Concert lures youth
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What might Brigham Young have thought had he been able to see through the eyes of his monument at This Is The Place Heritage Park Saturday evening, July 10?
Spread out before him would have been 9,000 youth sitting on blankets and camp chairs, enjoying a concert performed just for them by popular LDS musicians.
The Temple Square Performances Outdoor Summer Youth Concert followed the theme "Bring Them In." The setting was appropriate. The outdoor stage was located immediately in front of This Is The Place Monument with the mountains on each side of Emigration Canyon soaring in the background.
The theme came from the talk President Young gave during the October 1856 general conference when he called upon Church members to go out to the high plains of Wyoming and bring in the weary survivors of the Martin and Willey handcart companies who had been caught in a severe, early winter storm.
Dean R. Burgess, first counselor in the Young Men general presidency, formally opened the concert saying, "In 1847, 157 years ago, Brigham Young entered this valley with families and with youth, and he declared, 'This is the (right) place.' Tonight as youth leaders, we know that this is the place for all you fine youth."
Elaine Dalton, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, added, "For 60 years, (the pioneers) came right down this canyon, many of them young men and young women, the same ages as you. And when they got to this spot right here, they cheered because they had achieved their goal. Tonight we cheer for you because many of you are also achieving your goal to live the gospel and follow the prophet. We celebrate righteous youth tonight."
It was a night of upbeat entertainment for the youth, with adults sprinkled among them, as they listened to some of their favorite LDS artists. A surprise, unbilled performer was popular Brazilian soprano Liriel Domiciano who willingly accommodated a crowd of autograph seekers after she sang. Another featured appearance was made by the group Colors — Russ Dixon, Brian Tibbets and Ryan Merrill — performing together for the first time since the group retired a year-and-a-half ago.
Opening the show was pianist Jon Schmidt, followed by singers Nancy Hanson and Peter Breinholt. Katie Davis dazzled on the violin and Cori Connors provided pre-show music.
As the concert concluded and the audience sang along to Sister Hanson's "Bring Them In," Brother Breinholt urged the youth, "As you make your way back to your homes and your regular life, look at the stranger on the street and the people that you care about, and bring them in. Bring them into your lives, and bring them into your heart. That's the very core of what we believe in."
The youth were filled with cheer throughout the entertainment, which lasted about two hours on a warm, calm, partly cloudy evening. They listened, sang along and enjoyed each other's company in the informal setting on the grassy field in front of the stage.
Summing up what could be the first of similar annual events, David T. Warner said, "There was a great sense of unity and strength among the youth who participated." The director of the Church's Music and Cultural Arts Division continued, "As with multistake dance festivals and other cultural events in the past, youth and parents not only had a good time together; they came away grateful to be part of a Church that encourages such wholesome activities."
Brother Warner noted that other Temple Square Performances events for youth are publicized on the Internet: www.lds.org/events. Coming up on August 10 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle is a youth fireside featuring musician and former Utah Jazz basketball player Thurl Bailey.
E-mail to: ghill@desnews.com
