April Showers (...SNOW?) bring May Flowers

photos taken on April 30, 2011 after 8 inches of snow fell at our house.

I am behind on writing about all the photos I have been posting. Seems like I only have time to take the picture and post.. and not write about the symbolism or insight. Yesterday we woke up to a freak snow storm which left over 8 inches of snow on our lawn. This year has been a strange year for weather across much of the world. A record number of tornados this past week has killed over 300 people in the Southern States. Huge devastiting earthquakes and tsunami's killing tens of thousands of people in Japan. Everyweek there seems to be another major disaster in the news. We are worried about severe flooding in Salt lake in the next month due to all of the snow we have gotten this winter (and continue to get in Late Spring) Next month will be the first day of Summer. Seems as if the seasons have shifted.

The Temple: A Place for a Royal Wedding

Photo taken of the St. George Temple on April 22, 2011

The photo shows the moon in the morning sky as well as the American Flag in front.

The American Flag is significant in the photo due to the fact that the Founding Fathers

appeared to Wilford Woodruff in this temple to get there work done for them.

Across the "pond" was the Royal wedding of Prince Willaim and Katherine in Westminster Abbey. I find such a huge contrast to the weddings of the world compared to the simplicity of the weddings and sealings that occur in the temples. I went through the St. George temple for the first time last week. Here are a few facts.  The St. George Utah Temple is the oldest operating temple of the Church. (it was dedicate before  the Salt Lake Temple.The St. George Utah Temple is the only temple completed during Brigham Young's 30-year tenure as president of the Church. The orginal tower of the St. George Utah Temple fell casualty to a lightning storm about a year after the dedication, leaving it badly damaged. The Founding Fathers of the United States of America appeared twice to Wilford Woodruff in the St. George Utah Temple asking why their temple work had yet not been performed on their behalves. A striking painting depicting this singular event hangs in the temple lobby.

When the St. George Temple was dedicated. Chief Tuba  ( a Hopi Indian) attended the dedication and was baptized. He and his wife were the first Indians to receive their endowment and be sealed. Tuba City, Arizona was named in his honor.

Easter morning

photos taken on top of Hidden Peak (Snowbird's Aerial Tram) on April 24, 2011

I will write more shortly

EASTER: The Resurrection and The Rising of the Son in Glory

Photo taken this morning of the sunrise on April 21, 2011

THE THREE TREES

Photo taken on April 19, 2011 just up the hill from our house.

Highs and Lows of the Last week in Christ’s life:


This week we remember, honor, and celebrate the last week of our Savior’s life. Sometimes we get too caught up in the decorating of eggs and chocolate bunnies. Far from today’s jelly beans and marshmallow treats…. what transpired over 2,000 years ago was a culmination of events which included the highest of highs and lowest of lows in Christ life. Events including: the Passover, the Last Supper, the confrontation with the religious leaders, the betrayal from one of His disciples, the Garden of Gethsemane, the denial from His chief apostle, the mocking and scourging, the Crucifixion, but ultimately what we as Latter Day Saints focus on most.. The Resurrection.

Tomorrow is Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday. It is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemoration the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary.

Below are a few photos that I wanted to share with you all. These trees are in grassy section in front of the LDS ward building in our stake. It is located at the top of a hill from our house . A tragic accident happened here a few days ago when a car driven by a young man struck the middle tree. His car slammed broadside and wrapped around the tree. He died at the scene. The scarred and missing bark shows the place of impact. It is interesting that the two trees on either side remain unscathed. Family and friends who are now grieving have left flowers marking the place of this tragedy. This tree now becomes a memorial. When I walked by the tree, I noticed that the sap, the inner liquid of the tree is seeping at all the pores. It actually appears as if the tree is weepy, or even “bleeding” at every pore.

I couldn’t help but see the similarities of the three trees, on top of this hill.. where a tragic death occurred on the center tree.

Yet, as tragic as this scene is, there is the sign of hope of rebirth in the photo. Branching out and behind the pine tree is a flowering pink tree. The hope of life after death made possible by the Son of God.

While our focus is and probably should be on the resurrection, However, it might be important and humbling to reflect tomorrow morning what the Lord endured and suffered for each of us. Just a couple of thoughts. He was crucified at 9:00 AM (Mark 15:25, crucified at third hour, Mark 15:34-37 died at the ninth hour.) Jesus agonized on the cross for six hours. During his last 3 hours on the cross, from noon to 3 p.m., darkness falls over the whole land.


Here is a interesting quote from the book, Come let us Adore Him. “Crucifixion was a brutal way to die. It may have been the most cruel way ever used by government to execute a “criminal.” It combined prolonged torture and public humiliation for the victim, together with intimidation to all who saw it. The cruelty of this awful form of punishment was necessary for Christ to suffer. His purpose was to deliberately descend below all things. A pain-free, dignified death would not do. It had to be such an ordeal that any of us thinking about what He endured would be convinced He did not spare Himself. He suffered to the limits all that He could endure. He proved His love for us beyond any doubt.”

Authentic vs Counterfeit (Part 1)

We live in a day when Satan deceiveth the whole earth. (Revelations 12:9). While many of us can discern between obvious truth and error, see the difference between black and white, or feel the difference between hot and cold… it is more difficult to discern between what is real and what appears to be real, to discern what is “authentic” and what is counterfeit. Unfortunately, many times the counterfeit version actually looks better, seems to it make us feel better and sounds better to our ears. These counterfeit look so real that "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matthew 24:24), all the while they believe they are following the real thing.

Authentic : created directly from the source, the author or maker. Embodies the truthfulness of origins, attributions, commitments, sincerity, devotion, and intentions.

Counterfeit: an imitation or variation of the original. Assuming the appearance of something, made by another. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product.

We should always be careful not to be deceived. It is unfortunate when we honor, worship or follow things that are counterfeit, thinking it is the real thing. Here just a brief examples.

Photos taken in Florence, Italy on May 2009

Michelangelo selected a used piece of marble. It was heavily scarred by previous sculptors who had given up on carving this particularly difficult stone. Skeptics doubted that anyone could produce anything worthwhile from this battered and overworked chunk of marble, but Michelangelo saw something within it that nobody else could see. Other sculptor created pieces of art from beautiful, unmarked and without outward flaws.

As Michelangelo’s Statue of David was being transported to the place of honor, the statue was stoned and attacked by unknown assailants. We also know in later political upheavals, the David was knocked of its perch and its right arm broken. Fortunately, another artist and supporter of Michelangelo salvaged the pieces and had the statue repaired when social order was restored. However, in 1873, it was decided that the David statue would be safer indoors, and a copy was set in its place.

It is very difficult to tell the difference between the two statues. The replica actually looks better to some because it is newer and without blemish or scars.

Sidenote: The stone that the builders rejected for Solomon's Temple was "blemished" and in their opinion, unworthy to be used. (Psalms 118:22) But more importantly it parallels Christ when we read in Isaiah 53:3 - “he was despised, and we esteemed him not”.

April 6: Alignment of Light

Photos taken on the morning of April 6, 2011

April Conference 2011

Photo taken from the Church's new highrise condominium project on March 17, 2010

Reaching the Summit

Photo taken on March 20, 2011 just before sunrise on the Spring Equinox

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it."

Matthew 7: 14

Not necessary an awarding winning photo since I took this when the sun wasn't even up. However, a symbolic photo since we see in the foreground  a strait and narrow path that leads to the top of the mountain. It should be our highest priority in life to climb and follow the strait and narrow path that eventually reachs the summit. Unfortunately there are few who find it.

Standing on Holy Ground: The Burning Bush

Photo taken on the Spring Equinox, May 20, 2011

Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet:

for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

Acts 7:33

Eastern Christians and Muslims always remove their shoes when they enter a church or a house. To sit down uninvited when in the presence of a ruler or a high government official is a breach of etiquette. But to enter a church, synagogue or mosque with shoes on it considered sacrilegious. Therefore it is not permitted. This is because the people believe that in church they are standing in the presence of God.

Moses was born and reared in Egypt. He was educated in the knowledge of all Egyptian sciences and religion. When at the palace, he had sat in the presence of Pharaoh, attended national ceremonies, and worshiped at the Egyptian shrines and temples. Moses had seen men taking their shoes off and bowing before the emperor and before the images in the shrines…

Reverence to God is man’s highest expression of respect. God does not want man to bow and beg, but it is proper to revere God and to enter into his house and before his presence clean, both inwardly and outwardly. To remove the shoes is symbolical of the removal of the earthly things and readiness to accept things of the spirit.

(Lamsa, George. New Testament Commentary, A.J. Holman Co., Philadelphia: 1945, pgs 53-54)

from my friend Donna Nielsen's blog

LOOKING EASTWARD VS LOOKING WESTWARD

Photos taken on top of mountain on the morning of Spring Equinox on March 20, 2011

Facing Eastward to the rising Sun

Facing Westward to the setting moon (the lesser Light) and man made artifical light of the City.

I woke up early on the morning of the Spring Equinox with the hopes of seeing the full moon and taking some pictures of what was being called the "super full moon"..The moon was approximately 50,000 km closer to the earth this weekend.  The moon appeared about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than normal. The last time it was this close to the earth was back in the early 90's.  Unfortunately it was cloudy and stormy. The storm had left several inches of snow, but that didn't stop me from my annual Equinox hike to the top of a mountain. However,  I was able to witness the greater light rise in the East.. the Sun. The brillaint colors of indigo, violet, magenta, and midnight blue left me awestruck. Looking to the west at lesser lights of the city lights and a possible glimpse of the lesser light of the moon paled in comparison to the powerful colors of our Creator. We can learn important lessons and it all depends in what direction we are facing.

BALANCE between Winter and Summer: The Spring Equinox

Photo taken March 2011 of a Mountain above the Salt Lake Valley.

 This Sunday is the Spring Equinox. I wrote about my climb to the top of this mountain last year on the Spring Equinox and then on the Fall Equinox. It is important for me to continue to acknowledge these days. My mother was born on the Spring Equinox. I have since learned that the first day of Nissan which starts the First Month of the Jewish calendar begins on the Spring Equinox. Dates, The Sun's Positions, alignment never used to interest me much.. but I am now having a greater appreciation for them.

This photo shows the symbolic balance between the winter (snow) and the dry (summer). The dark left side of the mountain is still cold and has snow. The sun hasn't been able to shine yet on that side. The right side is warm and has the light shining on it. The snow has melted and life begins to grow.  This is what Spring is.. balance between the two season when life is resurrected. During the 24 hour period of the Spring Equinox is when there is EQUAL LIGHT  and EQUAL DARKESS in the world. 12 hours of light , and 12 hours of night. One more interesting observation..  3 months ago was the Winter solistice in December of 2010 and we experienced a solar eclipse, complete darkeness. This spring equinox we will have a full moon. Which suggest more light appearing, which I hope will balance the scales in favor of the light.

The Usual appearing Unusual

Photo taken today March 10, 2011 of a solitiary cloud in the sky

I looked out my window at work and saw this cloud alone in the sky. It is not unusual to see clouds in the sky, but it is somewhat unusual to see one like this. It almost looks like a UFO. LOL. This cloud however was significant for me. It is a personal story which is probably not appropriate to share on this blog. I am grateful for the tender mercies from the Lord .  I testify that the Lord is very mindful of each of us in our lives. He wants us to learn and grow and exercise our spiritual muscles to perform miracles.

In like a LION, out like a LAMB

Photo taken of sunset on March 1st, 2011.

Yesterday was March 1st, 2011

We've all heard the old saying: "If March roars in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb."

But is there truly any validity to this old proverb?

March is a very fickle month with a lot of changeable weather, due to the fact that it occurs during a time of transition as our weather is shifting from Winter to the Spring season.

So, in some respects, this idiom makes sense. The weather can flip-flop, going from a late-season snow storm one moment to unusally warm spring-like temperatures in just a matter of days. Figuratively speaking, the weather can at times switch from being harsh like a lion to being calm and docile like a lamb.

It turns out, though, that the actual saying may be more derived from astronomy than meteorology. During the beginning of March, the constellation Leo (the Lion) is more prominent in the night sky, while at the end of March, the constellation Aries (the Ram or Lamb) is more visible.

Regardless of its origin, the old proverb is certainly curious and, in some instances, it actually rings true. But, scientifically and meteorologically speaking, there is no concrete evidence that if March comes in like a lion, it will leave like a lamb.

On a spiritual level, Christ has been referred to a both the Lion and the Lamb. He came in the meridian of time as a lamb, but will come in his glory as a Lion. The Millenium will be a time when both the Lion and the Lamb will lay down together.

Protected from the stormy sea

Photo taken July 11, 2010 of Crystal Cove Beach in California

I have been wanting to post this photo for sometime. Been so busy, I am now just getting around to it. The photo is of the open sea, the waves, the turbulence, and the currents. In the foreground is small pool of water that has found safety and refuge. This remnant of water from the sea is surrounded by solid rock, protected from the stormy sea..

THE NAVEL: opening for nourishment

Photos taken from my office window on February 17, 2011 of small opening in clouds

I am lucky that I have an window office with a good view. I am able to watch the skies, clouds, sunsets as I have been working long hours. It helps elevate, inspire and uplift in this dreary world in which we live.  I provides nourishment to the soul. I titled these photos as THE NAVEL.. since the small opening looked like a belly button to me. I will write more about the symbolism of the navel shortly.

Oquirrh Temple

Photo taken on February 13,2001 of the Oquirrh Temple

The name Oquirrh (pronounced O-Ker) was taken from the Goshute Indian word meaning "wooded mountain. In addition, the name "Oquirrh" is also a Ute Indian word translated as "The Shining Mountains" or "Glowing". Possibly due in part to the ranges appearance when struck by first light in the winter

Natural Beauty versus Man Made

Photograph taken on February 13, 2011 of Mount Timpanogos

I took this photo after the sun had already set. Everything at lower elevations was beginning to get dark with the exception of the snowpeaks of Mount Timpanogos. This mountain is the second highest mountain in the Wasatch Range. It is 11,749 feet above sea level. The word Timpanogos comes from the Timpanogots Ute tribe who lived in the surrounding valleys from AD 1400. The name translates as rock (tumpi-), and water mouth or canyon (panogos). Viewed from the southwest, Mount Timpanogos resembles the profile of a sleeping woman. Various legends are told of an Indian maiden who died of grief after her lover was killed.

I compare this natural beauty to the manmade "beauty" all around us. Man does his best to create beauty, much of what we see today is artificial. Driving into work today I saw billboard after billboard of advertisement on how to surgically reduce body fat, eliminate wrinkles, augment areas of the body, inject colored dye in the skin... All artificial, and man-made.

We would do well to enjoy the true natural beauty that surrounds us. God truly is the master of All things that are naturally beautiful.

Happy Valentine's Day

I woke up this morning to heart shaped pancakes that my wife had made. An ordinary and simple thing yet   made more special when it is shaped like a heart.

I LOVE YOU KAT!

Check back since I hope to expand on the significance of the heart shape.

Darkened Minds

photo taken on February 6, 2011 of storm passing over the Salt Lake Valley.

And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief,
and because you have treated lightly the things you have recieved."

Doctrine and Covenant 84:54

So is the man, who, led by the vain traditions and precepts of men is made to believe that the gifts of revelation, vision, the ministry of angels, and prophecy, and all the keys of knowledge which the ancients did enjoy, are not now needed, or to be enjoyed. Parley P Pratt: Parley Parker Pratt Jr., Writings of Parley Parker Pratt Jr., pp.22-24

Sunrise... Sunset

Photos take of the Sunrise and theSunset on February 9, 2011

A Solitary Flight

photo taken on February 4th, 2011 of a bird flying in the winter sky at sunset.

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;

and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."

Isaiah 35:1

This is not necessarily the most beautiful photo, but it is very symbolic for me. Last Friday was a difficult day not to mention a long week at work. It was cloudy all day, but for a brief moment the sun before it set in the west appeared for a brief moment. After I took the picture, I noticed that a solitary bird was soaring high in the sky above the sun. In the photo the bird appears to be a small black dot.

In the post preceding this, I shared three scripture in Luke where the Lord went into the wilderness, the desert, the mountains to be alone to pray.

MIRRORED IMAGES: Our Reflection of Light

Photo taken on February 3, 2011 (Chinese New Year)

from my office balcony looking west down 500 South.

"And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place."

Luke 4: 42

"And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed."

Luke 5: 16

" He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."

Luke 6: 12

I know that the above scriptures really don't go with the photo. But these are the scripture that I read this morning, and I wanted to put them down so that I would not forget them. These three verse are powerful and are found in the 3 consecutive chapters in Luke. Here we have the Creator and Savior of this World departing, withdrawing, to pray in solitude. It is described that he went to the desert, the wilderness, and the mountain.   If Christ felt the need to have solitude, to commune with His father... how much more need do we have to do the same.

The Metaphor of the Cut Flowers

Photo taken on Feb 1, 2011 of my wife' bouquet of flowers.

I don't normally buy my wife flowers. I probably should. However, I usually try to buy them at least on the 3 important days of the year: Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and our Wedding Anniversary. When I bought her these flowers last week, the roses had special meaning.. and took all three of those day's symbolic meaning into account. 

I did have an interesting insight/metaphor that I wanted to share about "cut flowers". Once the flowers are purchased and before they are placed in a vase, one very important thing needs to happen for the flowers to last longer. They must be CUT.  The reason a cut is needed, is becasue the flower has built up a protective seal/film at the end which does not allow new water to enter the stem. In order to have the flower have fresh water, about an inch cut needs to be made allowing for a free flowing openings for water to enter.

Ironically, the word Covenant.. means to "CUT". We too need to be cut, or make covenants with the Lord to keep the free flowing light and truth to enter into our souls. Just like the flower, we will live longer and will blossom.

Contrast

Photo taken January 20, 2011 of clouds as the sun was setting.

I am learning that in this life there is a balance in all things.. or in other words opposition in all things… when one experiences light,… one becomes very aware of the dark. Experiencing Spiritual events seem to be either preceded by or followed by opposition. There is a very real contrast between the two.
I increased the "contrast" in the photo above. The blacks of the valley floor  got darker while the beauty of the gold light on the clouds intensified. It seems the more contrast between the two, the magnificence of this winter sunset hitting the Eastern mountains increased.

Lessons we learn from the Moon

Photo taken January 12, 2011

Beside taking this picture of the full moon last week.. which I think looks very similar to an eye and an pupil. my friend wrote the following about the full moon yesterday. I thought I would post the picture with his comments:

There really is no static position in nature. The full moon of two nights ago is now replaced by the waning gibbous immediately as the light begins to be lost. Nor does the half-moon last longer than a single night, followed by the waning crescent. When the moon's light is altogether stricken, the new moon phase begins with the waxing crescent which is, at first, only a sliver. But it follows nightly through the waxing crescent, to the half moon, to the waxing gibbous, to the full moon. Always in motion. Always either growing or receding in light.

So also with the sun. From solstice to equinox, to solstice to equinox, it grows, then dims. Never static. It is impossible to freeze the light. It will grow or it will fade.

All things in nature testify of the truth. This includes things in the "heavens" or sky above, as well as things on, in and under the earth. (Moses 6: 63.)
It is not possible for an individual, nor a collection of individuals, to remain static. They are either involved with restoring truth or in apostasy from it; never merely "preserving" it. Those who claim to merely preserve the truth given them are concealing the fact of their apostasy. They are soothing their conscience. Caretakers simply cannot exist.

All great truths are simple, and they are testified of in nature as well as in scripture.

MELTING ICE.. transforming from solid, to liquid, to gas

photo taken on January 13, 2011 of icicles on our house

PILLAR OF FIRE

Photo taken on January 17, 2011 at family cabin.

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty;
he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy;
 he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Zephaniah 3: 17 KJV

another translation:
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in  you, He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3: 17 NIV

Dissipating Clouds like Clearing our Minds

Photo taken on January 11, 2011. or 1.11.11

.....but that thou wouldst clear my way before me.

2 Nephi 4:33

Just as we can see the dissipating clouds in the sky .. so to we should clear our minds that we might see.

THE ETERNITIES

Photo taken on January 10, 2011 of Winter Sunset

"Hearken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity,

the Great I Am, even Jesus Christ."

Doctrine and Convents 39:1

The glory of the sun

Photo taken on January 6, 2011 of the sun setting in the haze of Salt Lake City.

BEAUTY ALL AROUND

Photo taken on January 9, 2010 as the sun was setting. This is looking east instead of looking west how we normally look when the sun is setting.

AIR WE BREATHE

Photo taken from my office window of sunset on January 6, 2011

Winter Sunset

Photo on sunset over Oquirrah Mountains taken on January 5, 2011

Once again.. I will write more shortly when time permits.

STUBBORN OR CONFUSED? Resisting the change of seasons

Photo taken the trees in our neighborhood on December 15, 2010

For the first time since we have lived in our home, our leaves did not fall as usual during the autumn season. Instead we are in winter and we still have most of the leaves on our trees. Either the leaves this year where stubborn and wanted to hold on, or they have been confused with the unpredictable weather we have experienced all across the country. 

I will write more shortly.

Signs in the Heavens: Winter Solstice and Lunar Eclipse Overlap

I will write more shortly.



Above Photo taken on October 21, 2010 from my driveway.

 

 An example of a lunar eclipse that happen in 2004 (courtesy of msn.com)

This year's winter solstice will coincide with a full lunar eclipse in a union that hasn't been seen in.The last time the two celestial events happened at the same time was in AD 1554, (just under five centuries years ago)

The sun and the moon are at their darkest at this point in time during the winter solisitice. The eclipse will start just after midnight Eastern Time on Tuesday December 21, 2010, with the main event starting at 1:30 a.m. ET and lasting until 5:30 a.m., when the moon reappears.

From a Humble Birth to Elaborate Shows

Photo taken on May 15, 2010 in a cave outside the city of Bethelem. 

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

Luke 2: 7

We know the Christmas story very well. Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem and were turned away from the village inn by the innkeeper. Every since I was little, I have always pictured the baby Jesus in a barn like structure as he was laid in a manger (a stone feeding trough for animals). However, a very early tradition says the site of the nativity was a cave near Bethlehem.  A cave could serve a household well by providing shelter for the animals or a place of refuge. The above picture was taken in one such cave in Bethlehem.

As a sidenote: the below picture was taken at this years Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert with David Archuleta. We have come along way since the humble birth of our Savior.

Ascending the Mountain

Photo taken after the first snow storm in November of 2010 .

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

2 Nephi 24:14 

I will write more shortly