More Hill Cumorah, Erie Canal

The stage of the Hill Cumorah Pageant was multi-level. The special effects, props, lighting, scenery etc. were very well-done. Moving the 700 cast members on and off the stage between scenes must have been a monumental task. One of the cast members said there is a grid with lights underneath so they can see where to step in the darkness.

Behind the seating area there are flagpoles displaying the flags of many nations.

Between the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center and the pageant seating area, there is this large granite book. We never did go in the Visitor's Center so I don't know what information was given. All the parking stalls were always occupied. We could see the Christus statue as we passed by. On the other side of the Visitor's Center was 'Zion's Camp.' It was a campground for cast members who stayed in RVs and tents.

Gary, Suzanne, Reed & Kathy

Erie Canal

The Erie Canal was completed in 1825. The waterway was used to ship goods all over. Towns and villages were built along the canal route. There are locks on the canal through which the boats pass. Many people were fishing from the banks and having picnics. There were boats for hire. It looked pretty, serene and slow.

The Anti's

Everywhere the church had a presence, the anti-mormon groups showed up to harrass, heckle and make their point known. It wasn't too much of a problem at the Smith Farm and Grove because it is all private church property. The main road used to go through between the home and the grove but has since been re-routed. Sometimes we received word that some suspected anti's were headed our way. We were told not to respond to them but radio the Elders, who would call the police if there was a problem. The painted trailer below was towed back and forth on the road by the farm and the driver would honk to get attention. On the sidewalk in front of the Grandin Building the anti's hold signs, shout and get quite confrontational. At the pageant parking there was quite a large anti group badgering the attendees each night. They had yellow t-shirts with black writing to match the trailer. There was a police presence which probably helped keep it under control. One time I saw a yellow and black gazebo set up with the familiar 'What Mormons Don't Tell' next to another gazebo that said, 'What Christians Do Tell.'