Performers braving frigid temps for Live Nativity

By Lethbridge Herald on December 19, 2022.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Cast members of run through a rehearsal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Live Nativity on Saturday ahead of performances set for later this week.

Justin Seward – LETHBRIDGE HERALD

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will be re-enacting their annual Live Nativity with live animals over three days this week.

The 12-and-a-half minute long Live Nativity is a re-enactment of the birth of Jesus Christ as scripted in the Bible.

Cory Livingstone, Live Nativity organizer, said, “It’s been 30 plus years that they’ve done this annually, except for a couple years ago because of COVID.”

“And so in preparation for this year’s performance, we would have started certain things — booking equipment we use and what not last month. But today (Saturday) is the live rehearsal so that everybody who is performing next week is familiar with what they need to do.”

The volunteer cast is comprised of church members.

There is a good balance of younger and older cast members.

“There’s a whole range,” said Livingstone.

“So some of the shepherds are younger children and the wisemen are more seasoned and mature.”

There will be 20 cast members per evening playing the roles in the performance.

“We like doing this because first of all it helps bring the spirit of Christ to ourselves for being involved with it and also for those who are able to come and enjoy the performances,” said Livingstone.

“And remember that the Christmas season, you know, we all like gifts and this was the most important gift of all that was received. So we like being a part of that.”

Josh Smith plays one of the three wisemen in the performance.

“It’s nice to be able to put yourself in the mindset of searching out our saviour Jesus Christ,” said Smith. “And being able to represent a character in that Nativity that came thousands of years ago is a wonderful opportunity.”

“It’s great,” said Smith, about having a younger cast. “We’ve got so many young kids coming out and helping and families are coming out and being a part of it. Which is just nice for families to get together to remember their saviour Jesus Christ this time of year.”

The Live Nativity will go Dec. 22-24 from 6-8 p.m. at 4105 Forestry Avenue South.

Performances will commence every 20 minutes.

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