Live Nativity

Inspiration is an amazing miracle.  What started as something to replace our Ward Christmas Party ended up being something that blessed the lives of those that planned, participated, and all those in the 650+ cars that came to see.  We put together a Live Nativity Drive-by.

When we realized it was going to be so well attended, Bishop asked the night before if we thought it was too late to announce a food drive.  As it turns out-- no, no it was not. 

By the end of the night, people were telling us that they'd waited in the line for over 45-minutes.  Randy was there to help in all capacities, so after I drove through with the kids, I drove to the highest driving point of the "mountain" behind our house to look down.  I was glad I wasn't still in the line but grateful to see nothing but headlights as far as 1 mile back and taillights about .25 mile back, seeing as that comes from neighborhoods, not main roads.

Randy had put together a 5-minute MP3 from a church video with music from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and words from the prophets proclaiming Jesus Christ as the reason for the season, our Savior and Redeemer.  It played on repeat and brought chills to every hair follicle of my person, especially when I pulled up to drive right next to the scene.

Families came together to build a stable backdrop.  Despite Rebecca, the matriarch of the family we asked to be our models, sewing her heart out to make costumes, when someone that is in the film industry heard about it, we were offered authentic, Hollywood costumes.

Two biological families, the Ritchie's (the same ones that put together the dance for Caden), alternately stood or knelt for two and a half hours.  100 cars came through before the 6:00pm start time.

Mary and Joseph knelt, gazing at Baby Jesus, shepherds brought live sheep, Wisemen brought their live camel, and all faced and gave praise to this Heavenly Scene.

One of the men that built the stable said he'd felt the spirit as he was designing and constructing, but it was nothing compared to seeing it all lit up as the backdrop to something so beautiful.

It may have said it was 45 degrees outside, but the sprinkling rain and at-times gusty breeze made me feel a pang of sadness.  I prayed and prayed that Heavenly Father would make it stop, just for those two hours.  However, my testimony was strengthened to think of the message that was portrayed during those cold moments-- No matter the cost, no matter the circumstance, we Speak of Christ, we Testify of Christ, at all times, in all things, in all places.  It was strengthened again when just 10-minutes after we'd finished cleaning up, the wind picked up to severe.  One thing about Richland-- it has Casper-winds every once in a while in the winter.  Heavenly Father had held off the wind until we were done. 

Missionaries accepted the food, handed out Pass Along cards and candy canes, directed traffic, and just made themselves seen, behind-the-scenes if you will.  Across the street from the entrance, we did actually have protesters, but they didn't stay long.  We invited them to Come, See, and Hear Him.  People not of our Faith were exposed to the beautiful temple, missionaries, the voice of the Prophets, smiling faces, our food drive, and the most beautiful display of the most precious scene in all history.

This may have started out as something to soothe the sorrow of yet another thing taken by Covid-19, but it ended up touching the lives of thousands in attendance, and countless others that watched the news broadcast where Randy was asked to be a spokesman, telling of this beautiful, inspired event.  I will never forget.