Spectacular Youth Spectacular!

Last Friday and Saturday 3400+ youth in our area, which consisted of 30 Stakes put on this amazing "Spectacular".  The 30 Stakes were divided into three "councils" of 10 Stakes each.  We were part of the North Council.  My small part was helping to teach the youth in our stake the songs that they sung.  Then my part ended and 7-ish months later....Walah!  For two nights of crowded, standing room only crowds at WSU's football field, we were entertained, uplifted, edified and filled with Heavenly Father's spirit! 

This whole thing came about because of a special request from President Thomas S. Monson, I think, two years ago.  Elder Keyes, our regional representative then took the bull by the horns and pulled this thing together.  It has consumed every combined youth activity since January and almost every weekly activity for the past two months.  Three weeks ago Elder Keyes through in a few more practices at the end because he was a bit concerned, so the youth spent the last couple of weeks practicing at least three times each week. 

Our Council had the job of representing the pre-Earth life and showing how we are children of our Heavenly Father who rejoiced at the thought of coming to Earth.  Then they portrayed coming to Earth and how we need to remember who we are!  Children of God!  And that we need to Shine!  Then we are reminded that we Never Walk Alone.

So here's some of what happened!  I took these with my digital camera's video button, so they're not very long or good quality, but it gives you a taste.

This is the opening scene of the North Council's program...

This is just one of the cool parts of the song, "Power in Purity".

This was Rojita's 5 seconds of fame.  She had a solo part in the song, "Shine".

This was the ultimate, every one's favorite part of the North Council's program.  At this point the angel's in the pre-existence are slowly crossing through the "veil" and coming down to Earth.  To create this there are people holding the light blue flags, representing the veil, that walk slowly across the field.  The angels pass through the veil and remove there angel whites to reveal their bright colors underneath then off to Earth they go.  You don't notice them taking off their robes, just them appearing out the other end in these bright shirts.  It was amazing!

It truly was amazing.  Not a lot of dry eyes in the crowd.  Here are some of the pictures from those nights...

At the very beginning we have Angel Moroni!    We found Rojita ready to start! (bottom, center)

And here's all our Angels!

They used these neat fabric square "things" which were gold on one side and white on the other to do some cool ripple things.

"Power in the Heavens, Power in the Plan! Power in Discovery, Learning who I am!  There's Power in Obedience, the Truth that sets us Free. To find a sense of confidence with Power in Purity!"

Here they are running through the veil.  AWESOME!

They're holding "mirrors".  "When you look in the mirror do you see who He sees?"

Then they got down to "Shine!"

"Shine! Don't let them take your sun away, don't listen to a word they say. Don't let anybody take away your SHINE!"

At the end they sang, "I Never Stand Alone, when I stand with God.  And I stand with his prophets.  Where ever I may go, If I stand with God I never stand alone."

Joseph Smith Jr. and Hyrum

I stand with Moroni!

The North Council's finale.

During one of the other Council's programs they talked about the Gospel spreading throughout the world.  So they showed dances from other countries.  When they did the Polynesian Hakka we have six full time Elders from Polynesian countries that came down and danced with them.  They were fabulous.  I love the war face that I caught on this Elder!

During the Grand Finale the Full time Missionaries serving in our area ALL came down on the field singing "Called to Serve" with our youth.  In this picture you only see half of the Elders.  The other half and the Sister Missionaries are on the other side.  The Mission President (he's facing the other direction) and his wife are on the top.  Yep, AWESOME!  Each of the Missionaries and the youth had a bag over their shoulders at the end which had a Book of Mormon in it that at one point they all held up.

 

At the very end all the youth and Elders held up lights and faced towards the big picture of Christ, then knelt.  Wow. 

This was truly a once in a lifetime event that I hope they/we never forget. 

I kept thinking how amazing this must have been especially for the missionaries who most likely come from areas where there aren't many members of the Church.  This probably blew their minds and will truly be a once in a lifetime event for them that they can share with their families and friends back home.