[Manti]

[Manti]

   9:56 AM       Laura

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I got to go to the Manti Pageant this year, an event that I haven't been to since I was in Young Womens.  It was something we mentioned to each other weeks before it happened, but like most events got planned the day of.  Stephanie got a hold of her van, and we all piled in and started the hour and a half drive to Manti.  Poor Alex, was under the impression that it was a beauty pageant, and couldn't figure out why we were taking him to this.
Alex yelled out the window at cows.  We watched for cops, and even hit 120 miles an hour per Stephanie.  We talked about marriage, and pre-mortal life, and as we passed through the little towns of Nephi and Moroni, we looked at little houses and discussed what we wanted and what we liked. (poor Alex)

We stopped at McDonalds, and Stephanie, very formally,and in a pitch higher than usual, ordered our food, much to the annoyance of the lady taking our order.

Upon reaching Manti, we parked a block away and walked to the Temple.

Laura: *notices cute guy* *looks back at Kristen*
*Laura and Kristen talk quietly*
Laura: *turns around to Stephanie* We were talking about the cute guy... in case you were wondering...
Steph: I knew that as soon as you turned around to talk to Kristen.


It was bigger than I remembered.

We put our stuff down, and wandered around the temple, and sprayed ourselves with bugspray.  As we wandered around the temple, the cloud of mosquitoes was so thick....  I looked down at my pants and saw at least 5 or 6 hanging out on my legs at any given time.  

The characters were wandering around, and I... well, I felt like I was at Disneyland, trying to get pictures with the characters, and was elated when I found Young Joseph and Moroni.

Laura: You're King Noah, right?
King Noah: uhhh.. Yes.
Laura: You look just like your picture.

We sat down and got into a Psychic Foot Loop eating contest, with the kids in front of us ( and Alex got his butt kicked, poor alex) and I played cats cradle with the kids behind us.

Now, several of you are wondering what the Manti Pageant is...

Also known as the Mormon Miracle Pageant, it is a play that details 3 story lines: That of Joseph Smith, That of the Book of Mormon, and that of Robert and Mary and their handcart company.  The pageant answers the  questions Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? and can we be with our loved ones after death.

The ending, when it answers the question of can we be with our loved ones after death had Kristen and I bawling.  

Pretty much, part way through the pageant, Mary is dying, and while hearing "And should we die, before our journey's through, happy day, all is well" from the "Come Come Ye Saints" song really quietly, she tells Robert that she'll come get him, that she'll take his hand and bring him in to Heaven, then dies.

Later, Robert is moving to Sanpete county, and gets shot.  Everyone surrounds him, and he dies, and he stands up and he's dressed in white.  Kristen literally started shaking, and I started crying, as Mary, unseen a second ago wanders out of the smokey curtian that was now veiling the entrance to the temple, telling Robert that she was here to take his hand and bring him into heaven. Then they turn and walk up the stairs, lights turning on as more and more angels are revealed at the top of the stairs and surrounding the temple, when the lights on the temple burst on, and the music crecendos.

Other cool moments? Kristen and I saw a shooting star, shortly after the "Christ visits the america's scene" and I saw the ISS. (Which I found out later, Chris was watching it at the same time as it crossed the sky while he was in California.  ^__^)

The trip home was filled with scary dreams, scary stories, and talk of the future.... oh.  And Ice cream from McDonalds.

Moments like this reaffirm my testimony of being with those you love after you die.... sadly, Titanic does this too.

Hooray for Eternalness :)


  P.S. Check out my 101 in 1001  and see how I'm doing!