This celebration, though, is atypical in that this is the largest celebration ever organized. This is fitting, as the Gilbert temple is the largest temple built in well over a decade. Most of the temples since the year 2000 have been smaller ones. Over twelve thousand youth have been involved in learning dances and songs to perform in the celebration which will happen March 1, this coming Saturday and will be attended by our beloved prophet and President Eyring.
Last Saturday was an all-day rehearsal. We left our church parking lot at 7:40 in the morning. I have been privileged to have been giving the assignment of teaching the youth in our ward the songs they would be singing. Because of this, I was able to be a "Captain of ten" and attend the rehearsal last Saurday.
The kids spent the morning rehearsing their dance number with four other stakes. 1,700 kids participated in this dance called "The Lucky Ones." It took almost the whole morning to get the kids lined up correctly. It was a dirt lot and a long morning, but the kids took it all in stride. The lot was facing the temple which was perfect! The theme of the celebration was Live True (www.livetruegilbert.com) and by making an L with the fingers of one hand, and a T with the fingers of the other, the symbol is a view-finder. The idea is that we are keeping the temple in our sights. So practicing here, which wasn't the original venue, was so symbolic. It was incredible to see all those kids facing the temple as they rehearsed.
After this regional rehearsal we broke for lunch and then met with other regions consisting of multiple stakes. So all 13,000 thousand of us (15,000 with leaders included) flooded into Discovery Park, a short walk past the lot we practiced on, and past the temple. Seeing all those kids there was beautiful and so incredible. The dances each region prepared were the result of hours and hours of rehearsals and to see it all come together was fantastic. After our group performed I looked around and all of the leaders from our stake were in tears, seeing it all come together so beautifully.
There are a few hiccups that have to be dealt with for this celebration to "come to pass." Due to dust we weren't able to go through our final rehearsal at the end of our long Saturday practice last week. If there is no rain this week the city will pull the plug on this event. Because of the dust so many youth with respiratory issues were having problems, and a few of the worst cases were admitted at the hospital. We were asked to pray for rain on Thursday. Firemen with hoses tried to hose down the dry grass to help with this during our Saturday practice, but it didn't help. If it doesn't rain, we can't perform for the prophet.
Rain is predicted for Saturday. We need this to happen a day or two earlier. Everyone is praying praying praying for a miracle. If you read this post before March 1, add a prayer or two for the twelve thousand kids who want to perform before the prophet of the Lord.
Come on, rain. We need you.
I will take better pictures at the real event this Saturday. Which will happen after the good rain we will get around Thursday! Right?
The kids spent the morning rehearsing their dance number with four other stakes. 1,700 kids participated in this dance called "The Lucky Ones." It took almost the whole morning to get the kids lined up correctly. It was a dirt lot and a long morning, but the kids took it all in stride. The lot was facing the temple which was perfect! The theme of the celebration was Live True (www.livetruegilbert.com) and by making an L with the fingers of one hand, and a T with the fingers of the other, the symbol is a view-finder. The idea is that we are keeping the temple in our sights. So practicing here, which wasn't the original venue, was so symbolic. It was incredible to see all those kids facing the temple as they rehearsed.
After this regional rehearsal we broke for lunch and then met with other regions consisting of multiple stakes. So all 13,000 thousand of us (15,000 with leaders included) flooded into Discovery Park, a short walk past the lot we practiced on, and past the temple. Seeing all those kids there was beautiful and so incredible. The dances each region prepared were the result of hours and hours of rehearsals and to see it all come together was fantastic. After our group performed I looked around and all of the leaders from our stake were in tears, seeing it all come together so beautifully.
There are a few hiccups that have to be dealt with for this celebration to "come to pass." Due to dust we weren't able to go through our final rehearsal at the end of our long Saturday practice last week. If there is no rain this week the city will pull the plug on this event. Because of the dust so many youth with respiratory issues were having problems, and a few of the worst cases were admitted at the hospital. We were asked to pray for rain on Thursday. Firemen with hoses tried to hose down the dry grass to help with this during our Saturday practice, but it didn't help. If it doesn't rain, we can't perform for the prophet.
Rain is predicted for Saturday. We need this to happen a day or two earlier. Everyone is praying praying praying for a miracle. If you read this post before March 1, add a prayer or two for the twelve thousand kids who want to perform before the prophet of the Lord.
Come on, rain. We need you.
I will take better pictures at the real event this Saturday. Which will happen after the good rain we will get around Thursday! Right?
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