For almost half of his life, Israel González-Nieri has been involved with “Luz de las Naciones” in one way or another: dancer, choir member, music director and now director of the annual celebration of Latin American culture hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Maybe it was the months of preparation, the long hours of leading 1,000 cast members in rehearsals or maybe because the subject matter is so close to his heart, but González-Nieri became emotional when speaking about the story of this year’s celebration.

“We will tell the story of three people that came here, left their land and came to this land, and how because of their examples and their struggles have really set the bar high for all of us who are coming here to this country,” he said before a dress rehearsal in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Friday night, Oct. 27.

Israel González-Nieri, the director of Luz de las Naciones or Light of the Nations, talks about the production before a dress rehearsal at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Adam Fondren for the Deseret News

One of those people is Eduardo Balderas, who helped translate the hymns, Church magazines, books and many materials into Spanish.

Also on González-Nieri’s mind is this year’s 100th anniversary of the first Spanish-speaking pioneers coming to Utah, forming first the Salt Lake Mexican Branch and then the Lucero Ward.

The story fits into this year’s “Luz de las Naciones” theme — “Nuestra Tierra” (“Our Land”), which will be performed on Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4.

“‘Our Land’ is both the land we came from and now this new land, which is our land now, and the land of our future generations,” said González-Nieri. “Ultimately we are all here to build the kingdom of God.”

New countries, cultures in ‘Luz de las Naciones’

This year’s celebration includes songs and dances not just from Latin America, but also Brazil and Spain.

During the dress rehearsal, dancers performed “Aquarela do Brasil,” one of the most famous Brazilian songs.

A dancer performs in a number from Brazil during the dress rehearsal for Luz de las Naciones or Light of the Nations at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Adam Fondren for the Deseret News

Seeing so many cultures and countries included in the celebration is exciting to Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, who was born and raised in Argentina.

“It is a night of being all together and feeling unity and feeling love and feeling that, although the cultures are different and the dances are different in each country, we are all brothers and sisters, we are all children of our [Heavenly] Father,” she said.

She said she is happy to see so many young people from the Church involved in the production honoring their roots, honoring being children of God and sharing their talents from Heavenly Father.

“It is beautiful to see them sing, see them dance and see them in those colorful clothes representing their countries,” she said. “Using our talents in these types of shows that unite the family and that unite us as human beings is also a way to help in the gathering of Israel because we are in some way celebrating cultures and being a ‘Light of the Nations’ [‘Luz de las Naciones’].” 

Ian Herrera, 13, a soloist, speaks about the performance of Luz de las Naciones or Light of the Nations before the dress rehearsal at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Adam Fondren for the Deseret News

One of those youth is soloist Ian Herrera, age 13, who is originally from Peru. He will be singing “Cascabeles y Polleras” (“Bells and Skirts”).

This is Ian’s first year performing in “Luz de las Naciones,” but he is a member of One Voice Children’s Choir and has been singing since he was 5.

“My choir, our mission is to inspire the world. I hope that through my words and through all of this, I can inspire and give hope,” he said in the Conference Center. “... I hope every time I present I am learning something and I can inspire when I sing.”

A fulfilling and spiritual experience

Elias Bobadilla Valencia, who is from Peru and now lives in Provo, Utah, has been practicing since June to dance in this year’s event.

Being a part of it feels very fulfilling, he said, because he is a part of something bigger than himself.

“It’s also a challenge. It’s definitely out of my comfort zone to be dancing in front of so many people,” he said.

Elias Bobodilla Valencia, a dancer in the production of Luz de las Naciones or Light of the Nations, talks about performing before the dress rehearsal at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Adam Fondren for the Deseret News

Dancers ready themselves for a number about Peru during the dress rehearsal for Luz de las Naciones or Light of the Nations at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Adam Fondren for the Deseret News

Bobadilla was wearing traditional Inca clothing, as the dance he is a part of is called “Valicha” from Cuzco, Peru. The theme “Nuestra Tierra” is an important reminder he carries with him throughout his life.

“So that we can always remember where we come from, why we are in the position we are in, and carry with us that gratitude and humility for having been born in the circumstances that we were born in and the things that our parents have given us,” he said.

Elder Federico M. Kähnlein, an Area Seventy of the Church in Utah, said preparing for the 21st annual event has been not only a blessing but also a spiritual experience.

“I know it will touch all of our hearts,” said Elder Kähnlein, who is originally from Argentina. “... We are going to be talking about roots and this wonderful world that God has given us. We are going to feel all united through the message.”

Soloist Carolina Rubio has Mexican, Puerto Rican and Honduran heritage. She will be singing a song from Cuba called “Mi Tierra” (“My Land”) to begin the show.

“It helps to get it out of the way,” she said about singing first. “It’s an amazing feeling, that adrenaline and getting filled up with the audience’s energy.”

Rubio is grateful to bring joy to others through the music from their homeland. And she feels grateful to worship the Lord through music.

“I think it is the best way to testify of His love for us and to be able to give back some of what He has given us through music and our talents,” she said. “It brings that love through us to the public.”

Carolina Rubio, a soloist, poses before the dress rehearsal for Luz de las Naciones or Light of the Nations at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Adam Fondren for the Deseret News

How to watch ‘Luz de las Naciones’

Tickets to attend the event in person, which became available on Oct. 10, were all reserved in five minutes.

Watch the live broadcast in Spanish on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. MST. English and Portuguese versions with subtitles will also be available.

The live event will be recorded for on-demand viewing on broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, Gospel Stream app and YouTube.

— Church News Spanish Translation Coordinator Nadia Gavarret contributed to this report.