Flowers in bloom bring the message of Hope at Easter

Fair are the meadows,
Fairer the woodlands,
Robed in the flowers of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
He makes the sorrowing spirit sing.
from
"Beautiful Savior"
Crusader's Hymn

The Mesa Arizona Temple is surrounded by the "flowers of blooming spring"

The walkway to the Temple with flowers and olive trees

Delphinium

Foxglove

Easter Pageant Preparations continue as March 25th approaches

Elder Cameron is invited to see the view from the top of the Pageant stage by director Jenee Prince and Pageant President Steven West

View from the top of the stage shows how families spend the Super Saturday practices with  shelter from the sun using tents and awnings as they wait for their call to the stage

View from the top of the stage

Sisters Beach, McSheehy, Pajaro and Lloyd pose with the Solomons

The Solomons are friends year round, and are especially welcome at Easter Pageant time

Dancers anticipating their time on stage

The Choir of Angels pose in front of the Temple

Some of the  Ten virgin dancers pose with their lamps 

Hermana Hernandez and Roman Soldiers

Brother Simeona helps out in the Center while the Visitors' Center Sisters have a picture taken on the stage

Young member of the cast and the member who plays the role of the boy Jesus direct us to the picture of Jesus teaching in the Temple

Working as one in the Easter Pageant

Early on  Saturday Mornings before Easter, families gather with tents, coolers, shade awnings, lawn chairs and joyful countenances to prepare for Super Saturday practice for the Easter Pageant

The Pageant cast of 500 participants work together as one - both as families and in the larger Pageant family

The Sescandon Family are the first family to arrive

The Sescandon family of ten are participating for the first time in the Pageant

The Sescandons joined the church four years ago and their oldest son is currently waiting for his mission call

Blankets are welcome in the cool morning air, and the awning will bring shade as the sun brings unseasonably warm temperatures later in the day

Norm and Miriam King and Barbara Abney prepare lunch under their awning awaiting their practice call

The cast gather as they are instructed at the stage

Musical Fireside brings many friends to the Visitors' Center on March 8, 2015

Sister Ashton practices with sisters preparing for the musical fireside to be held in the Christus Room

Behind-the-scenes and always ready to help, Sister Embley accompanies the choir

Over 100 chairs are set up for the guests

Elder and Sister Ashton take a moment to enjoy the anticipation of the concert
Over 120 guests enjoyed the beautiful performance, planned and conducted by Sister Ashton

Arizona Mesa Mission Welcomes new Missionaries in March 2015

President and Sister Jenkins greet new missionaries at the Visitors' Center

The newly arriving sister missionaries

Missionaries prepare for their first day in the Mission

Sister McSheehy from Florida

Sister Beach will train Sister McSheehy

Sister Stringfellow will guide Sister Gonzalez-Calderon

Sister Gonzalez-Calderon from California

Sister Willes from Idaho

Sister Ganta will act as trainer for Sister Willes

Story Time in February features Stories from the Bible

The story of David and Goliath is told by Sister Ganta and Sister McNeely 

Elder Bowers enters as Goliath

David tells Goliath that he comes with a sword and a shield, but David comes in the name of the God of Israel

David is victorious in his battle against Goliath

Sisters Duran, Greene and Guevara tell the story of the Good Samaritan, and sing the song "I'll Walk with You", as they teach the children to be kind to one another

The children help build Noah's Ark with Sister Pajaro, Hernandez and Beach

Sisters Pajaro, Willes, Hernandez, Beach and Grow with Noah's Ark teach the children that our Father in Heaven loves and protects his children