Mormon Miracle Pageant facts for kids

The Mormon Miracle Pageant was a big outdoor show held in Manti, Utah. It was put on by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). This yearly event featured over 500 volunteers.

The show took place on the south lawn of the Manti Temple hill. It usually happened in June. Each night, about 15,000 people came to watch. The pageant ran for eight nights over two weeks. The last full show was in 2019. The Church decided to focus more on home and family events.

What Was the Mormon Miracle Pageant About?

The pageant told important stories for members of the LDS Church. It showed three main parts of their faith. The show began with the early life of Joseph Smith. He was the first president of the Church.

Joseph Smith's Early Life

The first part of the pageant showed Joseph Smith's experiences. This happened in the 1820s in New York. It included how he found and translated the Book of Mormon. The show also covered the start of the "Church of Christ" in 1830. This church was later renamed "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" in 1838. It also showed the early years of the Church and Joseph Smith's death in 1844.

The Book of Mormon Story

While showing the translation of the Book of Mormon, the pageant explained its contents. It told about ancient Israelite people in North America. These people had wars and disagreements. The show also taught about Jesus Christ. It showed his visit to these people after his resurrection. This part of the story happened in the first century A.D.

The Pioneer Journey to Utah

The pageant ended with the story of the Mormon pioneers. They faced hard times in the East. Then, they traveled to Utah. Brigham Young led them on this journey. A group of pioneers went to central Utah. This area is now called Sanpete Valley. The Manti Utah Temple stands there today.

Watching the Pageant

The performance started after the sun went down. This was usually in late June. Many people would arrive hours early to get a good spot. There were food stands at the event. Local restaurants in Manti also served visitors. Security helped keep order and directed traffic.

History of the Pageant

The Mormon Miracle Pageant began in 1967. The Manti Utah Stake first produced it. Vernon Kunz was the stake president at that time. Helen and Morgan Dyreng from Manti directed the show.

Early Productions

The first pageant was simpler than later ones. But it had a live orchestra with 25 musicians. McLoyd Erickson, Harry A. Dean, and Evan Bean were the first music directors. Richard Nibley, who was the brother of Hugh Nibley, was in the orchestra. He had trained most of the other musicians. The first script for the pageant came from a book. It was called The Mormon Miracle and was written by Grace Leora Johnson in 1950.

Images for kids

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  The Pageant was held on a hill adjacent to the Manti Temple.