BLESSINGS

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

3 John 1:4

 I have been so busy that I haven't been able to write all that I would like. Last week our baby Eden turned 6 months old. She sat up on her own on her 1/2 year Birthday. She is had brought alot of joy and happiness in our home. We are so grateful. I am always saddened when other families have to go through so much pain and suffering with either not being able to have children or losing children. I don't know why Kat and I have been so blessed.

One of my friends who lives up in Midway UT was recently put in the Bishopric. He share the following story with me that happen a few weeks ago in his Sacrament Meeting.

"The couple who spoke today shared an amazing story. I'll try to sum it up in a few short sentences. They had three boys who were all teenagers and died of carbon monoxide poisoning in their home on a cold winter day. This happened about 20 years ago while the parents were on a trip.  They had left their 17 year old son in charge of the younger sons, (15 and 13). All three boys died in their sleep in one swift shot.

This couple subsequently had another child, a boy, and they proceeded to tell their version of the prodigal son. They recounted how he left the home when he was 17 to live with some friends. He spent the next several years on drugs, in and out of every horrible situation imaginable. He also had a child about three years ago and then finally ended up in jail. The parents visited him in jail two times a week, every week for six months. Finally, he was released and moved back home. In the last year he has changed his life and just a few weeks ago he walked in and showed his Mom his new temple recommend. During the meeting, the Bishop leaned over and whispered in my ear that this particular Son was sitting on the third row. I looked over and he looked sharp, clean, and he was struggling to control his emotions.
I envisioned the Savior wrapping his arms around this man who began the journey home. When he talks about leaving the ninety and nine to rescue the one, I could only imagine his rejoicing over this one who chose to repent and start the process, especially after everything he's been through.

It was a wonderful Sacrament meeting. There was a spirit of love and you could sense the Savior's love as they shared their story of the loss of their boys and then the spiritual loss and return of their prodigal son. In a sense, we all have to go through the same process."

I can't imagine the range of emotions that these parents have been through with losing physically their children and then almost spiritually. However, what joy must have been felt to have the return of the prodigal son.

Morning's First Light

photo taken on Easter morning at 7:00 AM on April 8, 2012

I will write more shortly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA

This was Birthday week at our home. My wife's Birthday was on Monday.. and today is my oldest daughter, Jessica's Birthday. She is now 14 years old... going on 18. :)

Last night I picked her up from her dance class. As we entered our neighborhood, she turned and asked me if she could hold the steering wheel and drive. This was her first time that she had experienced driving a car. While I still controlled the speed and could put on the brakes.. she was in control the direction of the car. I thought about this is and thought it to be symbolic of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He allows us the ability to choose the direction we take in our life.. but He ultimately has the power to stop or accelerate things as He sees fit.

Anyway. I love you Jessica. I hope you had a good day. If your dad had a cell phone, he would text you. If I had a facebook account, I would have written on your wall, but I think the best way to wish you a Happy Birthday is to give you a hug and dedicate this Blog post to you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE

"Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else."

Doctrine and Covenants 42:22

Today is Katherine's Birthday. Since I dont' have a facebook account, this is the next best thing for me to post on her "wall" and wish her Happy Birthday publically.

We met over 30 years ago. I was in 8th grade and she was in 7th grade. She used to sell candy suckers during class periods. She would always give me a sucker for free. (However, that is not why I liked her).  Even back then when we were 12,13 years olds.. there was a special bond of friendship that we had. WE went on to follow similiar paths, both serving missions, both studying abroad in Israel. The timing was right we then got married after both graduating from college. We played and traveled the world for many years before we began to bring beautiful daugthers into our family. We have four now, with Eden as the caboose. We both have a love for nature and for the outdoors. She is an amazing mother, wife and best friend. I have seen her eternal glory.  There is no one else I would rather be with in this world and experience and see the world with than her..

Happy Birthday Kat!

I Love You.

D

THE SON RISING ON EASTER MORNING 2012

photo taken this morning on top of Hidden Peak at 7:00 AM on 04.08.12

....................................
Below photo taken of the moon looking west just after the sunrise this morning
You can see the sun hitting the top peak of the mountain.

"And after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself unto you,

my children, and my beloved brethren.

2 Nephi 26:1"

Today is Easter. The two above photos were taked within minutes of each other. One is looking east towards the sun, and the other is looking west towards the moon. The full moon, which is now starting to wane, was visible in the morning sky as the sun rose. It quickly became difficult to see once the sun becomes higher and brighter in the sky.  The moon is what is used to determine when Easter is. It was significant to see it this morning in addition to the beautiful sunrise. The contrast was striking.

Looking east at the brilliant sun.. the colors were red and orange,  it was the color of flames, hot and fiery. You would never guess that the black mountain in the foreground are covered white with snow .

Looking west towards the moon, the colors were blue and cold. You can see the snow covered mountains. 

We can see more clearly when there is a contrast in things. The last week in Christ's life was full of contrasts. The one that we observe today with Christ Resurrection is Death overcome by Life.

FULL MOON on APRIL 6, 2012

Photo taken last night about 9:00 PM of the full moon begins to rise above Mt. Olympus

"As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon,

and the power thereof by which it was made."

Doctrine and Covenants 88:8

The first full moon after the Spring Equinox determines when Easter will be celebrated. It is always the First Sunday AFTER the first full moon. So, because of the full moon last night, this Sunday is Easter. It was beautiful to see the moon rise last night.  

BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD

photo taken this morning on APRIL 6, 2012

 

 And the angel said unto me:

Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!

Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

I Nephi 11:21

.

The above photo was taken this morning on my way to work. This unblemished lamb was in a field of white snow near our home. There is something special about this weekend. I feel it is sacred. Here are a few important things to consider about today and this sacred weekend.

• Today is April 6, 2012. It is Good Friday
• The Lord’s church was established on April 6, 1830.
• The four cornerstones of the Salt Lake Temple were laid on April 6, 1853. It was dedicated on April 6, 1893 (40 years later)
• The St. George Temple was dedicated on April 6 , first temple to be completed in Utah.
• Many believe April 6th marks Christ’s Birth into the Mortal World
• It also marks the day when Christ was crucified .. the same day (14th Day of Nisan) the Paschal Lamb would be slaughtered for the Jewish Passover.
• Today begins Pesach meaning “to Pass Over”… commemorating when the Israelites were freed from slavery.
• The 15th Day of Nisan (Tomorrow) is the Seder meal or Passover Feast and Feast of the Unleavened Bread.
• Tonight is a full moon which marks the first full moon after the Spring Equinox making this Sunday, Easter.
• This Sunday morning, Christians around the world celebrate Easter, the day of rebirth, the hope of New Life through Christ’s resurrection.

For the first time, our family is going to observe Passover this year. Tomorrow night we will have our first Passover meal. There is so much to learn about the significance of the Passover and the sacredness of the symbolism.. I thought I would share just a couple of thoughts about one of the central symbols… THE LAMB.

  

The Symbolism of the Paschal Lamb:

• On the 10th day of Nisan each family was to select a lamb. (symbolic of the same day of Christ Triumphant Entry)
• The lamb was to be male, at least one year old, and perfect without spot or blemish.
• The lamb was brought into the family home for 4 days. This gave time for the family to bond and have attachment with the lamb, making the sacrifice more poignant.
• The lamb was killed on the 14th day of Nissan. Exact time and day of Christ’s death. Lamb was roasted on an upright pomegranate stick. Another stick inside it’s chest cavity. (symbolic of the cross) It was to be done by sundown and no bones broken. (just as Christ was)
• They were to take the blood and “strike” it on 2 side posts and upper post, go inside, shut their doors and not come out until morning. This was done by using a Hyssop branch which is a healing herb that treats leprosy (a death and decaying disease). Symbolic of the Israelites when they were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord protected them from the destroying angels.

Just as a sidenote that I learned from a friend:

  

A lamb is very easy to kill. One account I read concerned a butcher who had been asked to slaughter a family’s Passover lamb. The butcher anticipated a routine experience, as he had slaughtered many animals. He related how after slitting the small creature’s throat, the little lamb turned and licked the blood off of the butcher’s hands. This hardened butcher deeply moved and forever changed. The tender licking of the blood from the man’s hand was a sign of unconditional love and forgiveness.

I STAND ALL AMAZED and AMAZING GRACE

"Just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry,
so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ."
Ezra Taft Benson, 1987.

.

A few weeks ago I woke up early in morning with the prompting to put together a video combining the words of two songs. One of the songs, Amazing Grace, is not in our LDS hymn book, and the other one is, "I stand all amazed." The footage used in the video is from the Holy Land, primarily from the DVD, The Eternal Christ. There is only one shot which is of the ocean that is not from the Holy Land which is symbolic in when it is used.

The phrase "was blind and now I see" is used three times in the video. The number three is important and symbolic. Each time you see the word "see" it is in relation to LIGHT and increases in intensity. (from an olive oil lamp, to the sun, to then translucency and emulating light over water.

One of the most important word is the use of the word, "wretch". From the online etymology dictionary a wretch is "a banished person, exile...a stranger in exile. It reflects the sorry state of the outcast, "in misery, in sojourn in a foreign land,"

"Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord,

in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth:

O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh;

my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities."

2 Nephi 4: 17

HAPPY ARE WE

Photo taken of our baby Eden on March 25, 2012

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

Proverbs 3:13

Happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

Job 5:17

GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEKEND: Beginning of a New Day

photo taken of the Church Office Building and the Office Building of the First Presidency

photo taken April 1, 2012 on an early morning hike of a parting of the heavens 

despite the encrouching dark clouds.

 additional symbolic photos taken on April 1, 2012

"And now I show unto you a parable.

Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together;

so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth."

JST Matthew 1:27

Today is Palm Sunday. It is April 1, 2012. It is General Conference.

I will write more shortly