Draper Temple Youth Celebration: Come to 'Mountain of the Lord'
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(Click here for a photo gallery of Saturday night's Oquirrh Temple Youth Celebration)
Thousands of teens clad in bright costumes and waving colorful flags retraced the rich legacy of Utah through song and dance May 29.
Nearly 7,000 youth participated in "Come Up To the Mountain of the Lord," the Draper Temple Youth Celebration held in the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City.
"May I assure each of you that any effort you put forth will be rewarded many times over," President Thomas S. Monson said at the beginning of the event. He then promised the youth that "tonight will be a night you will never forget."
He told the young people it was thrilling to see them. "What a wonderful sight you are," he said.
The youth were gathered together, he said, because the "magnificent newly dedicated Draper temple shines as a beacon of righteousness to all who will follow its light."
The cultural event, staged by teens from 25 stakes in the southeast end of the Salt Lake Valley, commemorated the March dedication of the Draper Utah Temple.
A second celebration will be held May 30 featuring an additional 7,000 youth from 26 stakes in the southwest end of the valley in honor of the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, which will be dedicated Aug. 21-23.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband, chairman of both cultural events, said the programs were intended to be more than just productions. They are an opportunity for Latter-day Saint youth to focus on the temple, he said.
"For years the First Presidency has authorized a temple cultural celebration with a temple dedication," said Elder Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy. "It gives the youth of the temple district, in particular, a special opportunity to celebrate the dedication of the temple."
Although traditionally temple youth cultural celebrations are held the evening before a temple dedication, the celebrations for these temples were scheduled in between the two dedications to accommodate both districts.
Music, sets and the story line for the productions are identical. But each has unique costumes and choreography, said Dennis L. Crockett, coordinating chairman of the celebrations.
Cessilee Smart, 17, of Draper, Utah, said she knows she will look back as an adult and be happy she participated in the event. "Not very many people get the opportunity to celebrate a temple being built," she said.
Sam Hunter, 17, of Sandy, Utah, said he participated in the celebration as a member of the stage crew because his church leaders asked him to. But, he added, the effort was worth it.
Rachel Ostler, 16, of Draper, Utah, also said she has no regrets.
She didn't want her grandkids to hear about a grand production and have to tell them she was "too lazy to participate."
Instead, she said, she will tell her grandchildren "how awesome it was."
Greg Ballif, 15, of Sandy, Utah, said he knew from the beginning he wanted to be part of the celebration.
"I wanted to do something that would show my love and appreciation for my Heavenly Father and for this new temple," he said.
