Manti Miracle Pageant

Dan created this picture with Elle (on left) and Hoku fighting over the same shoe.  Elle looks much whiter than Hoku.  Not sure if she really is or it is the lighting from differences between pictures.

Kent and Ryan went to Youth Conference Thursday to Saturday (also in Manti but we never crossed paths).  Dan, Nate, Elle and I went down Friday and Saturday with the Oblads, a family in our ward (their oldest daughter was also at Youth Conference).  Nate and Josh did baptisms in the temple--Nate for the first time.  Afterwards we looked over the Pageant set from the top of the Temple Mount.

Nate wanted to appear closer to Josh's height so he asked him to stay a step lower.  

It worked, they are closer in height.

Walking back over the temple mount to our camp site.

We camped at the bottom on the north of the temple mount.  

Sandra, Andy, Milli, Josh and Zoe the dog.  Nate, Dan and Elle.

After our temple visit we headed to Palisade State Park for a refreshing jump in the lake.  Nate and Josh collected tadpoles and searched for other creepy, crawly, swimmy things.

Andy rented a canoe in which we took turns rowing around the lake while others jumped off the dock and swam in the super cool waters.  It was glorious!

Zoe swam with the best of them.  Actually, she didn't really swim when first tossed in but seemed to enjoy Erin's boogie board, Oceana.

 Then we headed back to Manti, met Erik and Ashley for Hawaiian plate lunch then back to camp.  The boys made a fire (borrowing matches but no strike pad so finally had to ask our next door neighbor U of U campers who had a torch) and we made either or both:

banana boats with chocolate and cookie dough 

sugar cone with chocolate, marshmallow and cookie dough.

The banana boats were awesome but it took finesse to cook the sugar cones just right.

(sorry no pics)

Then we headed over to the south side of the temple mount.  We brought our dogs and sat (lied down) just outside the fence in the grass while we waited for the celestial lights to dim.

Dark enough, we started with a prayer and the National Anthem.

I really wanted a picture of Angel Moroni standing on the left tower but it was too dark for my iphone camera.  Nate cuddled up with Elle to enjoy the evening.  About half way through the story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, I asked myself, "so what is the miracle?"  Of course, all of the story is a miracle but about 2 minutes later the narrator said, "you are the miracle!"  I think everyone heard it, too.