We brought our youngest two children to see the Pageant for the first time. It had been four years since our older children had been here and some didn’t remember the experience too well. Tristan was just 3 years old at the time. Once we parked the car, made our way through all of the anti-Mormons shouting at us as we crossed the road; we got to the church grounds hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing over the speakers and felt a wonderful warm spirit. It is fun to be part of such a large and wonderful crowd. Rick ran into an old friend from Eastman while attending the event. We always run into someone we haven’t seen in ages when we attend the Pageant.
Here we sit on blankets at the side of Cumorah to await darkness. It’s sort of a party for us as we picnic, visit and partake of the spirit. This is the actual hill where the gold plates were hidden by Moroni and the location of the final battle of the Nephites and Lamanites. The stage for the Pageant is the whole side of the hill. It’s an incredible and powerful experience.
Here is a shot of the statue of the Angel Moroni at the top of the hill. We will have to climb the hill again on another visit when the area is not so full of people.
There are 13 of us here tonight picnicing with sub sandwiches, carrots, chips, pickles, watermelon…
and soda… a real treat for my kids who are generally very happy with milk and water.
I did not see any long lost friends tonight but Sunday I ran into my friend’s “little” brother who was friends with my “little” brother and we got a chance to talk, saw a girl who was in my ward 28 years ago in Michigan and I sat in the same congregation as Donny Osmond for Sacrament Meeting. I think I filled my quota on that day instead.
This boy is happy to be on the blanket with a cup of milk… he crawls around a bit but likes to stay close by.
Nathan and Tristan love being brothers.
Nathan kept sharing his cookies but finally kept one for himself.
Here are some of the cast members who came around to greet us. Some others gave us a program. Kaitlyn was very much looking forward to seeing Jesus. She wanted to know if she would have a chance to talk to Him. She told one of the cast members that she wants to see Jesus and talk to Him. It is very sweet to hear the innocence and faithfulness in her voice as she discusses Jesus with me on a regular basis. She always asks me when he’s coming.
My camera does not take a decent photo of anything that far away in darkness but this is the beginning scene with all of the cast members gathered on stage gathered under the angels blowing their horns to proclaim the Pageant’s message to the world. Kaitlyn stayed awake for the whole thing especially to see Jesus and all of us just loved seeing the story of the Book of Mormon depicted in such a special place.
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