I have been looking forward to this opportunity to be with my Mexican friends to see "
Luz de Las Naciones Juventud de la Promesa" .
I attended Friday night October 23, 2015. The choir made up of young adults was great.
My friend Kimberly arranged several of the numbers. I am grateful to know her and to see her share her talents.
These were beautiful dancers and songs from many of the Latin countries.
I met Ray at the Conference Center and we sat together to watch the performance.
David Archuleta introduced his sister who he said doesn't know Spanish yet but will soon be learning it. She has a mission call and will enter the Missionary Training Center in a few days.
My camera doesn't take great pictures but these pictures I took bring back lots of special memories.
There were lots of beautiful dancers.
Between the different dances they showed video clips featuring young people and family from various Latin American countries.
It was great for me to hear the video clips in Spanish and relive my days as a Mexican Missionary.
I enjoyed seeing the native costumes from the various countries.
One of the numbers featured a soccer game. The dancers re-enacted a "futbol" match.
The choir was the animated fans and unfurled this massive banner after their favorite team scored a goal.
It was all very entertaining.
The different lighting and the graphics on the stage added to the beauty of the program.
It was great to be in the Conference Center with 21,000 people who spoke Spanish and loved the culture.
I liked all of the special effects.
The dances from many different countries were featured during the program.
I especially enjoyed listening to the mariachi band and the dance from Mexico.
I like their beautiful costumes.
David Archuleta recently returned from a mission in Chile. He dressed in a typical Chilean costume and sang "Si as para Chile".
While he was singing some young people performed a dance from Chile.
It was great to see the different groups celebrate their culture.
The program focused on the youth and the blessings and opportunities awaiting them as they grow and serve others.
Kimberly has directed the youth choir at rehearsals all year and arranged some of the numbers for them.
I like the different lights on the 7,500 organ pipes.
David and his mother sang a special song together.
David Archuleta sang several songs in the program in Spanish.
Another impressive part of the program is when hundreds of missionaries dressed in white shirts and tie and sister missionaries dressed in missionary clothes with their missionary name tags came on to the stage.
They sang in Spanish, "We are as the armies of Helaman...
"We'll bring the world His Truth". This was such an impressive sight.
A video clip showed President Thomas S. Monson telling the young people in the church to find strength through the scriptures, the temple adn the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Rebecca Penailillo sang, "Yo se que vive mi Senor"
This is my favorite hymn.
At the end all of the dancers came back on stage.
This was a great finale.
I enjoyed hearing it all in Spanish and was happy that I could understand most of it.
One of the messages of the program was that blessings and protection await us when we exercise faith and build a relationship with God.
There were lots of participants that worked hard to make this an outstanding production.
After everyone was on stage David Archuleta sang, "Glorious" in Spanish.
"It's like a symphony just keep listening,And pretty soon you'll start to figure out your part
Everyone plays a piece in their own melodies In each one of us, oh, it's glorious". This is another one of my favorite songs.
I am happy that I could sit with Ray during this beautiful program.
After the concert I was able to visit with Esthela and her family.
Sixty years ago when I was a missionary in Aguascalientes, Mexico I was an instrument in the Lord's hands to bring the gospel to her and her family.
It was such a great joy to meet up with her again.
I love her and her family.
Early Saturday morning I flew back to Arizona.
I watched the sun come up.
The reflection from the sun on the clouds was beautiful.
This was a spectacular view.
It was light when we flew into Phoenix.
The buildings of downtown Phoenix all look familiar.
It is good to be back in Arizona
I had a wonderful couple of days in Utah with many wonderful experiences as I built memories.
