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POCATELLO, Idaho — More than 12,000 teenagers, parents, family members, friends and others participated in ‘The Temple by the River: Reflections’ cultural celebration Saturday night.
The production was held inside Holt Arena at Idaho State University and was streamed online and broadcast to dozens of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints buildings in eastern Idaho. The purpose was to celebrate the re-opening of the Idaho Falls Temple, which has been closed since March 2015 for renovations. It will be rededicated Sunday.
Youth from Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Ammon, Shelley, McCammon, Pocatello, Rigby, Salmon and elsewhere have spent months practicing for the cultural celebration. Through music, dance and drama, they shared the history of the LDS Church in east Idaho leading up to the construction of the temple.
“It’s been really cool because we get to do something you don’t get to do, but maybe once or twice in a lifetime,” said Luke Layton, a teenager in the production. “I’m really happy I’ve been able to be a part of this.”
President Henry B. Eyring, the first counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church, attended the performance. As he entered the arena, performers and spectators stood and began clapping.
“This is a celebration of light, unity, hope and faith in every footstep, every dance step, and every music note,” Eyring said to the youth before the show. “Your performance tonight is part of the wonder God will perform in your life and the lives of others.”
Other General Authorities in attendance included Elder Ronald A. Rasband of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Richard J. Maynes, Elder K. Brett Nattress and Elder Bradley D. Foster.
Temple dedications and rededications are often celebrated with a Youth Cultural Event, and the one Pocatello hosted likely involved the largest number of youth to date.
Everyone involved donated their time and talents, including sewing costumes, designing and constructing sets, creating props, writing music, coordinating tickets, directing the choir, choreographing the dances and managing the audio/visual needs.
“They’ve done a lot of hard work and did great,” said Terry Stiffler, a Pocatello church member. “I’m amazed at the coordination and effort that’s gone into this.”
The Idaho Falls Temple rededication ceremony will take place on Sunday in three separate sessions broadcast from the temple to the church’s stake centers. LDS members ages 8 and up, who have received temple recommend slips from their ecclesiastical leaders, are able to watch the ceremony.
EastIdahoNews.com will have complete coverage of the dedication Sunday.
