The Steele family say their experience in the Nauvoo Pageant strengthened their testimonies and helped them understand more about the legacy of the pioneers
Colette Steele, an alumna of BYU-Hawaii, together with her family from Cedar City, Utah, said they embarked on a journey of service in the Summer of 2023 to the historic town of Nauvoo, Illinois. From July 2-15, she said they immersed themselves in the world of the Nauvoo Pageant ,which they said was a testament to faith, family and the enduring legacy of the pioneers.
The pageant experience
According to its official website, the Nauvoo Pageant “emphasizes the prophetic mission of Joseph Smith and honors the sacrifice, faith and courage of the Saints who gave their all to build a city and a temple to their God.” It is narrated by an actor portraying historical Latter-day Saint figure Parley P. Pratt, and is filled with authentic hymns, folk songs and lively dances that create the atmosphere of 1840s Nauvoo and the early days of the Church.
Mischa Steele, Colette Steele’s daughter, said, “What I really loved about the pageant is how they involved the audience. In one scene during the pageant, we portrayed a family in our district, acting as Irish saints. There was a lady getting baptized, around 76. It felt so real.”
Mike Steele, husband to Collete Steele and father to Mischa and Macormick Steele, said, “If someone asked about my experience, I’d say it’s like a two-week mini-mission. Every minute is focused on this one thing. It’s unlike anything else, where you're so immersed in a task. It's like the world forgets everything else except for your basic needs. Everything revolves around learning and performing in the pageant. It’s kind of like a mission."
Mischa Steele recounted something the pageant director said that stuck with her. She said, “There’s no such thing as an unmoved mover.” She explained the performers had to be emotionally moved themselves to move the audience and make them feel the spirit. “My dad was right. The core cast relies on us being moved, practicing and rehearsing so we can touch the audience. I believe it’s impossible not to be moved,” said Mischa Steele.
Mike Steele said, “It strengthens testimonies. It’s definitely missionary work, not just for the audience but for the cast members too. At the end of the season, nearly 1,000 people had participated in the performances. That’s a lot of lives changed. That's what the pageant is all about. The Church puts a great emphasis on this, investing significant resources because it evidently impacts people.”
A journey of unexpected adventures
Mike Steele said he traveled with his family from Poland to Cedar City, Utah, in February. Mike Steele explained their initial plans to relocate to Nauvoo were motivated by a shared passion for humanitarian work but were reshaped by life’s twists and turns, much like his son, Macormick Steele’s, service mission in Poland.
According to Mike Steele, the family’s journey began with a year-long break from his work when their focus shifted to humanitarian service, specifically in supporting Macormick’s service mission. He said this commitment led them to Poland, where they intended to stay for nine months. Unfortunately, Mike Steele said a sudden illness struck his mother, prompting them to return home early.
While residing in Poland, Colette Steele said she submitted an application to serve in Nauvoo, envisioning a scenario where she and her family could participate in musical and theatrical endeavors on the sidelines. She said they anticipated brief, occasional performances but knew little of what awaited the family. “It was a lot different than we thought,” said Colette Steele.
Seventeen-year-old Mischa Steele described the family’s firsthand account of their Nauvoo experience as crazy. “It was a lot different than we thought it would be. We thought we would just perform on the side for five minutes, but it was rehearsing for 15 or 16 hours a day, for a whole week,” said Mischa Steele.
She said the physical toll was significant, as she suffered shin splints from the constant dancing and running. She explained as the family was entrusted with embodying the essence of the saints through acting and choreographed routines, they worked through unexpected challenges, which added depth to their experience.
Macormick Steele said he found his place in Cedar City, working both in the temple and alongside fellow service missionaries. When asked about his time in Nauvoo, he said it was an amazing experience. “Everyone who was there wanted to be there, and we connected so well with everyone...we made good friends with whom we are still in contact,” said Macormick Steele.
He recounted a personal miracle he had experienced saying, “A year ago, I was diagnosed with epilepsy. Knowing I’d be on a service mission, we went to Poland. Surprisingly, my triggers, sugar and lack of sleep, didn’t lead to seizures. Even with little rest, I performed well. It was truly a miracle especially after my initial concerns.”
Resilience and revelation
The day before their departure, Mike Steele said the family received a message delivering disconcerting news that a tornado swept through Nauvoo, devastating farms, trees and crucial pageant equipment. He said uncertainty loomed over whether the pageant could proceed. “All the sound equipment and the lighting equipment that they were using to practice and prepare was destroyed…. When we showed up, everything was really crazy. Half of the people didn’t have any power in town. Some of them hadn’t showered for days, some had trees on their houses and some had no electricity for multiple days,” explained Mike Steele.
According to Mike Steele, despite widespread power outages and significant damage, the pageant was able to begin because the resilient organizers pressed on, determined to make it happen. He added, “Heavenly Father blessed us, and they got the stuff that we needed to be shipped out from Salt Lake within a few days…It was something the Lord wanted to happen, so He made it happen.”
Colette Steele said the exhaustion of long rehearsals was overshadowed by the profound joy of performing in the pageant. “It was just really exciting to be able to sing, dance, perform and share our testimonies with 3,000 people every night. And it was very sweaty and hot with a lot of bugs, but it was worth it,” said Colette Steele.
Journey of faith
Colette Steele said when it was time for her and her family to leave, it was very hard because everyone who was part of the pageant had become like family. “You can’t recreate that exact same feeling. But being in a place where everyone has the same goal, all at the same time, trying to love each other and help each other, it truly was a singular experience,” she explained.
Mischa Steele expressed she felt like family with everyone in less than two weeks. She said, “It was like FSY [For the Strength of Youth] on steroids. You connect with your company and it’s amazing. You cry when you leave. Usually after about a week, you're okay, but I still get really sad missing Nauvoo.”
Mike Steele said he encourages future pageant participants to be like a sponge and soak everything up in their pageant experience. He described feeling overwhelmed at first but said, “It was scary. We had to perform the first night, and I hadn’t slept well the night before. But something happens along the way. The cast would always say, ‘You’re doing great, you’re gonna be fine.’ And it turned out amazing.”
Colette Steele said, “If you want an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life, apply as a family and make the sacrifice both monetarily and time. If you want to know the real experience, you just have to go through this and you’ll never regret it. I would just tell everybody, try to go at least once. You can’t believe how the Lord magnifies it all.”
Macormick Steele said, “If you want to know the real experience, you just gotta do it yourself.”
Unveiling personal highlights and spiritual connections
Colette Steele expressed how the closing words of the Nauvoo Pageant resonated deeply with her. She said, “The words, ‘When you’re here, we’re here’...It holds true for anywhere in the world, and it was a reminder that when we honor our ancestors through our actions and teachings, they are with us guiding and supporting.”
Macormick Steele said he was captivated by the powerful closing scenes, describing the exhilarating moments when the temple was raised, illuminating the stage with the radiant glow of faith. He said, “One of my favorite parts was raising a temple [prop] while singing the hymn ‘The Spirit of God’ dressed in white because it makes me feel close to everybody and my ancestors.”
Mischa Steele recounted an event where she and her father watched as the storm split apart right over the event like the Red Sea in the old stories. She recalled this happened a few times in the midst of many storms and just 20 minutes after the event ended, it started raining heavily again. “The many miracles throughout the pageant completely blow my mind,” said Mischa Steele.