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PROVO — Thousands braved the rainy weather in LaVell Edwards Stadium Saturday night, as teenagers joined together in a celebratory performance for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' new temple in Payson.
After weeks of rehearsals, 13,000 teens filled the Provo stadium Saturday afternoon for a final dress rehearsal.
“It has been amazing to be able to dance with my fellow young men and young women to celebrate this new temple,” said Andrew McCann, one of the young performers.
With a theme “Fill the World with Love,” the youth performers helped to recount the heritage of the communities they live in near the new temple.
“(It's) all the cultures of different towns being shown here, and then getting put together into one cultural celebration,” said Dallin McKinney.
Despite a thunderstorm that delayed the event for an hour, the evening performance was a once in a lifetime event for the teens.
“These youth have come to show their faith and to grow their testimonies and to be there for each other,” said Lana Hiskey, of the Payson Temple Committee.
President Henry B. Eyring shared some encouraging words to the youth on the eve of the new temple's dedication.
"We will be inspired by the energy and the joy you find in playing your part, whatever it is, with enthusiasm,” President Eyring said. “The memory of this night will stay with us. We will remember the feeling of light, love and joy we share tonight.”
Latter-day Saint teens said they have loved watching the temple rise in their midst.
“The temple really means a lot, and we're just so happy that it's now closer to us and we're able to go more often,” said performer Natasha Priego.
Dedication services begin Sunday morning. According to the LDS Church's website, "The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast only within the Payson Utah Temple district, and the three-hour block of meetings for those congregations will be cancelled for that Sunday."
