It's A Wonderful Life!: Gilbert Cultural Celebration 2014

Our kids and 12000 other youth in the Gilbert Temple District were able to participate in a cultural celebration the day before the temple was dedicated. We spent about 2 months learning the songs and dance for this show. I was privileged enough to get to be the dance instructor so I was able to be with my kids clear to the end. There's a link at the bottom of this post to see the event in it's entirety. (the actual performance is about 18 min in)

The theme was "Live True to the Faith".

There's so much I could write about, but I'll try to keep it simple. The Saturday before, we had an all day rehearsal that ended early due to the dust that was kicked up from kids dancing on the field. It was a long, hot day and we were ok with it ending early. But what would that mean for the next week. We were asked to pray for rain.

As the weekend approached, the forecast called for rain on Saturday. Not an AZ forecast with some clouds and rain, but 100% chance of rain. We all waited and wondered and had our own personal ideas of how it would all turn out. I, along with many others, had perfect faith that the Lord would stay the rain. This was His program and he wouldn't let it fail.

The afternoon of the rehearsal was scattered with sprinkles and sunshine. It was actually a very nice day and probably just enough rain to keep the dust down. We broke for dinner an hour or so before the performance was about to start and that's when it got eerie. The dark clouds were looming on the horizon. Not just rain clouds, but seriously dark clouds. But it was ok, because God was in charge. As the kids ate dinner and got into their costumes, the clouds crept closer and the wind started to blow. Just about 40 minutes before show time, the rain started to fall. Wet rain, and a lot of it.

How can this be? The President and Prophet of our church was due to arrive to watch the performance and surely this would all go away. He arrived, along with Pres. Eyering, just minutes before it started. As he got out of his car and went to the tent, the kids all erupted in a great cheer and waving and smiling and yelling. What made that so amazingly emotional is they had called the kids out onto the field 25 min prior so they had been standing out in the rain completely unprotected that whole time. They were soaked and the show hadn't even begun. Not to mention it was COLD. But once the prophet made his entrance, those kids forgot about the rain and the cold and welcomed him as if it was the most beautiful day ever.

As Pres Eyering spoke to them for a min, the rain turned to a slight drizzle. Yes! There was our miracle, it would stop and the show would go on. He encouraged them to do their best and a prayer was said and the music started. And so did the rain. Hard. It rained the entire hour of the performance and for long after that. The kids were absolutely inspiring. They danced and sang and performed with smiles on their faces the entire time. I was there... wrapped in a sleeping bag with an umbrella.. and still wet and cold. My heart just ached for these kids with no protection and drenched to their core. I saw them go on and off the field with smiles. I also saw them shiver and shake and be miserable on the sides. What I loved most is that they all stuck with it and went out there happy and willing to do what they had learned and not let the rain ruin their night. I spent much of the hour wondering what this was all about. Why did He let it rain? How was this a good thing? After days of reflection, looking at pics and videos and hearing comments and testimonies from so many viewers and participants, this is the conclusion I have come to:

Without the rain, this would have been a wonderful, memorable event. The kids had a wonderful time learning and preparing and everyone would have been impressed with what they accomplished. But with the rain.... their strength and faith were tested. Their commitment challenged. I saw kids huddled together under trash bags trying to stay warm and other sharing whatever shelter they could find with those around them. I saw sad and cold youth being comforted by their peers. I saw kids who were normally weak, act strong. Do hard things they may not have every been willing to do before. This wet and cold night gave them determination. And pride in being strong enough to do it. It turned a wonderful event into an Epic event.

As for the viewers. I heard so many comments about how inspired and touched they were watching these youth persevere. Their hearts were softened as they witnesses 12000 youth smile through their trials and come out stronger than before. This wasn't about a warm and fuzzy event, this was about Faith and Testimony and Commitment to the Gospel. This was about finding something within them that they didn't know they had. It was about love of God. They sang a song called "I Choose This Day"... and that's what they did. They chose to be warriors of truth and righteousness... despite the rain.

Nephi 14:25
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock"

The dry pics:

Our youth did a fire dance depicting the story of Shadrak Meschak and Abednigo being thrown into the fiery furnace.

Whitley was the dance director for the youth in her ward so we got to see her just for a minute during all the craziness

Prophet stalking. We went over to stand by the road the prophet would be coming in on. We waited as long as we could, but eventually had to leave and go get ready for the performance. You can see the clouds gathering in the back.

There are very few wet pics because most put their cameras away for safety reasons. But here are just a few to give you an idea. A friend of ours, Colter Bradshaw got to be Captain Moroni and ride in on a horse holding the Title of Liberty. It was the one of the coolest parts of the show. Even in the rain, that horse was able to do all that he needed to.

There were a group of kids who played ukuleles and as they went out, it rained even harder. Yet they played and sang and smiled the whole time.

At one point several missionaries came out holding the flag of the country they had been called to serve in. even in his new suit and dressed in Sunday attire, they marched out smiling and waving. Proud to be called servants of the Lord.

Each youth made their own personal title of liberty. This pic shows them all out on the field holding them high. This was the finale. Once it was over and they were all standing waiting for direction on what to do next, a whole group broke out into song singing "We Thank Thee oh God for a Prophet". I was so touched that after a long night and being so cold and wet, they still continued to sing... even after their show was over. What seriously valiant youth we have. And mine are among them.

This was the field after the performance. Glade was there till midnight carrying chairs out of the field. I took 13 soggy, cold youth home that night. The entire ride home, they sang and laughed and continued on with their great attitudes. I felt very humbled for my grouchy attitude and sorrow for them. They were great!!