14,000 youth celebrate temples
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Cultural events scheduled May 29 and 30 for members of the new Draper and Oquirrh Mountain temple districts are more than just celebrations. They are a way to direct the focus of the youth to the temple, said Elder Ronald A. Rasband.
"Our hope is that the youth will have a vision of what they can be in their life: temple-going, temple-married, temple-endowed — a life that is centered on the temple of the Lord," said Elder Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy and chairman of the event.
More than 14,000 youth from 51 stakes will participate in "Come Up to the Mountain of the Lord" cultural celebrations commemorating the dedication of the Draper Utah and Oquirrh Mountain Utah temples.
Each event — the first scheduled May 29 for the Draper temple district and the second scheduled for May 30 for the Oquirrh Mountain temple district — is meant to be a celebration of local history through music and dance.
The Draper Utah Temple was dedicated March 20-22, 2009, in 12 sessions by President Thomas S. Monson. The Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple will be dedicated Aug. 21-23 in nine sessions.
"For years the First Presidency has authorized a temple cultural celebration with a temple dedication," said Elder Rasband. "It gives the youth of the temple district, in particular, a special opportunity to celebrate the dedication of the temple. Many months ago the First Presidency authorized a temple celebration for these two temples."
Although traditionally temple youth cultural celebrations are held the evening before the dedication, the celebration for these temples was scheduled between the two to accommodate both districts. Music, sets and the story line for each production is identical. But each production will also be unique as costumes were made and individual dance numbers were choreographed by local stakes, said Dennis L. Crockett, coordinating chairman of the celebrations.
The goal for both nights is the same, said Elder Rasband: to give the youth "a vision for the temple, to allow them to have an experience that will be a life-changing experience, to orient them to a life where they have an interest in going to the temple."
The production builds through history, fun and music to a final scene which is focused on the temple, said Elder Rasband. The hope is that every youth who participates will "want to be married and sealed in the temple of the Lord."
The focus really isn't about the show, which retraces the rich legacy of Utah, Brother Crockett said. "This is about the journey of the youth towards the Savior....
"Rehearsing dance steps is good, but what we hope is that they have cemented their testimony or begun a journey that will take them closer to their Savior and the temple."
Brother Crockett said the Church cannot produce large celebrations such as these often. "They are too big," he said. However, he added, there is power "in being in a place like the Conference Center with so many kids that believe like you believe."
He said to help the youth have a great experience, the committee chose "participation over polish."
The celebration, he said, "is about the journey of the youth towards the Savior."
Terry Crockett, who has worked with her husband on the production, said the production will impact lives. "I feel that in their lives they are going to say 'before the celebration' and 'after the celebration' because it is going to make such a difference."
