Article Categories

MRM and the Mormon Miracle Pageant

The Mormon Miracle Pageant has been cancelled effective 2020. This article explains an evangelism opportunity that took place over 50 years in Central Utah. 

Since 1987, members from the Mormonism Research Ministry team have been going to Manti, UT for two weeks each June to participate in outreach at the Mormon Miracle Pageant. Thousands of people from all over the United States come to watch the pageant, a play on the hillside of the temple depicting Joseph Smith and his translation of the Book of Mormon as well as the history of the early Mormons.  It’s an exciting time as we have a chance to fellowship with other believers, sharing God’s truth in the hours before the pageant begins at 9:30 p.m. In 2014 MRM produced a thousand copies of a 22-minute DVD that were handed out to the residents of Manti and the nearby town of Ephraim. It was meant to help residents better understand who we are and why we come.

If you would like to be a part of this, there are several practical ways you can do so. First, you can come on one of the pageant days and participateEven if you don’t know very much, you can come and observe as well as lending moral support. Who knows, God may very well have a “divine appointment” in store just for you! If you have a tent, feel free to spend the night at the Manti City park (West 200 North), as dozens of Christians camp together at the northeast corner. Coming into town (Hwy 89) you will turn west on West 200 North and drive about 3 blocks. The cost to pitch a tent is $10 per night. There is also room for RV parking around the perimeter of the park. Since the park has no shower facilities, many use the showers at Snow College located about ten minutes to the north in Ephraim. To verify shower/pool prices you can call the college at (435) 283-7000. Snow College is located just east of Highway 89 on Center Street. Showers and pool are located in the Activity Center near the corner of Center and 400 West. Manti also has a public swimming pool and showersIf you like, there is a campground ¼ mile north of Manti. This site offers a pool, showers, and laundry facilities. (For more information on lodging and food, see the bottom of this article.)

Many of you live too far away and would not be able to come. A second way you could participate is help us fund this important outreach. Besides the cost of the DVD production, our needs include transportation (vehicle and gas), fees for tents, and food. To help us with these expenses, go to the Donate button (orange) at the top right corner of this page. Designate “Manti Outreach” in the memo and we’ll be sure to use this money for the pageant expenses. 

The third way you can participate is pray, pray, pray. Every year we see great things happen and this is our favorite time of evangelism. Our team (Bill and Tammy McKeever, Eric Johnson, Randy and Carol Sweet, Sharon Lindbloom and Aaron Shafovaloff) collectively have more than a century of Mormon Miracle Pageant experience under our belts, but no amount of experience equals the prayers of the saints lifted to the heavenlies.

Would you please join us in one (or more) of these ways of participation?

Here is a rough schedule for each day of the Pageant:

9:30 a.m. (to about noon) Fellowship/worship/prayer/special teaching message each day at Ephraim Church of the Bible (located at 400 S. 400 E in Ephraim (town next to Manti)

Noon to 6 p.m. Different activities, your choice, including evangelism activities, resting, or local service projects (on-going). (To find out more, attend the daily morning meeting and ask what is happening that day.)

5 p.m. Dinner at Manti Park: Cost per person is $5. Good food served up by Susie.

6 p.m. Meet on the street across the temple for corporate worship and prayer

6:30-9:30 p.m. Evangelism in the streets of Manti

9:30-11:30 p.m. Pageant. (If you have never seen the pageant, it might be a good idea to watch it to see what it’s all about. Many Christians watch this once each year just to see if there are any changes. Although we stay out of LDS Church grounds during the time before Pageant, you are free to enter the grounds and sit in their chairs provided you don’t attempt to do any evangelism/pass out tracts.)

9:30 p.m. Once the Pageant starts, many Christians congregate at Miller’s Bakery (227 N. Main) in Manti. Great fast food and shakes/malts are available, as we typically pack the place out.

Thank you for your interest in helping out at the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti, Utah. Since the 1980s Christians have found the pageant to be an excellent place to challenge the claims of Mormonism by presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We hope this information sheet will help with some of the basic questions you may have.
Manti (pronounced Man-tie) is located a little over 2 hours south of Salt Lake City in the heart of central Utah and is home to one of several Mormon temples. Since Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City is not that far, a day trip into the city is not an impossibility. The Pageant is a live production that utilizes the southern portion of Temple Hill as its stage. It begins at sundown (around 9:30pm). Since people arrive early to get a seat we usually start walking up to the temple grounds around 6pm. The streets surrounding the temple are blocked off, giving us plenty of room. You might want to bring a small backpack to carry tracts, Bible, etc. A hat is recommended also.
The weather can be unpredictable. Days and evenings are normally warm but a rare summer storm is not uncommon. A sweatshirt is usually more than adequate at night.
In order to keep costs to a minimum, most Christians stay at the city’s park located on West 200 North (these are common street names in Utah — just remember that streets called North and South really go east and west and streets called East and West really go north and south). Coming into town (Hwy 89) you will turn west on West 200 North and drive about 3 blocks. Traditionally the northwest corner of the park is where many Christians prefer to camp. The city of Manti charges $10.00 per tent per night or $1.50 per person per night if you choose to sleep under the stars (These prices can change). There is also room for RV parking around the perimeter of the park. Since the park has no shower facilities many use the showers at Snow College located about ten minutes to the north in Ephraim. To verify shower/pool prices you can call the college at (435) 283-7000). Snow College is located just east of Highway 89 on Center Street. Showers and pool are located in the Activity Center near the corner of Center and 400 West. http://www.snow.edu/~schrel/sitemap.html. Manti also has a public swimming pool and showers. For information see http://mantiutah.org/swimmingpool.html.
If you like, there is a campground ¼ mile north of Manti. This site offers a pool, showers, and laundry facilities. http://www.templehillresort.com.
Manti is one of the few places in the United States that has not been overtaken with chain restaurants. Most restaurants and hotels are owned by locals. Many people like going to Miller’s Cafe (especially after the pageant begins), but if you’re a Gentile who needs coffee in the morning (or anytime), we suggest the local convenience store called the Top Stop (Miller’s doesn’t sell coffee. Remember, you’re in Utah). The Top Stop also sells gas. Manti also has a grocery store, hardware store, and a Laundromat. If you find yourself having a Big Mac attack, you’ll have to go to Ephraim. Ephraim also has a Super Wal-Mart.
For the less adventurous there are motels in the area. These include:
• The Manti Motel (435) 835-8533
• Manti Country Village (435) 835-9300
• Brigham House Inn (435) 835-5050
• Temple View Lodge (435) 835-6663
The above are sometimes booked months in advance. You might also try some motels located either to the north or south of Manti. For instance:
In Gunnison (15 minutes south of Manti)-
• Country Paradise (435) 528-7521
• Gunnison Motel  (435)-528-7840
In Ephraim (10 minutes north of Manti)-
• Willow Creek Inn (435) 283-4566 & (877) 283-4566
In Sterling (7 minutes south of Manti)-
• Cedar Crest Inn (435) 835-6352
• Palisade Lodge (435) 835-5413
• Palisade Lake State Park (http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/palisade).
Thanks again for your desire to share God’s Word with the Mormon people. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the office of Mormonism Research Ministry at (801) 572-2153 ([email protected]) or see http://www.mormonmiracle.org/.

What about other places to stay?

For the less adventurous there are motels in the area. You will want to book these many months in advance. These include:

  • The Manti Motel (435) 835-8533
  • Manti Country Village (435) 835-9300
  • Brigham House Inn (435) 835-5050
  • Temple View Lodge (435) 835-6663

The above are sometimes booked months in advance. You might also try some motels located either to the north or south of Manti. For instance:

In Gunnison (15 minutes south of Manti)-

  • Country Paradise (435) 528-7521
  • Gunnison Motel  (435)-528-7840

In Ephraim (10 minutes north of Manti)-

  • Willow Creek Inn (435) 283-4566 & (877) 283-4566

In Sterling (7 minutes south of Manti)-

  • Cedar Crest Inn (435) 835-6352
  • Palisade Lodge (435) 835-5413
  • Palisade Lake State Park (http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/palisade).

What about restaurants?

Manti is one of the few places in the United States that has not been overtaken with chain restaurants. Most restaurants and hotels are owned by locals. Many people like going to Miller’s Cafe (especially after the pageant begins), but if you’re a “Gentile” who needs coffee in the morning (or anytime), we suggest the local convenience store called the Top Stop. (Miller’s doesn’t sell coffee. Remember, you’re in Utah). The Top Stop also sells gas. Manti also has a grocery store, hardware store, and a Laundromat. If you find yourself having a Big Mac attack, you’ll have to go to Ephraim. Ephraim also has a Super Wal-Mart.

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. We hope to see you out there.

YouTube videos: Here are some videos you might like to watch. They involve folks sharing their faith before the pageant in the streets of Manti. Go here for additional videos.

Share this

Check out these related articles...