In between these moments, when teens held up their lights in a dark world, were massive numbers where hundreds of young Latter-day Saints came on stage in waves of color. These were choreagraphed and produced by members in the Manhattan Temple district, many who work in New York’s robust entertainment industry.

Executive producer of the show, Claudia Bushman, an adjunct professor of history at Columbia University, told the Salt Lake Tribune that she was “overcome by the  inventiveness, color, and spirit” of the kids.

High-powered helpers played roles in pulling this all together.  Dave Checketts, the master of ceremonies and a member of the Yorktown Stake Presidency, was the former CEO of Madison Square Gardens.  Don Gilmore, who was the production manager for the Jubilee, has a broadway show opening this summer.  Broadcast director, Andy Rosenberg, has won many Emmys doing sports broadcasting.

The directors from each stake made sacrifices of love.  Westchester Stake director for a smashing, high-energy routine of Broadway songs was Dorothy Bench who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. 

The commitment to pull this together was high, but so are the stakes.  The youth in New York, as so many other places in the world, often have to stand alone for their standards in a toxic world.  They have to cling to Zion while assaulted with Babylon and strengthening them to do so is paramount.

The large productions numbers were a mirror of the ethnic variety of the Saints in New York. It is a melting pot of members—perhaps a more diverse gathering of Saints than anywhere else in the world.

Fifty units are Spanish speaking.  Members speak Portuguese, Russian, German, and Mandarin.  There are entire branches that use American Sign Language.

Click here to go to Part 4 of The Youth Jubilee in New York City