Sunday, June 07, 2015

Cultural Celebration

The Payson Temple Celebration is finished. Last night 14,000 youth performed for Elder Erying, Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Cook  and Elder Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve were there. 
The stands were filling rapidly by 5:15 p.m. The performance was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The day had been wonderful -not too hot with some clouds that kept things relatively cool. All of a sudden, Satan unleashed his fury and it began to hail. An announcement instructed all people to leave the stands and seek shelter due to severe weather. It poured for almost an hour.I don't think I've ever seen rain that hard in Utah. But just after 7:00 p.m., it stopped and everybody filed back in to sit on drenched benches and a drenched stadium. The program didn't start until about 7:45 p.m.

 The theme was "Fill the World with Love."

 Rain -looking out into the stadium from where we took shelter. We were all drenched and so, so cold.
 Elder Eyring gave a few remarks and said, "Let the celebration begin."

 A release of doves got things started.


 Each stake carried a flag to show their representation. Ammon got to be part of that. It was at the beginning of the program.
 Happy Feet dance. It was a lot of fun. The kids on the trampolines were really good!



 Note Nathan Millington next to Ammon really getting into the Happy Feet Dance.

 The bagpipes from a Payson Stake played "Amazing Grace." It was so beautiful!
 2,000 Stripling Warriors. Ammon was somewhere in the crush of boys.
Ah, we finally saw him and the boys are helping him rush off the field.





Finale - a release of balloons amidst the rainbow of shirts.
We were really grateful for Nathan Millington because he took care of Ammon all day long. They left at 8:30 a.m. and we all got home about midnight. It was a very long, wonderful day. What a great experience for these young people. I think they will remember it their entire lives.
Satan may have wanted to thwart this event, but I'm sure 40,000 prayers to God overrode Satan. It was one more evident event that showed this Temple is here and ready to go.

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