Pair of pageants, 58,000 join the fun
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And now behold, I ask of you . . . have you spiritually been born of God? Have you received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? — Alma 5:14.
OGDEN, Utah — It was a "mighty change of heart" that turned an ancient man named Alma from good to evil and, centuries later, prompted teenage Joseph Smith to seek wisdom through prayer.
Today, youth throughout the Church are also being challenged to be "spiritually born of God" and celebrate the life-altering blessings that follow such moving changes. By enlisting Alma's "mighty change" challenge as their theme, some 58,000 LDS youth from Utah's Davis and Weber Counties staged a pair of pageants of music and dance July 16 at Ogden's Dee Event Center on the Weber State University campus.
The Ogden event added a historic chapter to a developing tome of youth celebrations happening throughout the world to commemorate the Church's 175th anniversary and the bicentennial of Joseph Smith's birth.
"This is a wonderful day of celebration," said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve at the opening of the show. Elder Ballard thanked the many adults and young people who organized the event — then encouraged the thousands who escaped the July heat inside the sports arena to "have a good time, be cool, and do your very best."
A colorful procession of flags ushered in the program, accompanied by the unified voices of young people who asked, in song, "Shall the Youth of Zion Falter?" Musical numbers, dance routines and video clips from the lives of area youth examined the defining moments of life. Each of the thousands of performers communicated the excitement and joy of being a devout LDS youth.
A depiction of young Joseph Smith's first vision segued into a dance number commemorating the grit and testimony of the Mormon pioneers.
The pioneer spirit was evident in the video testimonials of prayerful young people who had overcome obstacles such as a personal illness, a loved one's death or a parent's divorce. Other video clips captured pivotal moments of young people's lives, such as deciding to study the scriptures and finding peace through service.
A tribute to the gospel's global movement was also offered by hundreds of costumed youth performing international folk dances from Germany, China, Greece, Mexico and the nations of Africa.
Young men and women spoke, via video clips, of defining moments from their own lives. One young man discovered the joy of daily scripture study while camping with friends. Another side-stepped the temptation to cheat in school. A patriarchal blessing brought comfort to a young woman. Others found peace in service.The audiences that filled the Dee Event Center became part of the cast — stomping their feet, shaking colorful glow sticks, performing the wave and belting out the words to "I Hope They Call Me On a Mission."
Musical tributes were given to Joseph Smith and his latter-day successors — concluding with President Gordon B. Hinckley. Indoor fireworks and song served as a finale to the event as thousands of young people filled the arena floor and stairways. Their message: Carry on.
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
