It began simply as a Christmas effort to demonstrate to the community that Mormons are Christians, but the illumination of the Haines City Ward meetinghouse grounds in December with 135,000 colored lights (see Dec. 16 Church News) has been an unexpectedly successful missionary tool.

"The positive results of the effort are clear," Pres. G. Vern Albright of the Florida Tampa Mission wrote in a letter Jan. 5 to Bishop Kenny Friddle."Approximately 160,000 people had a positive contact with the Church by driving through the parking lot of the meetinghouse and being greeted by a ward member or full-time missionary before enjoying the lights. Currently, in four different wards in two stakes, there are 12 people being actively taught by the missionaries as a result of the lighting displayT.

"Over 600 copies of the Book of Mormon were placed personally with non-members. Approximately 5,000 copies of a tract called Behold the Man, which deals with prophecy and Jesus Christ and offers a free copy of the Book of Mormon, were distributed. Many people came inside the chapel and requested information about the Church."

When the lights were turned on Dec. 2, the scene immediately attracted the attention of motorists driving on three adjacent state highways at a rate of nearly 500 vehicles an hour, said John D. Burnett, ward public communications director.

Shirley Dicks, who, with her husband Leonas, coordinated the project, said it was originally planned that the public would simply drive through the grounds and enjoy the lights. But on the second night it was observed that members of another religion were handing out literature to motorists waiting in line to view the display.

To remove any confusion about who was sponsoring the display, a welcoming brochure was designed and printed by the following evening. It invited people to park, stroll around the grounds and come inside the meetinghouse. Burnett said 6,000 people accepted the invitation to come inside.

Haines City Mayor Owen Flowers presented Bishop Friddle and Sister Dicks with a plaque at the Dec. 21 city commission meeting. The plaque reads: "In appreciation for reflecting the true spirit of Christmas through a splendid lighting display." A local radio station broadcast the plaque presentation.

Acclamations from visitors included one from a travel agency executive who sent a $25 donation with the comment: "Your church grounds are beautiful. We have brought several bus loads of people to see it."

Burnett said that the night after Christmas, Bishop Friddle offered a meetinghouse tour to two women. One of them responded: "Oh, we had our tour last night. We came back to get your literature." Each was given a copy of the Book of Mormon.

The same evening, Elders Richard Gray and Layne Hilton taught the first and second discussions to a Frostproof, Fla., couple after the couple had completed a tour of the meetinghouse.