NEWS - NATIONAL ATTENTION IN MORMON FAITH COULD DRIVE ATTENDANCE AT HILL CUMORAH PAGEANT

National interest in Mormon faith could drive attendance at Hill Cumorah Pageant

July 07, 2011

source: Democrat and Chronicle

As the actors, directors, lighting designers and production assistants prepare for the annual Hill Cumorah Pageant, which opens this weekend, they're wondering if a national "Mormon moment" will inspire more people to make the journey to Manchester, Ontario County.The pageant will go on as it has every year since 1937, but this year the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has captured national attention as two of its adherents are running for president and the Broadway musical, "The Book of Mormon," was this year's big Tony Award-winner.
"There's a lot of curiosity right now, which is kind of fun," said Heather Gist, a member of the Hill Cumorah cast who traveled from Utah to be a part of the show with her husband and four children.
If the attention, which includes a Newsweek cover story on Mormon prominence of late, brings more people to the sprawling hill with the massive stage, that's a good thing, Gist said.
"That's one of the best parts of this pageant," she said. "We get to talk to people who come for whatever reason."
The pageant's mission is to teach people about the Mormon faith, which is based on the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Mormons believe that their faith's founder, Joseph Smith, found metal plates in the hills of Palmyra in 1823, which became the Book of Mormon.
The pageant, which features a cast of more than 700 actors and draws more than 30,000 people, has become a national event for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Post-pageant surveys in 2008 found that people had traveled from 48 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Some people preparing for the pageant were effusive about the two Mormons seeking the nation's highest office, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. Others said a candidate's personal religious beliefs were less important than other personal characteristics they bring to the office.
"I don't think their religious affiliation should matter," said Becky Buffum, an East Rochester resident who was coordinating activities for children in the pageant. "I think it's good that people of our faith are more prominent, just because it opens the door for (people) to ask more questions about what (it means to be) a Mormon."

Buffum and others acknowledged the public's misconceptions of their faith, notably that polygamy is still practiced. The LDS church ended the practice in 1890.It is these misconceptions and a suspicion about the faith that have prevented some evangelical Christian voters from supporting Mormon candidates. In a Republican primary, evangelical voters are highly sought after.
While 68 percent of Americans said a presidential candidate's Mormon identity wouldn't matter, 34 percent of white evangelical Protestants and 41 percent of liberal Democrats said they would be less likely to support a Mormon candidate, according to a Pew Research Center survey in May.
Though Mormons are not exclusively Republican — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is Mormon — many are, and Mormons and evangelicals share many values.
Nancy French, a writer who contributes to an "Evangelicals for Mitt" blog, said Mormons are also opposed to gay marriage and abortion, and said Mormons can be more conservative than evangelicals.
She said evangelical opposition to Mormon candidates is "identity politics at its worst."
"Just because you're an evangelical Christian doesn't mean that you have to have an evangelical Christian in the White House," she said.
Local political observers said they've heard more opposition to Romney because of his positions rather than his faith.
"I just don't see it as an issue," said conservative talk show host Bill Nojay, who added that Romney's record was more of a concern among Republicans he knows.
Monroe County Conservative Chairman Tom Cook shared that view.
"I have never had one person say they were concerned because he's a Mormon," Cook said.
Observers have noted that the economic climate is different than it was in 2008, when Romney lost the Republican nomination, and that people are thinking more about their pocketbook than about social values.
"You never want to see bad economic times but I'm sure Gov. Romney will tout that as something he can fix," said Kelly Patterson, a Brigham Young University political science professor.
Romney has attracted some local support, and made a quiet visit to Rochester last week to raise money in an event at Max at Eastman Place, organized by real estate developer and prolific Republican fundraiser David Flaum.
The Republican establishment was there, including Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, but Brooks and the local party have not made any endorsement in the race.