Live Nativity will be back for Nibley’s Morgan Farm

Heather Nelson, a 16 year-old Ridgeline High School student brings a mule though the barn for Richard Eversull the founder of the Nibley Live Nativity. Nelson takes takes care for the farm animals throughout the year.

The Live Nativity will be back again this year at Nibley’s historic Morgan Farms at 2726 S. 800 W. Nibley on Dec. 7, 8, and 10. The live nativity features community volunteers dressed in period clothing.

Moses the camel is expected to be at the Nibley Live Nativity and so are other farms animal’s donkeys, goats, sheep, and chickens.

Moses the camel is expected to be on site, and so are other farm animals like donkeys, goats, sheep, and chickens. There will also be hay rides for the guests.

Since its inception, the creator, Richard Eversull, was determined to help people remember the true meaning of Christmas. He began the Live Nativity 12 years ago. He is concerned people are getting too caught up in the commercialization of the holiday.

After a car accident in 1987, Eversull was confined to a wheelchair. However, he can still be found at the historic farm using a rake to pull debris away from the barn, or doing other chores to get the facility ready for the seasonal remembrance program. Some of the outbuildings have ramps so his wheelchair can access them. He leases the eight acre farm from Nibley City.

“We put up lights on the front fence and put warm lights over the manger stable, trying to keep the lighting so it doesn’t look too much like a modern Christmas,” Eversull said. “We’ll have fire barrels to help people stay warm.”

He said they will have hot chocolate available for people to enjoy all three evenings.

In the beginning, the nativity used young people as actors, but as they grew up and moved on, the pool of actors dried up.

Last year the Nibley Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stepped in to help.

“We sat down with the city and had conversations over the last couple years to see how our stake could be of service to the city,” said Dan Farnsworth, the Stake President for the church. “The city has held onto it, and the stake is helping the city carry out the tradition started by Richard.”

Farnsworth said Eversull deserves a lot of credit and accolades for doing this for so long.

Richard Eversull, sits in front of the Morgan farm’s barn built in the early 1900’s. He was determined to help people remember the true meaning of Christmas and began the Live Nativity 12 years ago.

“Without Richard, none of this would be happening,” Farnsworth said. “He has done all of it the last several years.”

Farnsworth said he just wants to have people experience the celebration of Christ’s birth.

“This is a special time of year and we want to share recognizing Christ’s birth and celebrating it,” he said. “All of the 12 wards in the stake have agreed to participate in one way or another.”

Eversull said he wanted to mention the help of Carrie Tuddenham, Trudy Knight, Shauna Young, Trevor Whitesides and a whole slew of volunteers who coordinated different aspects of the production. .

The whole thing would not be successful without Heather Nelson, a 16 year-old Ridgeline High School student who cares for the farm animals throughout the year.

Friday night is generally the slower time, people can generally get in and out fast. Monday night is the busiest.

Eversull suggested 10 cans or $15 per family, or $3 or 3 cans of food or whatever you can afford; and if you can’t afford to donate, come anyway.

“We try to cover the expenses and all of the food goes to the food pantry,” Eversull said. “Last year we collected 3,300 pounds of food. We would like to have people bring high protein food.”

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3 Comments

  • Lori F November 29, 2018 at 8:56 pm Reply

    Thank you! We look forward to this every year. It’s an absolutely perfect way to bring the true spirit of Christmas.

  • RIchard Eversull November 30, 2018 at 11:43 am Reply

    Thanks to Cache Valley Daily for helping us let more people know about the event. We hope to see many of you there. Remember to dress warmly. We have the fire barrels to help but the Hay wagon ride and waiting here and there requires some extra help. Any denomination will be comfortable here all the readings and printed scripture are taken from the New Testament. Any church youth group are not encouraged to collect money, we welcome you without expectation. One clarification to the article for families is that we suggest $3 per person or $15 per family or 3 canned food items per person, As stated in the article we hope you will come regardless of you ability to donate anything.

  • Brent Rasmussen March 27, 2023 at 6:33 am Reply

    Does anyone have a history of how this barn became a historical marker? FTI, I lived on the farm with Elwood Earnest and Ruby Rasmussen Morgan when I was an infant from 1944 to 1946. I know they sold the farm to William Branch sometime in 1969 but what happened to it after that I have no idea. Any information you have would be helpful as I am working on a history of them

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