The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints put on The British Pageant in two different location in the world. One British Pageant is done in England and the other is done in Nauvoo, Illinois.
The British Pageant done in Nauvoo at the same location and stage as the Nauvoo Pageant, on different nights. The British Pageant is put on every Wednesday and Friday during the month of July through August 5. All pageants throughout the Church were closed the last couple years and the Nauvoo and British Pageants just stared back up this year 2023.
British Pageant Background
The British Pageant was originally performed in Chorley, England in 2013 and they plan on continuing to perform it in England every 4 years. It has not been scheduled yet due to the global pandemic, but they do plan of returning soon. The British Pageant is not an annual pageant in England, and because of that, it was determined that a modified version of the British Pageant would be brought to Nauvoo in 2014 and be performed on alternating evenings during the pageant season.
British Pageant Storyline
The Nauvoo Pageant is very famous and most Latter-Day Saints have heard of the Nauvoo Pageant, but the British Pageant is less known but equally excellent. Our group had lower expectations for the British Pageant, because of lack of knowledge and advertising, but we were thrilled with the Pageant. The British Pageant blew us out of the water. It was a powerful pageant and simply beautiful!
Plot of the British Pageant
The storyline is about a family living in the British Isles, and the mom had recently passed away. The father is lost without his loving wife, and his daughter is searching for the true Church of Jesus Christ. At the same time the family is struggling the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints were called to all go to the British Isles and gather the people prepared for the gospel who were searching for the truth.
One of the best parts of the Pageant was the large focus on the connection of the British Immigrants with the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints today. Many members of the Church currently living, have ancestors who were converted during that time of the Church.
It was an amazing time, where the people of Europe were prepared to hear the message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and sacrificed all to follow the Lords call to gather. At the end of the Pageant they have all the full time missionaries come out on stage, while explaining how The Church still has missionaries sharing the same message today. It was a beautiful, emotional moment of connection to the past and the people. There is so much gratitude and pride for all the people who came before and followed the call to gather in Zion, and the connection it to the missionaries serving now following was powerful. That same call to gather is changing the world today, as it did to the people and missionaries from Joseph Smith's time.
The British Pageant was one of the most memorable experiences on our trip to Nauvoo, it was so special and spiritual, teaching so much about my past and present. It was simply wonderful.
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