Comments about ‘Times has a 'Mormon Moment' at Hill Cumorah Pageant’

It seems the Mormon religion is intent on lifting others up, sharing burdens, and teaching Christianity. How misguided can someone be who tries to make life better for someone else?

It would have been unimaginable to see this kind of attention and focus on the LDS church even 10 years ago.
TWO members of the LDS church running for president of the United States...
The New York times ongoing articles and attention focusing on the LDS church.
Of course the sleazy play about the BofM has only stirred up interest from those wanting to get "the rest of the story".
And ongoing publicity programs by the church like I'm a Mormon, which happens to have been timed perfectly with all the other publicity going on.

So to those who continue to proport that no one really knows or cares about the church outside of Utah, or that the LDS church is going to shrink and whither away from all of the outside pressure of society, guess what, we've dealt with pressure and exposure since day 1. And like they say, this isn't 1830 anymore and there aren't just 8 of us.

So this protester claims to break his wifes heart every year as he fights against the very thing she believes? This is either the most heartless man ever born or she is LDS by name only.

What's his religion? Maybe the wife should spend the same amount of time protesting his religion and yelling at members of his congregation. Evidently that would fit his definition of being a good christian.

It's one thing to dedicate your life or part of your life to proclaiming your religion. It is quite another thing altogether to dedicate your life or part of your life bashing someone else's particular religion. Mormons sometimes have their causes, but I seriously doubt you would see Mormons protesting and bashing at a Baptist convention.

We were there (in New York) last Friday - the stage is as big as our yard (.5 acre)! Twelve hugh lighting/sound towers - 100's of cast and performers - the special effects were incredible, the message even more so. The two sweet older local-area ladies who sat next to us said they go to the Pageant every year - they thought it was just great. They wanted to know if Mormons still practiced polygamy! They loved the stories and the message.

The Lions and Rotary Clubs told us that they were so appreciative to the Church for allowing them to set up food stands (funds goes back to the Palmyra community). Mormon bashers were there, but most everyone just kind of chuckled at them.

"....including one man who protests at the pageant every year despite the fact that his wife of 30 years is LDS. When asked how it is to leave her in Florida every year while he travels to Palmyra to protest the religion she loves, the man said: 'It's a heartbreak every day.'"
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Hmmm. The question I'd ask is, "If your wife is LDS and ,presumably, believes all the stuff you're protesting in Palmyra, why not save yourself the pain of separation and the long trip every year and simply perform your protest in front of your wife?"

So many birds with one stone.

* ....one man who protests at the pageant every year despite the fact that his wife of 30 years is LDS. When asked how it is to leave her in Florida every year while he travels to Palmyra to protest the religion she loves, the man said: "'It's a heartbreak every day.'"

"'I tell her I'm going to miss her, and I love her,' he said. 'She says the same.'" *

Sounds like a marriage made in heaven. I wonder how these lovebirds found each other. It must have been interesting to be their kids.

It's still just a drumlin.

@Hitterite: Haha, pretty much the only thing this humanities major remembers from college geography is that the Hill Cumorah is a drumlin formed by glacial ice movement. But what a exceptional drumlin the Hill Cumorah is! Glad the pageant is getting so much publicity.

Yes, he will miss here in the hereafter.

It is a miracle that the Hill Cumorah is LDS owned, with a grand story told of how that was accomplished. I can't help but thank the Prophet Joseph for Article of Faith 11: We claim the privilege of worshiping...dictates of our own conscience...allow all men the same...how where or what they may. The USA, only country in the world where we have this freedom so extensively. Thank you, Father in Heaven.

I wonder what the point of mentioning protestors is in articles like this. I think the New York Times would get a better picture by just ignoring them.

My parents joined the church after seeing this pageant 50+ years ago. I'm glad the Times shone a little spotlight on this amazing, spiritual production. The antis will always be there protesting, but the spirit overpowers anything they come up with.

I took a friend who happens to be Catholic, to this year's Mesa AZ Easter Pageant.
And when he ran across the street to get some water, he was confronted by a couple of these protesters. They were quickly silenced when he proceeded to explain to them that he was a guest of an LDS friend, and he was Catholic.
And how disgusted he was to see someone claiming to be "true Christians" come to a beautiful non-denominational religious program (the story of the life of Christ) to spout off their ignorant and crude rhetoric.
He told them he'd never seen such a thing done at any of his church's programs or activities! Yay to our Catholic friends!

I can't help but wonder if the Hill Cumorah Pageant would win a few Tony's of it's own, if only Hollywood would even consider a peek at the event!

Reading my great, great, great grandfather's journal the other day about when he came to the U.S. via New York, of course. He mentioned the names of various plays he attended in New York, including one called "The Mormons," which he enjoyed. So, really, history repeats itself.

I must say when attended the Palmyra Pageant 15+ yrs ago I was a little disappointed. I was expecting a live production, not a lip syncing act with no live dialog or singing. Guess my expectations exceeded reality. Is it the same with pageants elsewhere?

Listen to your wife. Get back to where you belong, bub....

Dear Truthseeker - go to the Nauvoo Pageant. It is live and extremely well done. The actors and production is truly top-notch. Then, please visit all the sites there and your testimony will increase. It truly is a wonderful place. By the way, you will see "the dogs yapping at the caravan" there too. But I feel sorry for them.

I was on assignment yesterday as it was one of our ward's days to act as security. Got to sit on top of the hill by the monument and look out over the landscape and watch people as they came up the hill to see the view and look at the monument. All I can say is that the look of happiness on everyone's face (and not some 'cult-like trance' happiness, but true happiness) on everyone's faces was very heartwarming. As my SS teacher said when I was a teen long long ago 'it is true, but even if it isn't, can you imagine a better way to live?'

I had the opportunity to speak to a cast member yesterday, from Indiana, who said that only in the church could you convince people to 1) spend their 2 week vacation in Western NY in a play, 2) have them work from 8:30 a.m. to 10 at night rehearsing, 3) have them pay all of their own expenses, 4) have them pick up and clean the chairs after the last performance and 5) have them consider themselves richly blessed!

What a church!

The first time I saw the pageant I felt the same as Truthseeker. All my life I had heard how amazing it is. When I finally saw it, I felt it tried to do too much. While impressive in its portrayal of epic scenes, it lacked an interesting, coherent story. I felt much the same about the Manti pageant. I guess they're not for everybody but I'm glad there are some for whom they are a gateway to joining the Church.

Personally, I prefer to visit Palmyra when it isn't overrun with people and am fortunate to have had that opportunity several times. A quiet walk through the grove followed by contemplation in the Palmyra temple is better than a thousand pageants.