Thousands across world offer 'praise to the man'
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The opportunity to listen to a prophet's voice testifying of the Prophet of the Restoration drew a congregation of more than 20,000 to the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Dec. 23.
Hundreds of thousands more joined in the "Joseph Smith Commemorative Program on the 200th anniversary of his birth" via satellite broadcast to 161 countries and by Internet worldwide with the proceedings translated into 81 languages.
President Gordon B. Hinckley presided over the celebration on Joseph Smith's birthday from the Prophet's birthplace in southern Vermont. At the Conference Center were his counselors, President Thomas S. Monson and President James E. Faust, sitting with President Hinckley's chair empty between them. Joining them were 11 members of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder M. Russell Ballard being with President Hinckley in Vermont.
While the birthplace was snowy and cold as seen via broadcast on the Conference Center video screens, those attending in Salt Lake City had just enjoyed a springlike day more reminiscent of the time of Joseph Smith's First Vision.
Though taking place in locations 2,000 miles apart, the commemoration in the Conference Center was technically magnificent. The audiovisual quality was such that the only evidence that President Hinckley and Elder Ballard were speaking in Vermont was their video image from the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial Visitors Center and the vacant podium in the Conference Center as they spoke.
The music of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, under the direction of Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg, was inspiring. It ranged from the gentle, sweet strains of "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" to the power of the closing medley of "High on the Mountain Top," "The Morning Breaks" and "The Spirit of God." Other musical selections suited to the celebration were "The Seer, Joseph, the Seer," with tenor soloist George Dyer, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," "Ode for Joseph" and "Praise to the Man."
After President Hinckley's opening remarks, the choir and congregation joined in singing "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet."
The invocation was offered by President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve. Uriah A. Kennedy, a fourth-great-grandson of Joseph Smith, delivered the benediction.
While the Conference Center stage was still dominated by the Christmas setting of The First Presidency Christmas Devotional and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, the village church, cottage and flocked evergreens hinted of Joseph Smith's Vermont. A prominent statue of the Prophet on the stage was a constant reminder of the purpose of the evening.
E-mail to: ghill@desnews.com
