The Cricket and the Seagull

I found a very short review online of the Manti Pageant which has this as part of their title. I chuckled when I saw this. I saw no signs of crickets or seagulls, nor was the seagull story found anywhere in the pageant. I found it typical that this is still the general image portrayed to people outside of Utah.

I am referring, of course, to the Mormon Miracle Pageant presented in Manti, Utah.

Our family attended the pageant this last weekend with our extended family living here in Utah. We all went down to Ephraim, the town with Snow College which is about a 10 minute drive from Manti. We stayed in student apartment housing on the north end of town. Nice accommodations for the 3 days we stayed, although it was apparent that these were designed for the student community.

Follow up:

The pageant, which was the pinnacle of the weekend, was nothing short of excellent. The presentation begins at sundown (9:00 on the night we attended) and is a 2 hour show. Surprisingly, our 4-year-old, Emily, was awake and alert during the entire presentation. She asked questions, watched, was scared at times, and overall just loved it. I was so glad that she was able to stay awake during the entire pageant. This is one of those events that will stay with her for years and years. That, alone, was worth the entire trip.

I personally truly enjoyed the pageant. The message was right on and is presented in a non-offensive, educational, and spiritual way. I was touched.

Our pioneer heritage has always intrigued and amazed me. The pageant did a very good job portraying the sacrifices and triumphs of our pioneers with the dignity and solemness that should be told of their stories. So many people, LDS or not, do not fully appreciate the debt we owe to our pioneers. The pageant sends the message of sacrifice, to which owe our existence, with such dignity you cannot help but feel the spirit of what the pioneers gave and paid, and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude fills you as they describe their journeys.

Beyond this, the Joseph Smith story is told in full, both the spiritual and physical sides. This gives you a more complete perspective of the 24 years of his life from the First Vision to his martyrdom. Although not all the details of his life are filled in, the more well known events are portrayed. It is well presented and is tied into the ancient American record very well.

The pageant also places the restoration of the Gospel in perspective with the rise of religion and persecution of truth and the Work of the Lord. Hopefully, this helps to clarify many misconceptions still being propagated outside the Church.

The pageant is a really good experience. It was, after all, by prophesy that the pageant was created. The setting, on temple grounds, and the message it portrays, is one of the great family experiences we've had.