Enjoying the Mesa Arizona Temple, Easter Pageant, and Friends

Scott and I had never been to Arizona. Yet, Scott's roots are in the Grand Canyon State.  

 

His paternal grandfather, Ivan Magnusson, met his future wife Cula Haws in Mesa, AZ, in 1919, a community that borders Phoenix. 

Ivan and Cula moved to Los Angeles in 1922 to find work. They continued to return to visit their families in Mesa, as well as the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (seen in the background).

Taken from a home movie in about 1940, the Magnussons walk the grounds of the temple. Scott and I decided to take our own trip to Mesa last week! We wanted to walk those same footsteps.

Halfway in our drive was Page, AZ, where we stayed over night.

Page is home to the Glen Canyon Dam that creates Lake Powell. The dam, the bridge that crosses the river, and the hydroelectric power plant can be seen in the distance.

We read the display information at Page City Hall. We learned that the city was originally built to house the workers who constructed the dam and maintained the power plant.

Since first filling to capacity in 1980, Lake Powell water and electricity have helped grow and maintain the western states.  

The bridge to the right was erected first, before the dam, to transport the workers from Page and bring essential materials for the dam's construction. 

I always know that Scott will read every display in the visitor's center. So, we're never in a hurry!

Lake Powell is a renowned boating and fishing paradise. But, I cheated. I caught my fish in the gift shop! 

The drive towards Mesa was breathtaking.

Arizona is famous for its saguaro cactus. Saguaros can have a lifespan of 150 years or more, and have been a source of food and shelter for humans for thousands of years. 

Our trip took us through the Navajo Nation. We could see many Native American homes from the highway. 

We enjoyed the scenery as we neared the Phoenix valley. 

The Mesa Temple was dedicated in 1927. Its appearance is reminiscent of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem, lacking the spires that have become a mainstay of temples built since then.

In 2018, the temple closed for three years for renovations. Necessary upgrades were completed, and the grounds were enhanced and updated. 

Above the doorway to the Mesa Temple, and visible on all temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the inscription: Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord. 

We consider the temple to be holy, the house of God. Worship in the temple is a sacred privilege for us, and has been the source of many blessings for us, for our children, as well as for our ancestors.  

We greatly enjoyed our stay with our dear friends, Harvey and Rebecca Carter, who live in the area.

Our trip coincided with the annual Easter Pageant that's held on the Mesa Temple grounds nightly for two weeks prior to Easter. We arrived early to save seats, in the shade.

The production's cast mingles with the audience prior to the show. (Oops, I photo bombed the photo of a family visiting with a Roman soldier!) 

Scott liked his visit with a Jerusalem Pharisee and a shepherd woman. 

The Mesa Easter pageant is titled, Jesus the Christ. Here's what it's all about.

To see a longer version of the above video, click here.  

Scenes from this year's Jesus the Christ.

Rebecca and I were childhood friends in California.  We share many happy memories together. 

You can tell we haven't changed a bit.

Farewell, Mesa Temple. 

Our last sunset in Arizona. This was a trip we'll always remember.

None Were With Him....An Easter Message

 This 4 minute message given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland  

is an inspiring Easter message that we can all benefit from watching.

Watch the entire talk below

Elder Holland spoke in the April 2009 General Conference  

Farewell, David. Until We Meet Again.

Yesterday, Scott's older brother, David, was laid to rest after living with the effects of Parkinson's Disease for twenty-two years. David was 72. 

David and his wife Aliece were married in the Provo Utah Temple in 1976. An attorney for 37 years in Santa Barbara, they raised their family of five children in Carpinteria, CA. The service yesterday was a beautiful tribute to a family man who honored his covenants with God.

While David's mortal remains are returned to the earth, we know that his spirit continues to live, and will one day be reunited with his body in the resurrection, following the pattern of Jesus Christ. David taught this truth his whole life. We know we will see our brother again.

Funerals are family events. Scott enjoyed this reunion with his sister Karen and brother Eric.

The cousins also enjoyed getting together again, coming from Idaho, Las Vegas, Oklahoma, Utah, Minnesota, and Iowa. Other cousins weren't able to attend in person but viewed the service by live stream. 

The cousins in1989 with their Grandpa and Grandma Magnusson.

Some of our children, spouses, and grandchildren were able to attend. 

 The cousins say, "Goodbye, until we meet again." 

 

2024 Christmas Greetings

 Merry Christmas! 
from the Magpad 2024

You can see our other Magpad Christmas cards through the years by clicking here.  

Our Thanksgiving Gathering 2024

We have a lot to be thankful for

Our grandchildren

Our children

Gathering with those we love

Gethsemane

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  

Gethsemane

Words and music by Melanie Hoffman

Jesus climbed he hill to the garden still.

His steps were heavy and slow.

Love and a prayer took Him there

To the place only He could go.

Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,

So He went willingly to Gethsemane.

He felt all that was sad, wicked, or bad,

All the pain we would ever know.

While His friends were asleep, He fought to keep

His promise made long ago.

Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,

So He went willingly to Gethsemane.

The hardest thing that ever was done,

The greatest pain that ever was known,

The biggest battle that ever was won—

This was done by Jesus!

The fight was won by Jesus!

Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,

So He gave His gift to me in Gethsemane.

Gethsemane. Jesus loves me,

So He gives His gift to me from Gethsemane.

© 2016 by Melanie Hoffman. All rights reserved. This song may be copied for incidental, non-commercial church or home use. This notice must be included on each copy made.

Watch a sing-along video for this song at children.lds.org. Click on “Videos.”

Jersey Boys comes to Utah

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.   

Lewis and Clark Caverns

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.  

You can also view the video by clicking here

You can learn some of the historical background, discovery, and information about the cave by clicking here or onto the link below:

https://backyardmontana.com/adventures/lewis-and-clark-caverns/

Enjoy photos we took of the day: 

Here we are waiting with the grandkids to enter. What will it be like inside? 

Not seen here near the entrance, but we sure saw them were the bats roosting on the ceiling of the cave and flying around!  

There was a lot of stooping, bending, and sometimes crawling throughout the tour. 

Watch out! Don't hit your head on a stalactite! 

The light seen in these photos is only from electrical lamps that were added in recent years.

It was a bit creepy... Especially at the point when the ranger turned out the lights. 

Pitch dark, not a hint of light. 

A real geological treasure and wonderland!

Amazing what water, minerals, air, and rock can do with each other over millions of years.

The above formation is called, "cave bacon".  

I took this picture so I could send it to my brother, who loves bacon.  

In Honor of our Veterans

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!

You can also see the video by clicking here.

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.

    

You can also see the video by clicking here

________________________________

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.

                                         Miracle at Gapyeony

You can also see the video by clicking here. 

This video is a Tribute to the Armed Services by The Tabernacle Choir

You can also se the video by clicking here.

We are very grateful for our family members who have served our nation.

Bryce Jeppson:  Marines

George Magnusson:  Navy

Kiefer Harris:  Air Force

David Wood:  Army  

Welcome Grandbaby #14!

 It's not every day you get a text like this from your-one day old grandbaby:  

"G’morning, grandma!"

And he has tied the score.  

Seven grandsons and seven granddaughters for for Magpad.  

We are very blessed.