A regional choir of 100+ Latter-day Saints will be featured at the opening ceremonies of the Expo ’74 50th Anniversary celebration on Saturday May 4, 2024, at Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane beginning at 3pm. The opening ceremonies is free and open to the public and will feature a number of other performances representing the diversity of our region.
Karlyn Brett, a member of the Mt. Spokane Stake of the Church, will lead the choir, a reprise to her role with the original “Mormon Expo Choir” 50 years ago. In addition to the performance during the opening ceremonies on May 4th, the choir will perform their complete repertoire on Saturday, May 18th, at 11am. Elder Mark A. Bragg, General Authority Seventy and President of the North America West Area of the Church, will be in attendance at the open ceremonies.
The World’s Fair in 1974 was the first environmentally themed world exposition, and Spokane remains the smallest city to host such an event. Held in former industrial lands along the Spokane River, the fair was a testament to the community’s tenacity and commitment to renewal. It was also a watershed moment for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Inland Northwest. In late 1972, news that the Church planned to build a large exhibit was positively received. The Expo Board Chairman stated, “This decision [to build an exhibit] by the church’s First Presidency will add a new and broader dimension to the total exposition scene and the news is greeted with Great pleasure and anticipation.” King Cole, president of Expo 74, said at the time, “Participation by the Mormons, particularly in the manner in which they intend to exhibit, is extremely significant in view of our theme. It serves to remind us that considerations on the environment extend not only to the water and air, but also to life styles and matters of the spirit.” (Spokesman-Review | “Mormon Church to Build Large Exhibit” | December 31, 1972)
