For three hours last night, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Maricopa became a cultural heritage museum.

On display in the chapel were dozens of handmade nativity scenes from around the globe — from Cambodia to Haiti, India to Alaska. “I can’t even tell you how many countries” from which the pieces originated, said Jennifer Ford, who played docent for curious reporters who documented the exhibition.

A tradition of ten years (minus 2020, because of the pandemic), this year’s collection was the biggest yet. Church members bring the nativities back from their missions and travels abroad.

“For us, it means a focus on our savior,” said Dani Yardley, who helped set up the exhibit.

The global nativity tradition is “very unique,” Ford said, to the Maricopa stake, which encompasses the church at 45235 W. Honeycutt Ave., and the churches in Gila Bend and Ajo. “It was started to create a relationship with other churches,” she explained.

At the nondenominational Community of Hope Church next door, pastor Rusty Akers last night was setting up that church’s live nativity in conjunction with the global project. The goal is to get more churches on board in future years.

“This year is the biggest ever,” Ford said. “We would like to make this a city-wide event. Our hope is to outgrow the building.”

Inside the building, spectators admired the heirlooms while a cellist accompanied choirs sourced from other churches and non-religious singers around Maricopa. Twinkling lights illuminated traditional nativities in the “white room,” while younger kids got to touch and play with a non-breakable nativity of their own.

Ford’s son contributed a nativity that he brought back from a recent trip to Chiapas, in southern Mexico. Church member Jen Adkinson supplied her puppet nativity, which was handmade in Maricopa.

Cynthia Horst, wife of Rick Horst, the former city manager, recounted the stories behind the nativities she had brought back from three different countries. One hand-carved, olive-wood scene came from a trip Mr. Horst’s mother took to Israel, while her son and daughter-in-law brought one back from Costa Rica.

An avid and longtime quilter, one of Mrs. Horst’s favorite nativities featured intricate quilt patterns carved into the Three Wise Men’s robes.

“It’s all handmade,” Mrs. Horst said, holding an intricately crafted nativity from South Africa, where her other son, Glennwilde resident Addison Horst, met his wife, Mabulane. “It’s made of sticks and fabric … they got it from a street vendor selling their wares.”

Brenda Holmes was one of the churchgoers admiring the curios last night.

“Every nativity has its own story,” she said, “and they have been loved by a lot of different people.”