January 14, 2016
Christmas is past and I have not taken time to post this amazing season. Comparing what I knew from last year, to this year, was overwhelming. I thought I knew what to expect, and to a point, I did, but the numbers of people were staggering. I know that in comparison to Salt Lake Temple Square and the lights there we are small time. But, remembering that this visitor site is very remote, and much smaller than the others, makes this year amazing.
Last year we had almost 40,000 people in cars drive by to see the lights. This year we had 60,284 people in cars drive by. Twenty- thousand more than last year. Last year we talked to almost 6,000 people and we served them cookies and apple cider. This year we had 9,314 people come into the Center. Of that number we greeted and talked to 7,363 who were not members of the Church.
The lights were stunning. The South Royalton Ward Chapel (above) was beautiful. As people drove up the long lane, there was a radio channel they could tune into that was playing the Tabernacle Choir while they drove around the site.
The lights that drew attention first were the multiple trees with bright colors at the beginning of the circle drive.
There were over 150,000 lights in the whole display for this Christmas Season.
The monument was beautiful and Annie the donkey and two sheep kept watch over it. The kids loved the animals. I'm afraid they were fed too many cookies, carrots, and bread, etc. by well meaning visitors.
Some of these trees are 60 feet tall, and senior missionaries like us did all the stringing of the lights. Elder and Sister Ence and Elder and Sister Broberg worked tirelessly using lifts that would sway in the breeze.
We had two Senior Sister missionaries (Sisters Farr and Edwards) who spent their last five weeks helping put the lights on these lower trees. They were finished with their missions before the lights were turned on, so they missed seeing the beauty they helped create.
There were a couple of young adults waiting for mission calls and others who were going away to school who helped early in September.
It took the missionaries working every day from dawn to dusk to get these lights up. They started early October and would do each tree as they dropped their leaves. There was one tree in particular that was keeping its leaves until just before Thanksgiving; then they dropped and the missionaries hurried to get that tree finished.
Vermont is noted for its covered bridges. They are always a draw. We had a covered bridge made of lights. It is always the favorite of our visitors. Last year a young man made arrangements to propose to his girlfriend under this covered bridge.
This year was, I'm sure, our best year ever. The lights, music, animals, cookies, and, of course, the magic glasses made this an amazing year. People said "it is our new Christmas tradition" or "everyone is talking about these lights, and we'll be back." Most of what they felt from this beauty was more intense because there is a Spirit about this place. It offers peace to the harrowed soul, joy to the heart and beauty to the eye.
We were exhausted, a good exhaustion. Some nights we had 800 and 900 people we greeted in just a four hour time. It was definitely a rewarding Christmas Season.
Elder Petersen, Sister Petersen, Sister Petersen, Sister Innes
