In a serene valley at the base of the Clarkston mountains, just a few feet from the monument that marks Martin Harris' final resting place, thousands of visitors are inspired by the annual pageant, "Martin Harris, the Man Who Knew."
Martin Harris was one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon and financed the first printing of the book. The pageant portrays him, his family and his interactions with the Prophet Joseph Smith over a five-year period from 1824 to 1829.This is the pageant's 16th season. This year, it was held Aug. 14-21 in this community approximately 25 miles northwest of Logan. The program contains music, dancing and a cast of 125 people.
Pageant director Duane Huff, a member of the North Logan 3rd Ward, North Logan Utah Green Canyon Stake, has directed the pageant every year since it began.
Has he tired of his involvement? An emphatic "no" is his answer.
"Every year it stirs my soul," he said. "It has enough depth that you can go over it again and again."
Most of that depth comes from the script, which was written by Logan Institute of Religion instructor Rhett James and went through seven revisions. "Every word in every scene is carefully structured," Brother Huff said. "It has great power."
Boyd Fullmer, who plays Joseph Smith Sr., agrees.
"It's stunning, and there are no words to explain it," he said. "There are nights when I'm describing the Savior, and it's all I can do to control the emotions, because it's so powerful."
In a dress rehearsal, tears rolled down his cheeks as, in character, he proclaimed his powerful testimony about his son, Joseph Smith Jr., and the visions the young prophet had received.
Brother Fullmer, a member of the Cliffside 1st Ward, Mt. Logan Utah Stake, said that the testimony he bears as an actor is not acting, it is truly his own. Viewers also hear testimonies from the characters of Joseph Smith Jr. and Martin Harris. The witnesses are important as the main purpose of the pageant is to proclaim the gospel.
"It's something we do because of its value to missionary work in bearing witness to the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ," Brother Huff said. "There has been inspiration in every element."
More than 35,000 people from throughout the United States and many parts of the world see the pageant each year. (Admission is free but by ticket only because of limited seating in the amphitheater, so that figure remains fairly constant from year to year.) Last year, approximately 2,000 people who had viewed the pageant requested missionaries to come visit them.
All participants in the pageant must be temple worthy, and some are direct descendants of Martin Harris. According to Brother Huff, about 70 percent of the cast members return each year for the three weeks of intense rehearsals and seven performances.
The cast members constitute only a fraction of those involved, however, according to Denzel Clark, pageant president. Hundreds of members from seven stakes combine their efforts to take care of everything from costumes to public relations.
Brother Huff said, "It's been a great work of love on the part of thousands."
Ticket requests for the 1999 pageant will be accepted by mail on or after Feb. 1, 1999. Address inquiries to Martin Harris Pageant, P.O. Box 151, Clarkston, Utah 84305.
