The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following press release Saturday, Oct. 27th.
“The Church is growing across the earth. As this occurs, local Church leaders and members are encouraged to focus on gospel learning in their homes and to participate in Sabbath worship and the Church’s supporting programs for children, youth, individuals and families. The goal of every activity in the Church should be to increase faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to share His gospel message throughout the world. Local celebrations of culture and history may be appropriate. Larger productions, such as pageants, are discouraged. As it relates to existing pageants, conversations with local Church and community leaders are underway to appropriately end, modify or continue these productions.”
Saturday morning, Elder Ronald A, Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was in Manti to discuss the future of the Mormon Miracle Pageant with the Manti Pageant Presidency, Stake Presidents from the valley and the Manti Temple Presidency.
Elder Rasband told the priesthood leaders that the Manti Pageant would continue for the upcoming 2019 season as scheduled under direction of the Church Missionary Department as it has in past years. The future of the pageant will then be determined by the local priesthood leaders. Going forward after the 2019 season, the pageant would be funded and under the direction of the local priesthood leaders and membership. It would no longer be called a church pageant, but if continued, would be considered a local celebration.
The local stake presidents and other priesthood leaders involved in the decision process were encouraged by Elder Rasband to make the decision of the future of the Manti Pageant in the next few weeks. Further information will be available at that time.
The Hill Cummorah Pageant announced that it will end after the 2020 season, and the Nauvoo Pageant announced that it will continue after the 2019 season. The future of the other pageants after 2019 has not yet been determined.
