| Show The pageant in retrospect 1 g witness 1972 pageant n Approximately persons persons persons per per- sons were present at the eight performances of The Mormon Miracle Pageant this year according according ac according ac- ac cording to R. R Clair Anderson 9 chairman of the pageants pageant's executive ex- ex executive ex committee Mr Anderson listed the fol follOwing fol- fol following lowing totals for the eight nights that the pageant was presented Friday July 14 Saturday Satur Satur- day July 15 Monday July 17 Tuesday July 1 18 Wednesday July 19 Thursday July 20 Friday July 21 and nd Saturday July 22 Church officials attendIng attend- attend lug Ing the annual event w were re PresIdent President Pres- Pres I Ident dent Lee three apos- apos tIes les Mark MarkE Petersen Thomas S. S Monson and LeGrand Richards Richards Rich Rich- ards ds S S. S DIlworth Young Bruce R. R McConkIe McConkle Loran Dunn and Ted Tuttle of the First Council Council Coun Coun- cil of Seventy Eldred GSmith G. G Smith patrIarch to the church Bishop f Robert L. L Simpson and Wendell J Ashton Representing the Church In- In Service were Grant Heath and Jerry Harvey Utah's chief executive Governor Gov Gov- Gover er r Calvin L L. L Rampton attended attended at- at tended the pageant on Friday evening July According to Mrs Russell Dorothy y Gray approximately j ws busses were counted during the we week This was broken down to show ow to that 58 came the first night 43 43 the second 30 on Monday Monday Mon- Mon day 40 on Tuesday 33 on Wednesday Wed Wed- ay 23 on Thursday 48 on Friday and 10 lo on Saturday There a 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 many men pressed Into service to direct traffic and usher I and there is a story of solid support and cooperation not only within Sanpete Itself buttrom but from all of the surrounding area The management of the huge volume of traffic converging upon Sanpete County brought a note of praise from almost ev everyone everyone ev- ev everyone attending the pageant One bus driver a bit skeptical skeptical skeptical cal of being sent south to Gunnison Gunnison Gun- Gun nison the first night remarked Saturday night that it only took him 15 minutes longer to get home than normal He said that the traffic management was fan fan- Members of the Sanpete County Sheriffs Sheriff's Search and Rescue Patrol under the direction di direction dl- dl of Sheriff Grant K Larsen Larsen Larsen Lar- Lar sen Deputy Jim Allred and the Utah Highway Patrol kept the flow ow of traffic moving The 31 members of the group spent the equivalent of days time or a total of hours In the traffic project When It came to obtaining chairs for the pageant many areas were quick to respond to the appeal of Elliott R. R BraIthwaite Braithwaite BraIth- BraIth waite walte and sent chairs They came from all allover over Sanpete County from Sevier Juab and Utah Counties Small towns like Mona and did their share as did the big guys like Uke Brigham Young University Mr Braithwaite also thanked those who spent so many hours putting up the chairs policing them each morning to be sure that the grounds were kept clean and for those who removed the chairs following the pageant He also cited the good work of Bob Stoddard and his crew of ushers for handling the huge crowds each night Numerous comments along with donations have been received re received received re- re by Mr Anderson the Sanpete South Stake Presidency and the stake seventies quor quor- um Margaret W. W Bosch of Provo wrote the pageant committee and said that the setting was magnificent even the thunder thunder thunder thun thun- der lightning and rain helped to set the stage and when the moon and stars came out even the breeze warmed us She noted that the beautiful temple has never seemed more celestial The remainder of her letter read The story was superb superb null said The sound effects and music were moving and Inspiring The scenery was worthy of the best Hollywood extravaganza and each one was good but the visitation of ot Moroni to the boy Joseph In the bedroom was breathtaking The costuming was outstanding both ing-both ing both In color and scheme You made for me and countless countless count count- countless less others the Book of Mormon Mormon Mormon Mor Mor- mon a living vital thing and filled my soul with gratitude and the renewed conviction that I will be more worthy of myrich my myrIch myrich rich heritage Thank you is not adequate adequate- Its It's all I have but let me assure you my children and andI I will never forget what we saw and heard and we Intend to make the pageant an annual event and we will share this experIence experience experience with all our friends I have a testimony of the divinity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ It is my most cherished possession Im I'm truly and humbly humbly hum hum- humbly bly grateful for people like you every everyone one of you Involved In this for helping me to know that testimony Is true for adding to It Louise J. J Leavitt of Price expressed her appreciation to everyone connected with the Continued on page two Nearly jam temple hill during 8 days of the pageant Continued from page one pageant for the beautiful pro pro- Imagine seats provided for hundreds of people and each with witha a perfect view Safety officers assigned to guard the street crossings and a very necessary and important sanitary thing were the clean lavatories Manti Mantl must feel very proud to have brought so much pleasure pleas pleas- ure to so many You have some town and county W. W Cleon noted that this is one of the most beautiful beautiful beautiful beau beau- pageants I have seen The script flows there is no loss of continuity It Is certainly professionally and extremely well done All who have had any part in this all in this stake and area are to be congratulated congratulated congratulated con con- on a great tion lion Elder LeGrand Richards noted no noted noted no- no ted that the pageant was magnificent magnificent magnificent magni magni- and the story was true President Harold B B. B Lee commented that the pageant was very Impressive and was happy that he had been invited to at at- at tend Elder Mark E. E Petersen of the Council of Twelve wrote a aletter aletter aletter letter to President and Mrs Wilbur W W. W Cox in which he said that both he and his wife were thrilled with the pageant and thought It was certainly magnificent We eWe surely congratulate congratulate congratulate con con- all concerned It was the work we know of a great many people and It now has become a tradition and a community community community com com- project there in your area We hope that It will continue continue con con- to grow the Petersen concluded President Cox also received a note from Mr and Mrs Wendell J. J Ashton In wl which ch they noted that they saw the pageant for the first time and were genuinely thrilled with what they saw He noted that the production was professional all the way inspiring and the script contained some great lines We e have some idea of the planning work skill and dedication dedication dedication dedi dedi- cation which have gone into this effort not only this year but since the pageants pageant's beginning beginning beginning begin begin- ning the Ashton said They extended their commendation commendation commendation dation to people of Sanpete for their work on the pageant Elder S. S Dilworth Young noted no noted noted no- no ted that there was a special spirit surrounding this pageant Many letters have been re re- re Some of the comments expressed were Thank you for the pageant and for your concern and hos hos- The pageant far exceeded ex exceeded exceeded ex- ex our expectations expectation and you are all to be congratulated on such a professional and finished production We all Join In thanking you again for a memorable memorable memorable mem mem- and a treasured We tWe still cant can't believe the beautiful weekend sharing first hand In the experiences of the pageant the good seat at the pageant the breathtaking Inspirational pageant pageant pageant with its beauty truth story and heartfelt message The various varIous various var var- ious scenes on the stage the eternal glow of the temple Inthe in inthe inthe the dark well there just arent aren't words Well We'll always re remember remember remember re- re member with heartfelt pleasure and appreciation our visit t there There are so many who owe you so much for your contribution In making the Mormon Miracle Miracle Miracle Mir Mir- acle a Manti Miracle Attending Wednesday night In Inthe Inthe inthe the storm after atter some threatening lightening and thunder thunder thun thun- der the clouds separated some went north some south but behold the sk sky above the pageant pageant pageant was clear and full of stars Having done lone my bit In Informer Informer informer former years In drama and pageantry I was Impressed with the presentation It was so well done I wept when the lights came on the temple as a finale Most of the 50 states of the Union were pie at the pageant There were even visitors from Hawaii present present pres pre ent at the annual event Foreign countries represented represent represent- ed were France Samoa India Tonga Australia Australla South Africa Germany Mexico Korea and others One non member a Roman Catholic from Paris France made the comment I 1 think I would like your church Mr Anderson concluded that it would be impossible to thank than everyone for their part in the pageant but that everyone the ladies ladies' guild the traffic management crowd management management management manage manage- ment the actors directors scenery crews lighting and sound makeup personnel personnel per per- and all committee members members mem mem- bers hers Joined forces to assure the success of the annual event |
