I drove to the Pageant with my YSA group, and we marked off some chairs. I had the great opportunity of meeting up with some friends who were in the Pageant: Tiffany Clarkstone and Garrett Hawkins. The size of the stage for the Pageant is so immense, and all the costume actors know all their parts spectacularly well. It was so unreal to be in an atmosphere where so many people believed the same thing were gathered together. I have gotten a lot of slack over the months for the decision that I have made, in joining this church, and it was great to be around people who have also understood the truth.
Since we got to Pageant wicked early, we did a little bit of sight seeing in the area. We were able to go to the bookstore, where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were published. Outside of the bookstore, I saw my first set of protesters. It really saddened me to see them. They do not understand the awesome message that the Book of Mormon gives, and how everything in it, the prophets and all, sincerely point to Christ. I mean, Christ told his disciples in the New Testament that He has other sheep to visit that they know not of. These other sheep definitely included the people who lived previously in the Americas. It was really interesting learning of how the book got published and all the steps that it took.
Fast forward to the evening: from 7 to 9pm the cast came out and shared the message of Truth and Restoration to those in the audience. It was very humbling to have the actors who would portray Nephi (from 1 Nephi) and Alma come to my group and share a message with me. They challenged me to think of a name of a person who could benefit from the message of the Restored Gospel, and I actually came up with one! Being surrounded by so many LDS people (700 in the cast, and many thousands watching that evening), gave me a snippet of what Heaven will be like. The Spirit was so strong there. I have experienced spiritual moments before, even before joining the Church. However, this was one of the times where the Spirit was so palpable for such an extended period of time. It gives a better understanding of how the Holy Ghost witnesses of the truth in all things, and the Holy Ghost was so evidently witnessing of all the truth that was being portrayed. It was like basking in a glorious light, with a perpetual sense of peace and calmness. So amazing, so inspiring!
The Pageant itself tells 10 stories from the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The first scene deals with the Prophet Lehi, and his warning the people in Jerusalem to turn from their sins and repent, or Jerusalem would be destroyed. The people reject him, and Lehi takes his family from that area.
The people in Jerusalem
The second scene deals with the visions of Jesus Christ. Lehi and Nephi (his son) get visions from God dealing with Jesus Christ, and what will happen to the Savior of the world.
Lehi's vision of the tree.
Nephi's vision of the birth of Jesus.
Nephi's vision with Jesus getting baptized.
Nephi's vision with Jesus ordaining his 12 Apostles.
The third scene deals with Nephi and others building a ship that will be sailed to travel to the Americas. The Lord directs him to do so, and Nephi gets some persecution from his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, in the process.
Nephi building the ship.
Nephi tells his brothers to touch him not or they will become like unto a dried reed.
Scene four is the voyage to ancient America. Lehi's family begin sinning, and Nephi tries to correct them. Laman and Lemuel with some others don't like this, and they tie him to the mast of the ship. A terrible storm occurs, and it is only through repentance to God that they are saved. Once in the Americas, Nephi begins to write of his history on golden plates, that will be passed down through the generations. After a while, a fraction occurs, and those that follow God through Nephi are called the Nephites, and those that ignore God are called the Lamanites.
The families on the ship to the Americas.
Nephi recording the history on the plates.
The Nephites (bottom) and Lamanites (top) did battle much.
Fifth scene deals with the burning of Abinadi. Many hundred years have passed, and the Nephites have become wicked. Abinadi, a prophet, preaches repentance and faith in Jesus Christ who is to come. The people don't believe him, and the evil King Noah have him burned. Alma does believe the prophet, and leaves the service of the king to follow after God.
Abindai preaching faith in Christ alone.
Abinadi's death.
Alma preaching.
Scene six deals with Alma's ministry in the wilderness. He teaches the people the correct doctrine, baptizes people. King Noah gets captured and is burned alive, as Abinadi had prophesied.
Alma baptizing.
King Noah burned alive.
Scene seven deals with the prophecy by Samuel, a righteous Lamanite, about the birth and death of Jesus Christ, and various signs that will be present during that time in the Americas. When Christ is born, there will be no darkness, and when Christ dies, there will be great destruction followed by 3 days of darkness. People don't believe the signs, and about 5 years later, the night sky is lit up by a new star.
Samuel, having things thrown at him, while he prophesies on a wall.
The eighth scene deals with Christ's crucifixion, the darkness that overshadows the land in the Americas for 3 days, and then Christ's ministry among the Nephites and Lamanites. After Christ ministers, organizes His Church, ordains Apostles, heals the sick, and many other miracles, He ascends back to His Father in Heaven.
Christ's condescension to the ancient Americans.
Christ ordaining His Apostles.
Christ with the little children.
The ninth scene deals with how the Nephites and Lamanites split once more after many years of peace. Most people reject the message of Jesus Christ. The prophet Mormon writes some of the history onto golden plates and gives them to his son, Moroni. Moroni then deposits the plates in a stone box at the Hill Cumorah.
Moroni receiving the plates from Mormon.
Moroni with the golden plates.
The tenth and final scene deals with the restoration of the Church. In September 1823, near Palmyra, NY, a young man named Joseph Smith prays in a grove of trees about what church to join. He is told not to join any, in a vision where he sees Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Four years later, Joseph Smith receives the plates from the Hill Cumorah as directed by the angel Moroni. Joseph Smith translates the plates, and publishes it as the Book of Mormon. Now the Book of Mormon goes forth throughout the world.
Joseph Smith receiving the golden plates.
Joseph Smith with a copy of the printed Book of Mormon.
I learned a lot out in Palmyra. I learned that I am part of a larger group of believers than I thought possible, and that I can get strength from knowing the truth of it all. I learned that the Spirit definitely manifests the truth of all things taught, and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I learned that nobody can change my mind on that fact, and that I am even more convinced of its truthfulness day by day. And that we should share this message with all those around us. Go to Palmyra, if you get a chance, you will definitely be blessed!
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