During the pageant, Parley P. Pratt, referring to the construction of the Nauvoo Temple, says: “To give what was needed, we gave all we had....And to give more than we had, we gave of ourselves.” That’s a principle that we felt as members of the cast and crew, and a principle that I’m sure others feel and have felt. The pageant cast and crew gives it their all. They spend anywhere from 1-6 weeks (sometimes more) here in Nauvoo and focus, if at all possible, on nothing but the Pageant. A dedicated member of the cast, as I see it, will spend little to no time checking social networking tools while they are here, and spend no time watching movies and playing computer games. They will dedicate their time in service of the Lord, and when they cannot serve, they will prepare to serve and make sure that they are ready to work when the opportunity arises. It’s taken me 4 years to learn that, and it is a principle I have yet to perfect. Pageant cast and crew give all they have to the work while they are here. They give their focus and their time and their effort to the pageant. But even that can be only enough to put on a show, and the pageant is something more than that.
The second part of Parley’s line was on the back of the Work Crew’s shirts last year: “To give more than we had, we gave of ourselves.” This is a principle that is so important for each individual to recognize, simply because of its implications: If you have been called to the Pageant, you are there for a reason. Many people apply, but only so many get in; about 750 total in the family cast. The pageant staff spends much time pondering and praying to know which families should come. And they follow those promptings. That means to me, that those families are needed at the pageant. Not that a group of 5 people is needed, not even that a husband, a wife, 2 sons and a daughter are needed, or any other family configuration. But that those PEOPLE are needed. Take, for instance, a hypothetical family called the Fishers. James, Catherine, Morgan, and Chris; Father, Mother, Sister and Brother, respectively. There is a reason, not that a family of four was in the Pageant, but a reason that James Fisher was in the Pageant. A reason that Catherine Fisher was in the Pageant. A reason that Morgan Fisher was in the Pageant. A reason that Chris Fisher was in the Pageant. They each had something to bring, because they were who they were. This, to me, is the essence of Parley’s line. “To give more than [what we possess], we [give of who we are].”
There’s one other aspect of giving in the Pageant I want to point out: As my family and I have been here, participating in the Nauvoo Pageant has felt quite different. We do not go to morning rehearsals, we do not need to stay up until midnight to do our duty as cast members every evening, and we basically have all the time we want. Some might consider this to be a good thing, and it does indeed seem so at first glance, but there is an experience that has been lost with the loss of our cast membership: When a family is accepted to the cast, before they leave, they are set apart by their bishop as ‘special representatives of the church...” this is something like the setting apart of a missionary before he leaves for the MTC and his mission. And my family and I believe that a great mantle falls on those who are set apart; that is, with the responsibility that they have been asked to shoulder, the capacity to fulfill it comes. We are not cast members this year, and so we have not had to experience the hardships of the cast, but neither have we felt that feeling of being lifted and sustained as we have in the past. I think the absence of that feeling has made us realize that we had it before. See, though we worked so hard in those weeks that we were cast members, and worked beyond our normal capacity, somehow we made it through. We would wake up in the morning, and so long as we used our time as we knew we should (that is, so long as we did not waste it) we would feel rested enough to move through the day. If we really needed something, it was provided. If we needed a nap, there was time for it, and we were still able to keep up with our responsibilities. Not only were we physically sustained and magnified, but I believe that we were also magnified spiritually, and that our ability to share what we had to offer as individuals was increased. I think that it became easier for me to share my thoughts and feelings and be myself with fellow cast and crew and to follow the spirit. I want to share a quote from Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith that I found while reading today:
“Brethren, you are on the pathway to eternal fame, and immortal glory; and inasmuch as you feel interested for the covenant people of the Lord, the God of their fathers shall bless you. Do not be discouraged on account of the greatness of the work; only be humble and faithful...He who scattered Israel has promised to gather them; therefore inasmuch as you are to be instrumental in this great work, He will endow you with power, wisdom, might and intelligence, and every qualification necessary; while your minds will expand wider and wider, until you can circumscribe the earth and the heavens, reach forth into eternity, and contemplate the mighty acts of Jehovah in all their variety and glory.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 163, italics and underline added)
I think that we have been blessed as we have been members of the Pageant, and believe that with our calling came the capacity to fulfill it. I also believe that the principles in Parley’s lines can be applied not only in building a temple, not only in participating in the pageant, but in living from day to day and being the best people we can be; I believe that the Lord requires us to ‘”[give] all we [have],” and I think that when that is not enough, we can “[give] of ourselves.” And I believe that when we fall short even then, Christ will sustain us, and help us to reach our perceived potential and surpass it, that we might do that which he has asked us to do, and grow in the process. I encourage each of you to come and see the Pageant next year, or, if you can, to apply to be in it. It is a great experience, and one that you will remember for years to come.
I don’t know exactly when the Pageant will be playing next year, but I assume that it will be something like July 3-28, or July 10-August 4. I’m banking on the former. The Frontier Country Fair starts at 7:00 PM just west of the Pageant stage, and the show starts at 8:30 PM. I urge you to go the fair. It is such an important part of the pageant, and especially fun for kids. It’s a medley of all sorts of pioneer activities you and your children (if you have them) can participate in. From Stickpull to finding your geneology in Nauvoo; from log-sawing to parlor games; from balancing on stilts to dancing your heart out. You can find out more at http://www.nauvoopageant.org/. It’s all free, too. Please come if you can. :)
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