Ever since I've really loved doing the pageant and I'm always meeting new friends and getting to see them every year. My favorite part was the 10 virgins, and I loved what the story meant, the parable. And how we always have to be ready for Jesus's Second Coming. I know that Christ lives, and this is just one of the greatest ways I've been able to kind of like expand that out. It's been great mission prep. It solidifies, you know, you rely kind of maybe on your parents as you grow up, but this has just really planted the seed in me and let it grow, that I kind of know for myself that Christ lives. It's kind of been a really good experience to be able to learn the scriptural aspect of it and be able to know those stories so well and internalize and make them such a huge part of my life.

It's made me have such a strong connection with the New Testament and a really good relationship with our Savior. It's really been a great experience for me.

I've been struggling a lot and this has really gotten me a lot closer to my family and closer to friends that I know. And it's great to know that I'm helping people realize what Easter is really about. My experience with Easter pageant has really helped me get a personal testimony of the Savior, Him as an individual. Because I feel like a lot of times, sitting in church, you focus on Him as your Savior, Redeemer. For me I always felt a little bit out of touch. I feel like when I've been in the Easter pageant, I've been allowed to be involved in a multitude, a variety of other positions and roles that I'll be able to interact with the portrayal of our Savior and I really come to Him as a person. As I say the scriptures and I'm participating in the scenes, I'm able to have that personal relationship with Him that I don't feel like I would have otherwise. Surprised as an actor in the play, but he truly feels like the Christ to us. For my part, I'm an angel, of course, and then I actually am a torchbearer as well. So I go from being angelic to the low of the low, and trying to crucify the Christ. I always try to be a little fast so I can stand there watching Him be crucified. And I know it's a sad part of His life, but that's part of the Atonement and the part that helps me heal myself and my sins. I love Him for the sacrifices He did for us, and I feel without Him I'd be nothing. I know that He died for us and I know that He was perfect and He was such an essential part of the plan. And because of Him, I'm able to go back to Heavenly Father and it makes me so happy to know that someone loved me enough to do that for me.