Manti Pageant

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Manti Pageant

I started seeing Facebook posts popping up about people being down at the Manti Pageant.

I was disappointed that life got away from me and we forgot to plan to go.

We were engaged at the Manti Pageant on June 16, 2001.

The week of the 16th was over and we had missed our chance.

I wasn't thinking straight.

Yes, we had missed our anniversary weekend.

But the pageant runs for TWO weeks.

We still had time to go!

We turned it into a fun weekend getaway.

In a not so smart move, we started our "weekend" with a family sleep out on the trampoline.

That means that the adults headed to Manti on very little sleep...

We are definitely feeling our age these days.

The trampoline did not agree with us.

But it was fun to know we all slept out as a family.

The first stop we made was to see the Payson temple.

It is currently under construction and we could see straight through it in some points.

We were amazed at how big it is.

Next, we stopped in Nephi.

We had lunch at Wendy's and then played at a park.

In the future, we might try to remember the fun water park we saw.

But we didn't want to spend the extra money and we didn't bring swimming clothes anyway.

We got to Manti around 3:00.

I think we were practically the first people to get to town.

In the future we'll probably aim for closer to 5:00.

Just as we were getting out of the car, there was a huge thunder.

Andy insisted that he had checked the weather tons of times and there was ZERO chance of rain.

I argued that the clouds overhead seemed to disagree.

Almost immediately we were feeling drops of rain.

But they were few and far between.

We explored the temple grounds.

The boys looked down at the graveyard and wanted to know what it was.

We took them to it and they were completely fascinated by the tombstones.

But then the rain REALLY started.

It came pelting down in sheets.

We ran to the pavilion for cover.

The storm probably didn't last more than about ten minutes.

It was a fun adventure and cooled off the day just enough.

And eventually our blanket dried out...

After the storm, the boys wanted to go back to the graveyard again.

Then we spent hours waiting for the pageant to start.

(It begins at 9:30 PM)

We played games, at the food we brought for dinner, and took naps...

The boys loved the pageant, though Peter got tired and fell asleep before it ended.

Afterwards we raced to our car to try to get out of town before the gridlock hit.

It took us about ten minutes to get out of town - about eight of those minutes at a stand still.

I think the traffic out is the one thing that makes me not want to do this every year.

That, and just how late at night it is.

But we had a great time and were so glad we went.

The other thing that was nice is that we only had to drive half way home.

We had arranged with Andrew's sister to spend the night at her house in Spanish Fork.

We got there around 1:00 in the morning.

She had prepared bedding for us, and we went straight to sleep.

The next morning the cousins had lots of fun playing with each other.

We were there until well into the afternoon and the kids still didn't want to leave.

It was a fun visit.

(But we were SO glad to be back in our own beds that night!)

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.