At BYU Idaho my actor friend was given the role of Joseph Smith in a play being put on by the college. As he was developing the character he wondered what it would have been like to spend time in a small jail cell so he got into full costume, took his scriptures and went to spend the night in a practice room in the theatre building. These rooms, which were soundproof and designed to practice voice and other musical talents, were very small and windowless. Of course students aren’t supposed to spend the night in the theatre building, or any other school building, so he snuck in.
This building, like most theatres, had a reputation for being haunted. We had all heard strange stories of a faceless ghost, or a phantom ballet troop who practiced on the main stage at midnight and then disappeared.
The janitor, who had heard all these stories many times, was cleaning the lower level where the practice rooms were. My friend was in full character when the door opened and when asked who he was said: “I’m Joseph Smith”.
The poor man ran full tilt down the hall, up the stairs and out the door.
A new ghost story was added to the legend.