Teenagers raced onto the stage of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Conference Center to sing, dance and even do a few back flips.
Dressed like Ute Indians, pioneers, railroad workers and baseball players, the 12- to 18-year-olds depicted the history in Utah that has led to two new temples built in the Salt Lake Valley.
The Youth Temple Celebration held Friday was staged by roughly 5,750 kids from the Draper Temple district who danced in front of a mountain backdrop. Today another performance will include more than 6,000 teenagers from the Oquirrh Mountain Temple district.
While temple celebrations have been held around the country and world to commemorate openings or rededications, this is the first event in Utah.
"Even here, where we have a number of temples, there's still an anticipation and delight when a new temple opens," said Elder Patrick Price, who with Elder John Pingree oversaw the celebration.
Apart from learning new songs and dance routines, Pingree said the teenagers were asked "to think of ways they can become better persons" during the practices that began in January.
Being one of thousands in the celebration is a privilege, said 12-year-old Emily Kezerian.
"I think it's cool that you get to dance for a temple -- bearing your feelings," she said, clad in a blue poodle skirt for the 1950s sequence.
Kezerian and her fellow performers are of age to enter the temples and perform baptisms for the dead, but there are other LDS ordinances that are exclusive to adults.
Involving the young LDS through the celebration helps them understand the importance of temples more, said the elders.
"[They] are the next generation. You lose them and you have no church," said Pingree.
Apart from learning the history in Utah that has shaped the LDS Church through their performances, he said, the teenagers also dress in costumes that depict cultures from Asia, Latin America and the Pacific that are also a part of the religion.
"A lot of ethnic groups are coming" into the religion, Pingree said, "and we want them to feel appreciated."
And as the rows of students wearing leis waited till they performed, Tanner Stephens and other "railroad workers" danced to a lively instrumental set.
Earlier, the 15-year-old was surprised to hear President Thomas S. Monson would attend the event -- one Stephens thought was just a fun way to hang out with friends.
The celebration commemorating the 129th and 130th LDS temples was impressive, Stephens said. After all, he can climb a mountain and see temples dotting the valley.
"Some people never even get to see a temple."
