow her YouTube channel. In addition to performing, she also travels and speaks to youth groups about the importance of having self-esteem, which is the message of her single “Irreplaceable.”

Madilyn put her EP out in 2015, and continues to write music that will uplift and inspire people. You can follow Madilyn at madilynpaige.com and on her social media channels.

last a few years, yet it grew and grew as more people gave of their time to serve in the Pageant.

Then came the announcement that the 25th year was to be the last year of the Mormon Miracle Pageant, but here we are twenty-five years later. The Pageant meets the definition of a miracle

because it can’t be explained by “natural or scientific law”.

Imagine 12,000+ chairs neatly in place in less than two hours! Imagine a cast of over 900 from this small community. It really defies logic. It is a miracle!

A big thanks to all who have served and contributed in countless capacities to make a

Kim Pratt

Main Street Quality Consignment Gallery 21 N Main-Manti (435) 835-1400 Paintings, Quilts, Jewelry, Glass, Pottery, Custom Dressmaking, Area Handmade Items & Deseret Book Products Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-6 pm We Accept Consignments!!

A multiple award winning entertainer, Mary Kaye tours extensively throughout the United States and Canada with her unique brand o f we s te r n music. She is a native born Texan and as a young woman ventured off Knaphus to Utah where she “married her a cowboy.”

Their family has deep western roots that go back six generations. Mary Kaye now resides in the small western town of Escalante, a 140- year old ranching community in southern Utah, where her large family is involved in horse training, cowboying, and all things western. She has been married to her husband, Brad, for 30 years, they have 10 children.

Mary Kaye recently released her forth solo studio western album, Ride A Wide Circle, to glowing reviews. Premiere western music critic Rick Huff declared it, “The best western album to be released in a decade.” It debuted at #1 on the Western Music Charts and the title track has been selected to receive a Wrangler Award from The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

In 2013 Mary Kaye was recognized as Female Performer and Songwriter of the Year by the Western Music Association, also as Best Solo Musician by True West Magazine, and received a Spur Award from the Western Writer’s of America for her Butch Cassidy tune, “Any Name Will Do.” Additionally, she won the 2012 Song of the Year award from the Western Music Association with cowboy poet Les Buffham for their song, “No Wilder Place;” a 2011 Will Rogers Award from The Academy of Western Artists’ for Best Western Female Performer, and was honored as the 2010 Female Vocalist of the Year by the Western Music Association.

Shayla Osborn Beck

Theater actress Shayla Osborn Beck studied musical dance theater at Brigham Young University, where she performed a s a Yo u n g Ambassador, touring China, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.

After BYU, Beck Shayla moved to New York City where she was cast as Ado Annie in the national tour of Oklahoma.

She has also starred as Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton) in 9 to 5 at both the Merry-Go-Round

dream come true for the many founding fathers and mothers of the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Are another fifty years possible? Time will tell.

Mormon Miracle Pageant Presidency

and North Shore Regional Theatres. She has also played roles such as Eve in Children of Eden, Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Frenchy in Grease, and Fantine in Les Miserables. Shayla also performed in six summer productions at Tuacahn Amphitheatre.

Most recently, Shayla toured in both the 1st and 2nd National Tours of the Broadway musical WICKED, performing in more than 700 shows as the understudy for Elphaba and Nessarose, and as a member of the ensemble.

Shayla remains active in the arts as a voice teacher and vocal coach. She resides in Salt Lake City with her husband, Mark, and son Truman.

Nathan Osmond

Nathan Osmond is making a name for himself in the Country Music world with four consecutive #1 hit singles on various Country charts.

He’s shared the stage with such names as Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, MarOsmond tina McBride, Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin and more.

He was recently nominated as “New Artist of the Year,” “Male Vocalist of the Year”and “Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year” by the New Music Awards in Los Angeles. His music videos are seen on CMT & GAC and his new single “Welcome To The Party“ is bound to be the hit song for parties around the world in 2016. He has plans to release a NEW album titled “Homeward Bound Heroes“ this year featuring duets with Country Music legends Collin Raye and Linda Davis. The project will benefit the Wounded In Action Family Foundation.Nathan is their national spokesperson.

Nathan is the second oldest of eight boys. He is the son of Suzanne Osmond and pop icon Alan Osmond, of the performing group, The Osmonds.

Nathan starred for two years in the North American tour of the hit broadway musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat“ and was even cast in the lead role of the North American tour of “You’re A Good Man Charlie

Brown.” He produced and starred in what was voted the #1 Family Show in Waikiki in 2011, “Pacific Swing Hawaii.”

He played Gordon B. Hinckley’s mission companion in the TC Christensen film, “Gordon B. Hinckley—A Giant Among Men.” He also starred in “Joseph“ and “Annie Get Your Gun“ at Tuacahn Center For The Arts in Ivins. He’s proud to say he was a contestant on The Price Is Right with Bob Barker!

On top of his musical talents, Osmond was also selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans of 2013 by the United States Junior Chamber (The JAYCEES) for his musical achievements and humanitarian efforts. He just won Music Video of the Year at the Filmed In Utah Awards, the first-ever Utah Music Award in the Country category and the first-ever John C. Maxwell Leadership Award 2014 and 2015 in the category of Arts and Entertainment.

The Utah County Veterans Services Organization just awarded him with the “Entertainer of the Year“ Award last year for all the work he does to help support the troops. He is a gifted public speaker and travels the globe helping both individuals and corporations to step into their greatness.

He is married to Sarah Eileen Osmond and they are the proud parents of four little boys, Zachary, Corbin, Samuel and Beckham.

Brian Stucki

Hailed as “superb” by the Boston Globe, tenor Brian Stucki continues to distinguish himself as an interpreter of o p e ra , o ra torio, and song. The Salt Lake Tribune recently p ra i s e d h i s performance of Nadir in The Stucki Pearl Fishers as “an ideal match of singer to role.” Recently he debuted with the San Francisco Symphony in Handel’s Messiah and Houston Symphony in Schumann’s rarely heard Pilgrimage of the Rose. Last season he sang the tenor solos for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s historic Easter weekend performances of Handel’s complete Messiah, and returned to Arizona Opera in the title role of Roméo et Juliette.

Easy Drive-up Window 500 W. Main • Mt. Pleasant • (435) 491-0343

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Pageant celebrates fifty years of ‘miracles’

T

he Mormon Miracle Pageant not only portrays many miracles, but is a miracle! I had an interesting experience a couple of years ago following a Pageant performance.

I was standing by a missionary booth when a man from the Midwest approached me. I guess I looked official wearing my suit with my name tag over my left breast. He asked me a simple yet profound question, “Do you believe all that was presented tonight in this performance? My reply was, “yes!” He said, “Do you mean to tell me you believe that God and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith as well as an angel?” “What about plates of gold?” Again my response was, “yes!” Tears started to appear in his eyes as he asked me yet another question, “Do you believe that I will see my wife again as depicted in the last scene of the pageant? She died and I have missed her so much.”

I assured this nonmember brother that all the miracles he had witnessed tonight were realities even though they seem very unusual.

The Oxford Dictionary defines a Miracle as: “A surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.” I went on to say that both the Old and New Testament are full of many miracles all of which can strengthen our faith. Many events described in holy writ can’t be explained by natural or scientific law.

Do miracles happen in our day? The Book of Mormon makes a powerful statement about miracles. Mormon 9:15 states, “And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.” Miracles have not ceased but continue to happen.

I concluded our brief conversation by giving him a Book of Mormon and told him that it was the physical evidence of the miracle of the restoration of the Gospel

Mormon Miracle Pageant Presidency includes (left to right): Denise Hagemeister, secretary; John Keeler, director; Doug Dyreng, first counselor; Mike Jorgensen, president; Ted Olson, second counselor; Milton Olsen, executive secretary; and Megan White, finance secretary. spoken of in the Pageant. I assured him that through the grace of Jesus Christ that all will be resurrected.

Maybe the resurrection is

the greatest of all miracles.

We are the benefactors of many miracles, so what is expected of us. The scriptures record a simple

request made by Jesus. He has said, “Come unto Me”.

That request, “Come Unto Me” is the theme of this year’s pageant. How can we KEY

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come unto Jesus? There are many ways to do this. One important way is to serve one another. The scriptures say that “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” For fifty years the people of the Sanpete Valley have come together to serve in

the Pageant. They have given freely of their time, talent, and other resources to make the Pageant enjoyable for those who come to view the miracles displayed on the Temple Hill. This service makes the Pageant happen each year.

Year after year for fifty PLEASE SEE PRESIDENCY, Page B3

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