Showcasing the reason for the season

Wendy Brinton and her daughter, Kaylee, look over the nativity scenes on display in the stake building's main gymnasium.

Record-shattering crowds packed into the local Mormon stake center for a chance to capture the spirit of the season during the annual Christmas creche Friday and Saturday.

According to organizer Lynn Blethen, more than 1,400 visitors from across southern Idaho visited the creche, breaking the previous 1,000-person attendance record set last year.

"It was just packed on Friday. It was just amazing," Blethen said. Following a strong opening night, a steady stream of people strolled through the stake center Saturday afternoon with the attendance picking up as the evening continued.

Sponsored by the Mountain Home Idaho Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Christmas creche featured more than 775 Nativity scenes and other depictions of Christ's birth. The record number of displays this year came from local residents and loaned to the exhibit for others to see and enjoy, organizers said.

"The entire exhibit is dedicated to the remembrance of the birth of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ," Blethen said. "His birth was a gift of love from God to the world."

This year's exhibit drew people from as far as Ontario and Rupert, Blethen added.

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