Joseph's legacy: Remembering the Prophet
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PROVO, Utah — The costumes were breath-taking.
No detail was overlooked — from bonnets to hats, to piping on dresses and embroidery on men's suits — the clothing worn by the 12 to 18-year-olds from Utah, Juab, and Wasatch counties helped retell the life of Joseph Smith and express their love for the gospel.
Their performances of song, drama and dance were captured on stage in the Marriott Center on the campus of Brigham Young University Aug. 6.
About 55,000 people attended a total of three performances to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith in: "A Generation of Promise: Remembering the Prophet Joseph Youth Spectacular."
In planning the celebration, the youth were asked to integrate Joseph's legacy with their faith.
As Emma Black composed the melody and lyrics for her guitar piece, "Please, Lord," she said her faith was deepened.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve said he was impressed with Provo's Youth Spectacular.
"They've all been terrific (throughout Utah), a great amount of youth participation," Elder Ballard said.
It's hoped that the celebrations will "fill the hearts of the youth with love for the Restoration, (to declare) it to the whole world," Elder Ballard said. "The world has to know what we know."
The performance opened with choir and orchestra music, while a large screen showed images of Church leaders, including President Gordon B. Hinckley during interviews with Larry King, as well as rank-and-file members distributing aid and cleaning up in the aftermath of natural disasters.
The youth used modern dance to tell the life of the Prophet.
A young man and a young woman portrayed in a ballroom dance the Prophet Joseph and his wife Emma. Highlighted by complicated lifts and turns, the dance depicted her love and support for him.
The crowd also responded exuberantly to Native American dance and song performed by members of the Alpine Utah North Stake.
A large group of young women in colorful flowing skirts decorated with ribbons and young men in black embroidered suits showed traditional dance from Jalisco, Mexico, and traditional Aztec choreography.
Another group of children formed large circles and danced polkas, dressed in traditional fare of a number of Eastern European countries.
Youth also performed in the Pacific Islander tradition — complete with young men dancing with fire — and an African-American "stepping up" dance.
As the performance concluded, children ran onto the stage holding flags representing countries around the world.
"It was amazing. It was incredible," said Holly Toolson, a spectator from Alpine, Utah.
