Show witness pageant A sign on an outdoor theater theater theater thea thea- ter south of Ephraim read See the Mormon Miracle Pageant Pageant Pageant In ManU Mantl Approximately 83 persons accepted this challenge according to President President President dent R R. R Clair Anderson of the Sanpete South Stake presidency President Anderson listed the following totals for the six nights that the pageant was presented Monday July 12 Tuesday July 13 1312 12 Wednesday July 14 13 Thursday July 15 Friday July 16 and Saturday July 17 Church officials attending the annual event were Spencer W. W Kimball acting president of the Council of Twelve Apostles Howard W W. W Hunter member of the Council of Twelve Sterling W. W sill Bernard P P. P Brockbank Theodore M. M Burton and Henry HenryD D D. D Taylor assist assistants to the Twelve Mark Gar Gaff Garff chairman of the tee Frank Gibbons secretary to the First Presidency and Grant Heath Don Lefevere Jerry Harvey and Frank Gale of the Church Information Service According to Mrs Russell Dorothy Gray buses were counted during the week This total was broken down to show that 24 had brought passengers to Manti ManU on Monday night 22 on Tuesday 17 on Wednesday 14 on Thursday 26 on Friday and 17 on Saturday There are probably hundreds of stories that could be told some little funny stories some faith promoting incidents some of courtesy on the highway and the dedicated work of the many men pressed into service to di direct direct dl- dl traffic and usher and there is a story of solid soUd support and cooperation not only within Sanpete Itself but from all of the surrounding area There is the story told by Dr Merrill L. L Wilson about how he became the arrow to cause the right sound when the sound recording was being made of the incident where Robert Henshaw was shot by bythe bythe bythe the Indians or the story of the child who anxious that things should go well knelt to ask Divine assistance that those who handled the changes of scenery might get them up in time or a little extra show of courtesy on the highway when cars were lined up between Ephraim Ephraim Ephraim Eph Eph- raim and ManU Mantl going at a snails snail's pace and one driver decided he could get his truck to ManU Mantl in the pit bar-pit only to come to a canal Instead of be being being being be- be ing stranded there as it looked like he might be a driver of another car waited and motioned motioned motioned mo mo- him onto the highway in front of him These are only a small In Indication indication indication in- in of some of the things that have happened here In connection con con- with the pageant presented presented presented pre pre- In Sanpete last week Those who have been leaders in the development of the pageant pageant pageant speak with grateful emotion emotion emotion emo emo- tion in their voices of the de devotion devotion devotion de- de love and zeal of the local people and of the solid support and cooperation of the areas adjoining Sanpete They didn't say Yes we have chairs come and get them they loaded them on trucks and brought them over was the comment Mrs Dorothy Dorothy Dorothy Doro Doro- thy Gray made as she talked of the widespread area that was Involved In the total It It Is Impossible to measure measure measure meas meas- ure the hours of labor and love and sharing that have gone into this wonderful production she stated She mentioned LeRoy Morr professional lighting ex expert expert expert ex- ex pert who took his vacation so that he could come to Manti Mantl and direct intricate lighting de tails President Anderson cited the efforts of Macksene Rux the director He noted that she spends over a month of her own time In Manti overseeing the annual pageant He concluded concluded concluded con con- that Mrs Rux considers her duties with a pageant as a mission to help see that the Lords Lord's work goes forward Numerous comments along with donations have been re received received received re- re by the stake presidency the stake seventies quorum and pageant officials Mr and Mrs G G. G Kenneth Handley of Salt Lake City were so impressed with the pageant which they saw on Saturday night that they expressed their appreciation with a letter of commendation and a check for Mrs Handley is a native of Manti Mantl and will be remembered remembered remembered as Ethel Lowry A number of other contributions contributions ranging from 1 to 50 were received Stake and pageant pageant pageant officials expressed their appreciation to all those who contributed funds to help the pageant develop and grow Hundreds of the comment sheets were filled In and left with pageant officials Many of them stated their feelings by saying that the pageant was Beautiful Wonderful a spiritual feast Marvelous Most outstanding great Fabulous Great I I wish everyone could see it Fantastic Fantastic Fantastic Fan Marvelous and Magnificent One non couple from Lubbock Texas recorded the Wow Vow their simple as com com- ment Other comments were as fol follows tol- tol lows It certainly was a spiritual experience The setting was so beautiful on Temple Hill I dont don't want to forget one single thing about this marvelous production and I want to thank all the talented tal talented talented tal- tal wonderful people who made It possible We HWe were so very Impressed with the pageant It was not anything that we expected but so much better The temple does make a beautiful backdrop Thank you for putting It on A very moving Intimate e experience Increases ones one's testimony of this great gospel Again thanks for a rich richand richand richand and delightful experience Thank you for an inspirational inspirational performance A U thing ng of beauty Is a joy forever We want you to know how fine we thought the pageant was A wonderful Job by all and we know the work that went Into it Bless you for It What a a. trem tremendous missionary work It was wonderful Saw It last year and have raved so that two bus loads from our ward are coming and about others Most of the complaints centered centered centered cen cen- around the fact that some seats were reserved for those coming on the buses that trees blocked their view of some of the scenes the pageant should be started on time and that the schedule of performances should be expanded to allow more persons to see the A review of the guest register register register reg reg- ister and comment sheets re reveal reveal reveal re- re veal the following facts Fourteen foreign countries were represented Germany Japan France South Africa Canada Chile Mexico Brazil Italy Australia England Norway Norway Norway Nor Nor- way and the Philippines Twenty-nine Twenty of the 50 states were represented Michigan Massachusetts Delaware West Virginia Vermont Nebraska Maryland Minnesota Georgia Oregon Montana New York Louisiana New Jersey Hawaii Alaska Texas Idaho Arizona Florida Colorado California Nevada Ohio Washington Iowa Wyoming and Utah Religions other than represented represented represented rep rep- resented were Roman Catholic Episcopalian Methodist Methodist Methodist Meth Meth- odist Lutheran Presbyterian Christian Church Protestant Baptist and Seventh Day Ad- Ad venUst There were some who noted that they did not belong to any religion Pres Anderson noted that not everyone signed the guest register or filled out a comment comment comment com com- ment slip sUp To conclude the pageant agenda agenda agenda agen agen- da a closing testimonial was held Sunday afternoon in the Manti ManU Center Ward The history of the Mormon Miracle was traced from Its humble beginning beginning beginning begin begin- ning one Sunday night five years ago to the present pageant which is becoming wide Church-wide in its scope Spoken tributes were given to the many who assisted with the production including Mrs Macksene Rux Francis Morgan and Helen Dyreng Mrs Jane Braithwaite Grace Johnson Johnson Johnson John John- son and Mrs Dorothy Gray In speaking of the future pageant pageant pageant Mr cautioned those present to think of the pageant only as it compared with It it- it self Written in the early he pointed out that the pageant is not in competition with other church productions but It must continue to Improve each year He urged participants to guard against divisive forces of pride lack of humility and and stated that the pageant can grow best with a spirit of unity The curtain has now been lowered on the pageant acU activities activities vi- vi ties for this year Pres An Anderson Anderson Anderson An- An derson noted He said that last year were present and this year made the trek to Temple Hill He noted that plans will begin immediately for forthe forthe forthe the 1972 presentation which will probably again show an Increased attendance |