The Hill Cumorah Pageant

Palmyra, NY
43 04.01 N 077 13.54 W



What a nice experience.  What a unique experience.   We are very fortunate to have had the chance to connect with this event.   If any of you get the chance to see this pageant in future years, take it. Don't worry about your own religion, you won't be offended, it is free, you will not be proselytized. 

Our host, Sherman, drove us down there a bit early, two hours before the show started.  That was wise.  In those two hours both Libby and I had a great time circulating, meeting people, and talking with the pageant cast of 700 dressed in costume.   Of all the Mormons we've met over the years in different circumstances, the overwhelming impression that stands out is that they are nice people; friendly, and decent, people who make fine friends and neighbors. No doubt, they were on their best behavior last night, but they seem to be on best behavior almost all the time.

At sunset, the pageant began.  It is hard to describe it in words.  We sat outside, several hundred yards away.  On the side of the hill in front of us, the players acted out the script.  Miraculously, the lights and sound system let us see and hear perfectly, as if we were in a small intimate theater.  The show is also enhanced with amazing special effects done with lights, water and fire.  All I can say is that we were amazed and delighted by the production.

The subject of the pageant is the Mormon view of their own religious history as told in the Book of Mormon.   They are Christians of Jewish heritage, but like the New Testament, and the Koran, they believe in the Book of Mormon as a supplement to the story.   Libby and I are non-religious, but that doesn't mean that we don't enjoy stories from the Bible and these from the Book of Mormon.

One thing surprised us completely -- protesters.   On the road approaching the pageant were groups of protesters carrying signs and screaming about how terrible Mormons are.  As we left at the end of the pageant we could hear one of them with a giant bullhorn screaming in his rage.   Lots of police were there to make sure the protesting was done legally.  Still it was shocking.  If some group staged a similarly hateful demonstration against Islam at ground zero, the whole country would be aroused in anger.   The Mormons though, just shrugged their shoulders.  It seemed that they were used to it and resigned to it.

By the way, it turns out that the New York Times was also at the pageant.  Their story is on the front page of the NYT Wednesday.  I read it and I think their story was snotty and that the only reason the NYT was there was because a Mormon is a Republican candidate for President, and the NYT sought ammunition to look down their noses at him and his culture.  Shameful.

You can see my slideshow of the pageant here.   Unfortunately, my camera is inadequate for after dark pictures.  Look here or here to see some better images.