New York Mormons Reflect On Romney During Yearly Homage
By: WROC-TV
Updated: August 27, 2012
Organizers at the Hill Cumorah pageant are hoping that presidential candidate Mitt Romney can help change the perception of the Mormon religion.
Shawnda Moss and Ward Wright direct the Hill Cumorah pageant in Palmyra. It is the longest running outdoor religious drama. With the spotlight on the Romney, there is even more interest this year.
"I think it's great. The more people know about us, the less weird we are," said Wright.
"The fact that he is Mormon is really just more about he has values, he has morals and strong beliefs and believes in God; and I think that scares some people," Moss said.
The Discovery Channel was in town doing a piece on the pageant. It is a spectacular show with hundreds of volunteers, special effects and costumes. It depicts the history of the Mormon religion and Joseph Smith, who they believe was a prophet. But not all the coverage these days is positive. Romney has been criticized because of his faith. According to a gallup poll, around 20 percent of Americans would not vote for a presidential nominee if he or she happened to be Mormon.
"It may not help, but it won't hurt," Wright said. "It goes back to when John F. Kennedy ran and people were so worried about him being Catholic. It turned out he wasn't so bad."
The pageant runs for a full week. They are expecting more than 50,000 people to attend.
Shawnda Moss and Ward Wright direct the Hill Cumorah pageant in Palmyra. It is the longest running outdoor religious drama. With the spotlight on the Romney, there is even more interest this year.
"I think it's great. The more people know about us, the less weird we are," said Wright.
"The fact that he is Mormon is really just more about he has values, he has morals and strong beliefs and believes in God; and I think that scares some people," Moss said.
The Discovery Channel was in town doing a piece on the pageant. It is a spectacular show with hundreds of volunteers, special effects and costumes. It depicts the history of the Mormon religion and Joseph Smith, who they believe was a prophet. But not all the coverage these days is positive. Romney has been criticized because of his faith. According to a gallup poll, around 20 percent of Americans would not vote for a presidential nominee if he or she happened to be Mormon.
"It may not help, but it won't hurt," Wright said. "It goes back to when John F. Kennedy ran and people were so worried about him being Catholic. It turned out he wasn't so bad."
The pageant runs for a full week. They are expecting more than 50,000 people to attend.
