OGDEN -- Amazing. Wonderful. Awesome. Spiritual. Epic. And of course, spectacular.
Those were words some of the 3,500 teens used to describe the culmination of more than six months' practice for the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Youth Spectacular, "Arise and Shine Forth," which has been performed this week at Weber State University's Stewart Stadium.
The final performance will be at the stadium at 7:30 tonight.
More than 500 volunteer adults led hours and hours of sewing costumes, making props and choreographing dance numbers. In all, the teens are expected to perform before 40,000 guests.
Although youths between the ages of 14 and 18 from northern Davis County to the northern border of Weber County have been practicing since January for the huge singing and dancing event, the project has been in the works for almost two years, said director Jerry Nelson.
The idea came after LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson encouraged youths of the church to do more positive and productive activities together to share their testimonies.
Local area Seventy member Donald Keyes approached Ronald Rasband, who was serving as a member of the presidency of the Seventy, with an idea for youth in the Weber County area to do a dance spectacular.
Soon, 30 stakes were divided into three councils, each with an assignment to devise part of the production, with a finale where all of the performers would be together.
Elder Donald Keyes addressed the kids before they took the field. He discussed the encouragement they'd received from their parents and church leaders, then explained they had a job to do.
"Tonight and tomorrow night, you will be able to lift them," he said, referring to the parents.
There were so many performers, it took the cast a full 15 minutes to emerge from the gym to assemble on the football field in their rainbow of brightly colored T-shirts.
The plot story spans from pre-earth life to present-day times describing the history of the church. It tells the story of how the church has grown around the world, with various native dances performed by each of the different stakes.
At the conclusion, all of the youths come streaming from the stands and sides of the field, displaying flashlights and singing about celebrating the light.
They parade across the field with the lights as teens appear on the screen, talking about their goals and what the church means to them. Church missionaries come to the center of the stage and sing, "Called to Serve," a song about missionary work.
The youths then gather to shine flashlights toward the sky as a huge mural of Jesus Christ scrolls down.
For many of the performers, the finale was the best part.
"The last part was amazing, it was just so spiritual," said Sara Harward, 15.
She said she was very excited about the whole spectacular from the beginning, but admits she had to work to get her friends on board, but now her friends have no regrets.
"She got me into this," Brook Kendrick, 15, said, pointing to Harward, "but I am so glad she did!"
Wearing flapper dresses from their 1920s-themed dance, the girls danced around the WSU gym after the dress rehearsal Tuesday night.
Nelson said he was very happy with the reactions of the kids and knew they would love it once they saw it all come together.
"We wanted it to not just be about the performances, but about the journey," Nelson said.
"We wanted these kids to have an experience they would always remember and carry with them, and I think we have achieved that."
Miranda Walker, 15, will always remember her feelings about the show. She was somewhat skeptical and thought about dropping out several times, especially when the outdoor practices were so cold during May and June.
She said she appreciates her leaders for encouraging her.
"They brought treats and kept telling me it would be worth the life lessons learned and that I should stick with something I commit to. ... Now it all seems just incredible and I have made so many friends," Walker said as she high-fived teen after teen walking by.
The friend factor also made a big difference for Josh France, but now he feels he got so much more out of it than bonding with others.
"It was amazing. I could feel the spirit, and it almost brought tears to my eyes."
Nelson said this event is the LDS Church's contribution and kickoff to Ogden's Pioneer Days celebration.
"There is usually a fireside, or last year, it was the Tabernacle Choir. Well, this year it's the spectacular," he said.
It is a ticketed event, although the tickets are free.
Nelson said finding a ticket may be difficult for tonight's performance, but because the event is free, there may be extra space.
Doors open at 6 p.m.
Those wanting to wait for a stand-by seat may gather at the gates of the Stewart Stadium at 7:15 p.m.
The pre-show starts at 7:30 p.m. with music from the WSU Institute Chorale. The spectacular itself officially is set to begin at 7:50 and end at approximately 9:40 p.m.
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