Nativity display celebrates true meaning of Christmas

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By Sarah Moss, Staff Writer
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December 14, 2009 — There was no shortage of Christmas spirit at the seventh annual "Nativities from Around the World" concert and display this year.

Peggy Elmer, chairman of the committee that coordinates the event, has been painstakingly planning the agenda since January. As tradition goes, the planning process for the following year begins within weeks after the most recent display is taken down.

Photo by Sarah Moss.

An average of 8,000 area residents visits the display each year, only half of which are members of the LDS church. Hundreds of Nativity sets are loaned by members and non members alike who help organize, label, and arrange the sets which were on display Dec. 3-7. There were also seven concerts to book one per night for three of the evenings, and two per night on the weekend evenings. The goal of all who devote time to the project is to bring the wonder of Christ's birth to the masses.

The crowds of people who filtered through the Spokane Stake Center on Spokane's South Hill were met with beautiful Nativity displays and obvious attention to every single detail by the event volunteers. In the main display areas, some of the nativities were as small as a thimble; others stood a regal 4 feet tall. Each table bore a variety of sets that ranged from simple to intricate, small to large, and traditional to unorthodox. They came from places as simple as a local store to far off places like Israel or Zimbabwe, and represented 37 different countries.

Photo by Sarah Moss.

One of the Japanese nativities was made entirely out of origami. Another display bore the ethnic trademarks of Morocco. The musical presentations also rang of diversity, from the Pilgrim Slavic Baptist Church Brass Orchestra to the Concordia Choir of the Spokane German-American Society.

The variety of music offered without cost was wide, and all of the choirs were from neighboring Spokane churches, adding to the tight knit community feel. The Spokane Community Gospel Choir provided a lively performance Saturday night with their soulful harmonies and upbeat tone. They sang a mixture of classic Christmas tunes and more modern songs. Children danced in their seats, and adults wiped tears from their eyes while the Spirit filled the entire chapel. The music could be heard throughout the entire Stake Center while people walked amongst the lit up displays.

Throughout the entire building, there were baskets with complimentary copies of the Book of Mormon and Holy Bibles for patrons to take, as well as LDS church member "hosts" and LDS missionaries around every corner to answer questions, guide guests to the next display and offer a welcoming smile with a heartfelt "Merry Christmas."

The crowds were mixed and included non-members of the LDS faith who were heard making positive comments like "I didn't realize the Mormon Church let just anyone into their buildings" or "I was surprised to see that the LDS church worships Jesus Christ." As is the case each year, the event was a wonderful celebration of the season handled with grace and class by its organizers.

The "Nativities from Around the World" display is an opportunity to celebrate all the different ways that other faiths, families, and countries celebrate and honor the birth of Jesus Christ. The music, beautiful sights, and warm, welcoming faces are all part of an exquisite tribute to the true meaning of Christmas.

Well done, Spokane Stake.

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