Rexburg Temple Cultural Celebration!

Our 2nd ds (Jonah) was one of the performers so he had to be to the gym really early. I dropped off some dinner to him and wandered around the lobby just to see what was going on. I found out there was a stand-by ticket line. We were just going to watch at the Stake Center because we hadn't gotten tickets for the gym. We (Brian and I) decided it would be worth waiting in line because it wasn't very long at that point and we really wanted to see it in the gym instead of on tv. We knew there would be seats left because the weather has been so bad that some people from the Teton Valley couldn't get here. My sister was with me and we saw lots of people we knew so the hour and a half that we waited in line wasn't so bad. :-)
The ushers started taking people from the line in small groups. We were the 4th or 5th group to go in. We had to split the family up because they had 2 sets of 4 seats. Brian and I were led to our seats but we had to wait because we had to go down the aisle right next to the music conductor and the opening hymn was being sung. Then the prayer was said. We were told to "wait right here" until the dignitaries finished speaking. The lights came up, and lo and behold, there we were behind Elder Bednar on all 3 *huge* screens!!!!!! Talk about embarrassing! I don't know how many people last night and today have come up to us and said "I saw you on the screen last night!!". The ushers decided to change our seats because we were having a difficult time getting to them. So, we ended up sitting behind and just to the side of Elder and Sister Bednar! We were on the first row of bleacher seats which was good for Isabeau and Ronan. Isabeau was especially cute. She would go up to the railing right next to Sister Bednar and watch the program. Sis. Bednar would look over and Isabeau would smile back at her. Such a precious memory for me to give her when she is older!! She's only 2 (3 next month) so it was okay for her to be cute. She wasn't bothering anyone because the seats right below the railing were empty. And it was easier to let her do that than try to hold her on my lap the whole time!
The program was so amazing!!! They started by telling how the first pioneers came up from Cache Valley, UT. It was hard those first few years. President Woodruff gave his "Wagon Box Prophecy" and told the people that he could see into the future of the valley and saw productive fields, meetinghouses dotting the land, schools and places of higher learning and temples (plural) in this valley. The Rexburg Temple is part of the fulfillment of that prophecy. The Saints, of course, did prosper. Thomas E. Ricks was a tremendous leader who got things going in a big way with canals and other infrastructure.The program had a lot of dancing from different eras and styles, a barbershop quartet, a brass band, and even a dance with irrigation pipes!! It was fun!! The chior and wind ensemble were incredible!!!
There was one part about the Teton Dam Flood disaster. They said that despite the flood on June 6th, one month after the flood, the town held their 4th of July Parade to the amazement of many. A marching band came out on the floor playing "Stars and Stripes Forever". Several young men came out and started throwing candy to the crowd just like at a real parade! It was fun. Ronan was able to get one piece and then Sis. Bednar handed him one that had fallen at her feet. After the program, she found another piece and gave it to him, also. Elder Costa (presidency of the 70) also found one after the program (he was sitting next to the Bednar's) and handed it to Isabeau. They are so sweet and always considerate of children!! I love their example!!!!!
The last number was "The Spirit of God". A Primary chior came out onto the floor. A young boy began a solo of "I Love to See the Temple". The Primary Chior joined in. Then a young girl began to sing "The Spirit of God". The regular chior joined in and it was powerful!!! Toward the end, hundreds of Primary children all dressed in white came flowing onto the floor. They filled the floor completely!! They each had stalks of wheat in their hands. At the end they all raised their arms toward the picture of the Temple that was showing on the screen, symbolizing gathering the wheat of the Lord to His Holy House. I can't even express in words how powerful it all was!!!
Representations of wheat fill the Temple from banisters to the stained glass windows. It is a "theme" of the Temple and the celebration had several segments devoted to it, also. There was even a large motif in the center of the floor painted to look like one of the s tained glass windows with wheat in it and there were wheat stalks painted everywhere on the floor.
It was wonderful and such a huge success!! I saw the performers faces as the danced. You could see the joy in their eyes. What wonderful memories for them!!
I didn't mean to write a book but there you have it!!