| OCR Text |
Show Inspired Pageant traces its history back to a simple lecture tour When the Lord gives you an idea, you have a responsibility to do something about it. This observation by Pageant author Grace Johnson brought a simple lecture-tou- r story to become the largest open air pageant in the United States. The Mormon Miracle Pageant, like the LDS Church, originated in New England. The Pageant had its beginning when Miss Johnson, an Ephraim, Utah native, was asked to present a lecture tour to Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs throughout New England and decided to tell the story of the Mormons. After her lecture series, Miss Johnson thought that would be the end of the Mormon Miracle, but in 1947 when the statewide celebration marking the centennial of the coming of the pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley was being planned, she was asked to again present her lecture in the Salt Lake Tabernacle as part of the centennial observance. ing cast of narrators, and a 75-voi- ce choir, accompanied by the spoken text. multiplied by hundreds of persons In Miss Johnsons native who had to be there, filling their Sanpete County, local groups were roles at the appropriate times. looking for a special observance Eventually, the Pageant of the pioneer ancestry of their moved across the street, or more communities in connection with precisely, onto it. To accommothe statewide annual July 24th cel- date the increasing number of ebration, and decided upon the viewers, bleachers were set up on Mormon Miracle. the pavement of First East and the In 1967, the Pageants beginPageant was performed at the base nings gave little indication of de- of Temple Hill. In 1969, Francis Urry and veloping into the monumental which now Rux narrated the perMacksene spectacle sweeps across the Manti Temple Hill for formance. The following year, the eight nights each summer. Pageant entered the age of elecThe first year the Mormon tronics, with a professional-qualit- y Miracle Pageant was presented, it sound track produced through attracted 2,000 persons for its the Brigham Young University performance something of Sound Services and Lighting Dean achievement, since many mem- partment. The new track featured bers of the community from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Manti, Ephraim and Sterling were the Mormon Youth Symphony either in the cast, the and Chorus. The sound track was choir or the string orches- produced in the studios of tra. Bonneville International in Salt The first nights performance in 967 turned out to be even more of a miracle before the night ended. As time for the opening drew near, clouds rolled across the Sanpete Valley, blocking out the setting sun and the appearing moon and stars. Thunder rumbled A Manti Temple president and lightning flashed, and the foresaw by sev eral vears the prowind rose. Rain began to fall, and duction of the Mormon Miracle it appeared the performance would Pageant which has come to be an be literally mired down before it annual event on the south slope of even got underway, the temple hill and has earned the When the invocation was of- title of the d outfered, however, the rain ceased door pageant in the United States. and was held in abeyance until the In the summer of 1956, Glen ended. A. Nelson, a local w orkman, along performance Practically on cue with the end of the Pageants with a friend, Billy Duncan, was final scene, rain again began to fall engaged in hauling rock to create in torrents. a parking lot on the south slope of the temple. According to local For the first three years performances, the personal touch was sources, Mr. Nelson was a the keynote. A chorus and orchesstraightforward individual who was not afraid to speak out. Altra were recruited from the popu' lace, in addition to the cast and all though he had accepted the job of the production personnel. In those working on the excav ation.he felt the action was tantamount to desecration of the temple hill, and . when the opportunity afforded, he confided his feelings to the temple one-nig- ht - 300-voi- ce 50-pie- ce The Mormon Miracle was subsequently sponsored for a tour of stakes of The Church of Jesus Saints in Caliof Latter-da- y fornia, Washington, Oregon, Christ Idaho, Nevada and Utah. This tour concluded with the presentation of the Mormon Miracle in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Shortly after that, the script for the Mormon Miracle was published by Deseret Book Co. Many church groups used it as the basis for programs throughout the world. On May 12, 1964, Brigham , Young University presented the Mormon Miracle at the LDS Institute of Religion in Salt Lake City. This time, there was a speak Coming Soon. largest-attende- . president. In a later, witnessed letter, Mr. Nelson recalled the cir- cumstances of that conversation: In the summer of 1956, was working for the Oakland Construction Company with my large dump truck engaged in making the south parking lot at the Manti Temple Hill. I would park my truck and the huge machinery would load it. I would always stand away from my truck while it w as being loaded. This gave me the opportunity for a few minutes chatting with President L. R. Anderson, who was president of the temple at that time. He would come out from time to time to see how the work was progressing. One day as we stood on the 1 i iA.,i rooms (75 are suitesjetted tub rooms Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast Outdoor hot tub Meeting room facilities available 58 spacious 2 bridal - non-smokin- g) - Opening August 1997 450 S. Main, Ephraim (801) 283-456- 6 ft !l r. Lake City, greatly improving the audiences ability to hear every word of the performance, despite the steadily increasing number of attenders. Today, 10,000 chairs line the grassy lawn of the Temple where once a cornfield stood. Much of the Pageant takes place on the highest slopes of the Temple Hill, with nothing to mar the view, even on nights when the viewing audience is in excess of 30,000 persons. This year's performances will run June 19, 20,21 and June 24 through 28, 1 south rim of the hill I told him I didnt like what we were doing as we would haul the huge rock ex- cavated over the hill. President V. - - y . " w A y, . . , 1997. There are no performances on Sunday or Monday nights. Seating for about 10,000 is available on folding chairs already in place with plenty of overflow space provided for those who prefer law n chairs or blankets. Wraps are advisable, as the evenings are generally cool. Former Temple President foresaw beginnings of Mormon Miracle Pageant 1 Following that, the script was used for a baccalaureate service at the Church College of Hawaii. days the production had all the tensions of a live radio broadcast, Anderson put his arm around me, and waving his other hand back and forth, he said: Brother Nelson, some day this w ill be the most beautiful spot of the entire temple hill. And now I am going to tell you something that you cannot at this time comprehend, and I dont know w hat it is that is going to happen. You will live to see it; but I will not; but there will be thousands of people come to this hillside. He repeated, I will not see it, but you will. It ran through my mind at that time that it must be the gath- ering of the ten tribes or some such event during the' millennium, or some far-otime, but now ff i 1 jT Y 1 H ii ? 4 Tt J .3 Manti Temple stands 10,000 chairs set up as a sentinel over the approximately for pageant seating. Manti Temple now open for endowments The historic Manti Temple w ill tours open to the public ended, the be open for endowment sessions Temple was over on all days of the Mormon Miracle three days of ceremony. Pageant. Missionary services were estabThe Temple, which was re- lished in 1925 with the construcdedicated June, 1985 following tion of the Visitors Center at the several years spent carefully re- foot of the Temple Hill. Later, in storing and updating its facilities, 1967, a new visitors center was utilizes the traditional live endowbuilt at the top of the hill, but this ment ceremony, as opposed to the building is no longer used for that filmed presentation used in many purpose. Visitors are once again newer temples. welcomed at the foot of the hill in the 1925 building. The Manti Temple was first The Manti Temple was the fifth dedicated in 1888. Public and pritemple to be completed in the vate dedication ceremonies were Churchs history and the third held at that time, because some of since the Church headquarters the participants in the secret dedi- were moved to Utah in 1947. The cations services were wanted by in was 1877 and temple begun federal officials on charges of in 1888. completed Completed practicing plural marriage. earlier than 1888 were temples in June 1985 saw a steady stream St. George and Logan. The Salt of prominent leaders of the LDS Lake City Temple, begun in 853, Church and their families and was completed and dedicated afmany visitors, w ho came to see the ter 40 years of construction, in temple after its renovation. After 1893. 1 Endowment Session Schedule Tuesday - Friday Saturday . 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:30 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 a.m. p.m. p.m. a.m. p.m. No evening sessions will be held during Pageant Times listed are the times sessions begin. Names are issued one-ha- lf hour prior to each session starting time. I know he envisioned the Mormon Miracle Pageant. which his own son, R. Clair Anderson, was instrumental in starting w hich sees over a hundred thousand yearly come to the spot L. R. Anderson was talking about. The letter was signed by Mr. Nelson and presented to LDS Church officials. Many people have stories or recollections like this which they have repeated to family members, observed Mrs. Jane Braithwaite, a granddaughter of President Anderson, but so few actually take the time to write these things down and to even have them witnessed. How fortunate we are that Mr. Nelson took this action before he passed away, and left posterity this record. Mr. Our Best Wishes to the Mormon Miracle Pageant and all its guests! Serving your banking needs. 92 Years of Service From 1905 to 1997 Duncan, who was dead, too, and this memory might have died away if (Mr. Nelson) hadn't taken the time to preserv e vv ith him, is now it. fd:g UTAH! The Peacemaker Saga June 20 - Sep 1 1 f; 41 tif 1 -8- UTAH 00-SHOW . ( . V" . .. 11 Page Special Mormon Miracle Pageant Supplement .V L uMi. |
