Historic Kirtland Nativity Exhibit open in temple’s visitors’ center
Published by: The News-Herald
By Janet Podolak
Original article found here
An annual exhibit of nativities from throughout the world has opened for its 22nd year in a slightly different venue — one that showcases a wintertime view of the stately Kirtland Temple.
Hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and running through Dec. 30, this year’s “Historic Kirtland Nativity Exhibit” is housed in the theater of the Kirtland Temple Visitors’ Center, at 7809 Joseph St. in “downtown” Kirtland.
In other years, it had been staged in the Historic Kirtland Visitors’ Center, in the valley below the temple.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased the temple last year from the Community of Christ. Built between 1833 and 1836 by followers of Joseph Smith, then known as Mormons, it’s now part of the Historic Kirtland campus.
Enter the visitors’ center from Joseph Street to see the theater entry, framed by restored windows from the original Temple. Most of the nativities are on tables inside the large space, where the Temple is showcased through floor-to-ceiling windows on a wall opposite the entry.
The thousands of pieces in the 475 nativities are on loan to the church and are carefully cataloged so they can be returned to their owners once the display is over.
“Some of them have been given to the church, and others stay with us year after year,” said Courtney Jones, who, with fellow member and Solon resident Jessica George, has been charged with designing and erecting this year’s exhibit.
Large and small, the nativities, also known as crèches, depict Mary and Joseph, the baby Jesus and an assortment of animals surrounded by angels, shepherds and the Three Wise Men as interpreted by those who created them.
“They used the materials they had and showed animals they were most familiar with,” said Jones, pointing out one nativity depicting an elephant crafted from red-and-silver Coca-Cola cans.
Read full article here