Savior of the World

This year our family had an incredible experience.  It was last October the Stake President called Faith and me in for a visit - a kind of unofficial visit.  He told us that they wanted the Stake to perform Savior of the World and ask Faith if she had ever directed a play.  Even though she hadn't, she knew that this was something she had to do.  If Nephi could build a ship, she could direct this play.  With the help of the Lord things started to fall into place.  The next few months would be life changing.

Neither of us had ever seen the play, which is performed at the Conference Center every year.  As I listened to the music and learned the story my spirit was touched deeply.  The first scene starts with Zacharias and Elizabeth and the foretelling of John the Baptist and ends at the manger with the birth of the Savior.  The second act starts at the tomb and the resurrection.  Christ appears to the Mary and the Apostles and the play closes with His ascension into heaven.

 Well, one year later we were thrilled with the results.  Faith ended-up with a cast of 95 and assistants all over the place.  Charity was one of Mary's nieces, in the women's ensemble and in all the major scenes.  Christian was our boy soprano and sang in Hebrew.  Lexie helped on stage crew getting people on and off the stage, making sure props were where they needed to be and that everything happened at the correct time and in the correct order.

I had the privilege of playing the Apostle John, the third part of the Peter and James trio.  Faith did an amazing job working with the choir and cast.  With her assistants Karie and Sue they worked for 8 months to make this production the very best possible.  What an amazing group of talented people in this stake.  Mary and Joseph were awesome and their voices blended so well.  Elizabeth and Zacharias did such a good job and finally pulled it all together just in time for the first show.

The Apostle Thomas was so sincere in his emotions and feelings for the Savior as was Mary at the tomb.  The Savior was portrayed in such a  tender and touching manor that it sent chills through us all.

We viewed this play as an opportunity to share our testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ with all those who came to see it.  We ended-up with almost 3,500 people attending the three performances.  I loved playing the part of John and feeling of his spirit and the incredible love that he had for the Lord.  I add my witness to his, that Jesus lives and that he will return.  He is the root and the offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star.  And I echo John's plea - "Come Lord Jesus!"