Mormons involved in the local Western region pageants invest in their productions which include the Clarkston "Martin Harris, the man who knew" pageant in Cache Valley, the Mormon Miracle pageant in Manti, the Mesa Arizona Easter pageant, and the Castle Valley Pageant in Emery County. They are in the cast. They sew costumes. They usher and in some cases, even serve up dinner.

The Clarkston Pageant showcases the life of Martin Harris, who risked his reputation and fortune to finance the first printing of the Book of Mormon.

It also serves to validate the feeling many Clarkston residents have toward Harris whom they claim as one of their own.

"For them, there's been a lot of pride," said Don Jeppesen, producer of the pageant. "His gravesite is there. A lot of his direct descendents live there."

Harris was also one of three men allowed to see the angel Moroni display the gold plates. After the witnesses saw and handled the plates, a voice from heaven declared that the record was true and had been translated correctly. This experience changed Harris. Not only had he heard the voice of the Lord but he was given the charge to declare the divine origin of the Book of Mormon.

Now 25 years old, the pageant has grown from a little-known community play to an epic pageant officially sanctioned by the church and attended annually by thousands of people.

The pageant was written by Rhett James, produced by Duane Huff and Denzel Clark at the request of Valdo Benson, brother of former LDS Church President Ezra Taft Benson.

Each year a wooden set is erected. Costumes are designed for a cast of 125. The show starts shortly before sundown. Traditionally, members of the community provide a barbecue dinner for the visitors to their small town. Meals cost $7 per person. Admission to the show is free but tickets are required. Call 435-563-0059 for information.

This year (the pageant is put on only on odd-numbered years) the show runs Aug. 7-8, 11-15 and 18-21 starting at approximately 8:15 p.m. on the amphitheater stage adjacent to Clarkston cemetery. Call Jeppesen at 435-245-3501 or see
www.martinharrispageant.org for information. Tickets are available after Feb. 1 each year by writing to: P.O. Box 151, Clarkston, UT 84305.

The Mormon Miracle Pageant The Mormon Miracle Pageant, which is the largest of the Utah pageants (4.4 million people have seen this show since 1967), weaves three stories into the script -- the restoration of the gospel, the witness of the Book of Mormon, and the journey of the faithful pioneers to the Sanpete Valley -- all demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ for all people.

The saga of the Mormon Miracle Pagent begins by telling the story of the prophet Joseph Smith who was instrumental in the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through the power of God, Joseph translated the Book of Mormon, a record of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas inscribed on gold plates.

Those who believed in Joseph's message and the Book of Mormon endured epic struggles; the hardships of persecution, the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the arduous journey west. A cast of over 500 reenact events which occurred in the Americas, such as the resurrected Christ showing Himself to the people of the New World.

The show is staged on the south temple hill in Manti on June 18-20, 23-27 at 9:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. with seating provided for 14,000. Admission is free.

No food is allowed on the temple grounds but prior to the show, a barbecue turkey dinner is available for $7 for adults/$4 for children 11-under, from 5-8 p.m., served at two church buildings on Main Street, 300 S. & Main and 100 S. & Main. Breakfast is served Friday and Saturday mornings from 7-10 a.m. at the city park and the LDS church of the west side of Main St. for $4. Call 866-961-9040 or 435-835-3000 for  information or see www.mormonmiracle.org.

The Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant The Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant, "Jesus the Christ," presents the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ through music, dance, and drama in a one-hour, outdoor production.

What began as an Easter sunrise service on top of a cotton wagon in 1928, has now become the largest, annual, outdoor Easter Pageant in the world. People routinely fill all 8,600 chairs and the lawns around the center. Some gather as early as 10 a.m. to get a good place.

"Jesus the Christ" is not a passion play focusing on the crucifixion, rather a celebration of the resurrection of the Savior.

Diann Burke, the pageant director's wife, says the pageant is an event that changes people's attitudes.

"It's very interesting to see, some come begrudgingly but leave with tears in their eyes. It's wonderful," she said. "The spirit that comes with this is like a beautiful blanket that lays over the lawn."

The pageant is free with performances scheduled in English April 1-2, 7-11 at 8 p.m. on the north lawn of the Mesa Arizona Temple Visitor's Center, 525 E. Main St., and in Spanish April 3-4. The public is invited to the dress rehearsals on March 31. (English version at 7 p.m., Spanish at 8:30 p.m.)

For more information see: www.easterpageant.org or call 480-964-7164.

The Castle Valley Pageant is an outdoor historical drama that portrays the story of the settlement of a pioneer village. It's performed every even-numbered year so the next show will be in 2010.

Call Mark Justice at 435-687-2403 for more information.

The Mormon Handcart Pageant is the only pageant not sponsored by the LDS Church, the Mormon Handcart Pageant is in its eighth year. It is moving to a schedule where it will only be produced on even-numbered years also. For more information see www.handcartpageant.com or call 435-623-0196.
E-Mail: Haddoc@desnews.com