When I was a little girl, I was blessed to be able attend church with my family and participate in Junior Sunday School on Sundays and Primary during the week. What touched me the most as I attended these classes, were the hymns I learned to sing as a child. This, along with what was taught in my home, is where I gained my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (I go into more detail about this in a previous blogpost found by clicking here)
This weekend I was able to witness Primary children singing a hymn about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know everyone who heard these children sing this hymn, were also touched as they listened to their testimony as they sung the words to Gethsemane.
Click onto the arrow to hear for yourself the children sing, "Gethsemane"
The music and words to the song are found below or by clicking here
This weekend after a long anticipated family get-together, we attended Tuacahn Amphitheater's performance of "Jersey Boys." My brother, Craig, put the weekend together in honor of his late wife Lynn. A while back, Craig and Lynn attended the Las Vegas showing of "Jersey Boys" with Lynn's brother and really enjoyed the show. We attended the Tuacahn show this weekend with other family members and friends.
This Tuacahn version of the show features family-friendly language. It's always fun to see how music can bring you back in time to that era! The story line takes place in the 60's. I was very familiar with all the songs they featured in the show. (I guess that makes me old.) As you watch the trailer, you too will be singing along.
We stayed at Russell and Christy's house and enjoyed the tourist activities of St. George:
Paddle boarding at the HOA lagoon
Dinner out at an authentic Mexican restaurant complete with "street tacos."
An e-bike outing up gorgeous Snow Canyon
It was great to have dinner together as a group Saturday night before the show.
An added bonus to the weekend is that we were able to see my other brother and his wife-- Douglas and Kerri--the day before we left for St. George. They were traveling through town on their way to work at their RV park in Bluff, Utah.
Speaking of Douglas and Kerri's RV park in Bluff, check it out by clicking here. I'm pretty sure it's the best RV park in all of Utah.
This weekend was a great "frosting on the cake" to our 2024 summer activities. Nothing can beat being with family.
This past weekend we visited and explored the Lewis and Clark Caverns in southwestern Montana, located in the Lewis and Clark State Park. The best part of the tour was that we were able to explore these caverns with some of our grandchildren and their parents.
We didn't know anything about the Lewis and Clark Caverns prior to touring the caves, nor had we even been in a cavern. It was a wonderful learning experience for us. Check out the video below to get an overview of this unique creation.
This is a video produced in 2021 by Daily Wire with a narration from President Ronald Reagan titled: "Today We Honor Our Veterans":
There would be no America without our veterans. The Daily Wire honors all those who have served our nation. To every Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Coast Guardsman, and Guardian: THANK YOU!
These are the inspired words of President Ronald Reagan's from the speech starting at 0:35 in the above video:
We celebrate Veterans Day on the anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I. The Armistice that began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The timing of this holiday is quite deliberate in terms of historical fact, but somehow it always seems quite fitting to to me that this day comes deep in autumn when the colors are muted and the days seem to invite contemplation.
It is in a way an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise, but most of them were boys when they died and they gave up two lives—the one they were living, and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands, and fathers, and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for our country—for us. All we can do is remember. I will not fail thee nor forsake thee.
In memory of those who gave the last full measure of devotion, may our efforts to achieve lasting peace gain strength. Let us make a vow to our dead. Let us show them by our actions that we understand what they died for—strengthened by their courage, heartened by their value and born for their memory. Let us continue to stand for the ideals for which they lived and died.
_________________________
This video was posted on the Youtube Channel by the Reagan Foundation on June 6, 2024. This is what Youtube says about the video:
Experience the solemnity and wisdom of President Ronald Reagan's addresses at Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach Cemetery, honoring the sacrifices and valor of D-Day veterans with dignity and reverence. An enduring tribute to heroism and legacy.
The video below was posted on the Youtube Channel on May 23, 2024 by The Church News. This is what The Church News youtube channel says about this clip:
Seventy-three years ago this month, a U.S. infantry offensive designed to trap Chinese and North Korean soldiers worked well, but it left its supporting Utah National Guard artillery unit unprotected in the rear.
When 4,000 enemy soldiers tried to escape the trap, they stumbled upon the 240 Utah artillerymen and launched a middle-of-the-night surprise attack. Outnumbered 16-1, the Americans fought for their lives.
This short film, titled “The Miracle at Gapyeong," shares some details of the battle and compares the miraculous story of the southern Utah National Guard unit to the Book of Mormon story of the 2,000 sons of Helaman, who fought an enemy to protect their families, their freedom and their faith without the loss of a single life. It includes an introduction by President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The film is written and produced by Brad Taylor, directed by Dodge Billingsley.
On this Easter morning I want to share part of a post from our mission blog that I wrote on April 2, 2018.
Resurrection, Revelation, Reflection
Yesterday morning my mind went back to another Easter morning 12 years ago. I arrived in Utah the day before because I'd received word that my father wouldn't live past the week. He was in the final stages of Alzheimer's.
It was good to greet my father Saturday and see his eyes light up when I walked into his hospital room. That afternoon my mother, brothers and their wives, his grandchildren, and I gathered around my Dad. We visited with him, shared memories, and said a prayer together. When I went back to the hospital the next day, my Dad was non-responsive. In Sunday worship services that Easter morning we sang the hymn, "He is Risen!" As we sang, my eyes filled with tears as I realized because Jesus had risen, so would my father. I will be with my father again. His death will not be the end of our relationship.
He Is Risen!
1. He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days’ prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free.
Christ has won the victory.
2. Come with high and holy hymning;
Chant our Lord’s triumphant lay.
Not one darksome cloud is dimming
Yonder glorious morning ray,
Breaking o’er the purple east,
Symbol of our Easter feast.
3. He is risen! He is risen!
He hath opened heaven’s gate.
We are free from sin’s dark prison,
Risen to a holier state.
And a brighter Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream.
Text: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895
Music: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680
Enjoy some pictures of my Dad through the years. (In no particular order)
Since moving to Utah seven years ago, Scott has wanted to see the Grand Canyon. The North Rim would be the most convenient trip for us. Due to the 8,000 ft. altitude and resulting snow, the North Rim is only open from May until October.
Upon arrival, a ranger gave us an overview of the park and what to look for.
The North Rim is less visited than the South Rim, but the view of this natural wonder is still beyond description.
Millions of years ago, the Rocky Mountains and the entire Colorado Plateau, which the Grand Canyon is part of, rose up from tectonic activity. The Colorado River grew powerful and began to cut its way through the ancient rock, leaving the stunning canyon we see today.
The landscape to the north (right) had been pushed up due to the forces of nature, much higher than the south side (left). Evidence of ancient water falls can be detected on the surrounding cliffs.
Binoculars helps take everything in.
We're glad we could finally see the Grand Canyon together.
As we were leaving the Grand Canyon, we noticed bison warning signs
...and, the bison did appear
...and crossed the road.
We stayed a couple nights at the historic Parry Lodge in Kanab, UT. Built in the 1930's, it became the place famous actors stayed while shooting Western movies and TV shows. (No, that's not our green car!)
Kanab is in Kane County. It earned the title of "Little Hollywood" for it's spectacular vistas, perfect for movie backdrops of the Old West.
After we left Kanab, we met up with Kathleen's two brothers and sister-in-law in St. George. We saw "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" in the majestic outdoor Tuacahn Amphitheater, set adjacent to Snow Canyon State Park.
The next day, Russell and Christy led us on an e-bike tour of Snow Canyon State Park.
We took a break from our bike ride and hiked to this slot canyon on "Jenny's Canyon Trail".
To learn more about Jenny's Canyon trail click here.
Check out Christy's production of our adventures on the trails!
The timing of our trip coincided with the first day of the St. George Temple Open House. Dedicated in 1871, this was the first temple built by the pioneer settlers of Utah of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The St. George Temple has closed for renovation several times. This last closure, however, was for some necessary mechanical upgrades as well as to restore the interior to much of the original look. Because it will be re-dedicated in November, it is opened now to the public for tours.
Temples do not exist merely as architectural monuments. Rather, we consider them the House of the Lord, just as they were regarded in Biblical times. Here, sacred covenants are made with God that empower our lives in mortality and keep couples and families together through eternity.
To learn more about temples in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here.
We very much enjoyed the time we spent with Craig, Christy, and Russell.
