REFINED BEAUTY OVER TIME: Antelope Canyon

photo taken of a sacred Navajo Canyon on July 8, 2011

"The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools,

but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time."

-Henry David Thoreau



RAINBOW BRIDGE: Natural Wonder of the World

photo taken on July 6, 2011 on our family trip to Lake Powell

NATURE'S POWERFUL CHISEL: WATER

CREATING A HOME WITH MEMORIES.

photo taken for the 2011 Salt Lake Parade of Homes cover on July2, 2001

"I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."

Psalms 101:2

 

I took some pictures yesterday of this "ideal home" for the 2011 Parade of Homes Magazine. The featured home this year is this replica home from the Pixar/Disney movie UP. (All this picture is missing is the thousands of balloon coming out the chimney.) The story from the movie "Up" is quite powerful and inspirational. It is a message of  making memories as we grow old and making good on promises. For those who haven't seen the movie here is the premise:

Carl and Ellie wed and grow old together in the old house where they first met. Unable to have children, they also try to save up for the trip to Paradise Falls but other financial obligations arise. Just as they seem to finally be able to take their trip, Ellie dies of old age, leaving Carl living alone in their home as a grumpy old man with nothing to live for and missing his wife terribly. As the years pass, the city grows around Carl's house with tall buildings and construction... but Carl refuses to move. After a tussle with a construction worker over Carl's broken mailbox, the court orders Carl to move into Shady Oaks Retirement Home. Carl comes up with a scheme to keep his promise to Ellie, and uses his old professional supplies to create a makeshift airship using tens of thousands of helium balloons that lift his house off its foundations. He and his house fly away. However he has a stowaway aboard. An 8 year old boy named Russell, who's trying to get an Assisting the Elderly badge. Together, they embark on an adventure.

My family will be making more memories this next week as probably the last trip before our baby comes. No new posts for at least a week. I have so many picture piling up that I want to talk about..I think I have enough for the rest of the year. :)

A SMALL MOMENT IN TIME

photo taken on my oldest daughter, Jessica in Florida on June 10, 2011

 "Peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment."

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7

 Today is July 1st. It finally feels like summer. Our family hasn't been quite the same this week. We have been missing our oldest daughter who has been away at girls camp. Before she left, the above scripture came to mind as my daughter didn't know what to expect going to camp for the first time. She just got back hours ago. Wonderful to have her back home... especially to hear that she had a great experience.

YOUR DESTINATION: Where do you hope to land?

photo taken at the Dallas Fort Worth airport prior to our plane taking off on June 4, 2011

Destination: The purpose for which any thing is intended or appointed; end or ultimate design.

The Destiny of Man and Destiny of the Earth

The planet on which we live, created by God through Jesus Christ to be used by man during his mortal probation. Its final destiny is to become glorified and exalted. The earth will become an eternal inheritance of those who have recieved celestial glory. They will enjoy the presence of the Father and the Son.

HEALING POWER OF THE SUN: symbols from "Tangled"

photo taken on an afternoon hike on the Summer Solstice on June 21, 2011

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."

Malachi 4:2

Last weekend my family and I watched the movie, Tangled. It is a modern day adaptation of the early 1800 German children's story of Rapunzel. I was amazed at the symbols found within this animated movie. The basic story begins when a drop of the sun  falls to the Earth. Where the drop lands, a magic golden flower grows antd to those who find it the flower has the ability to heal the sick and injured. Mother Gothel finds the flower and hides it. The selfish woman uncovers  that when she sings to the flower, she rejuvenates and never gets old. Centuries pass and a kingdom is raised in the place where the flower is hidden. When the beloved Queen is about to have a baby, the expected royal mother gets sick and the only hope to save her and the unborn baby is to find the magic flower. But Mother Gothel does not want to share the sun's gift and keeps the flower hidden. However, the spot is found and the magic of the golden flower heals the Queen. When the Queen's daughter Rapunzel is born, she receives the healing power from the flower and Gothel abducts her to use her magic hair to stay young. Gothel raises Rapunzel as a daughter, without cutting her hair and locks her in a height tower in an isolated area. She keeps Rapunzel far from other people, telling that it is for her own protection. The King and the Queen celebrates the anniversary of their beloved daughter releasing lanterns to the sky, and Rapunzel dreams on leaving the tower to see the floating lights from the outside world.

All through the movie there is symbolism of Christ versus Satan, good verses evil, control versus freedom, selfishness versus charity.

the sun image from the movie, Tangled, a modern day version of the German fairy tale Rapunzel.

LIFE ETERNAL: to know the only true God and Jesus Christ

A Higher Perspective... seeing the Eternities.

Photo taken on our flight taking off from Dallas, Texas on June 4, 2011.

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

John 17:3

Today is June 27...  the anniversary of the martydom of Joseph Smith, Jr.

June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 167 years ago, Joseph was attacked and killed by a mob which happened to include some he considered "friends".   Here are a few lines that I read on my friends blog..."Although Joseph Smith revealed many, previously unknown things, his ministry was devoted primarily to bringing others into fellowship with God. The ordinances, scriptures, revelations, and teachings restored through him were to instruct us on how to reconnect with God. This is the role of a true messenger. It is to bring others into harmony with God. When someone delivers a new message that does not include knowledge about how the audience may come to God themselves, then the primary intent is always to make others dependent on the messenger. It is vanity. It is prideful. It is to call attention to themselves in an effort to place themselves above their fellow man, and interject themselves between the person and God. It is priestcraft."

Rejuvenation from Paradise in the Panhandle

photo taken on Lido Beach in Florida on June 10.=,2011

REJUVENATE: to make young again, to give new vigor, to restore to an original or new state.

My family and I just recently returned from one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. In fact, one of the beaches we went to was just recently ranked the Number 1 beach in the United States for 2011. Siesta Key Beach. I will post more pictures in the coming days of our trip.

 There is nothing like white sand, warm crystal blue water, and beautiful sunsets to bring peace, solace, and rejunventation back into the mind, body and soul. It was hard to come back to reality... but grateful for the memories.

"SUN STAND STILL"... summer solstice

photo taken on Lido Beach in Florida on June 10, 2011

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power;

and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God,

and for his arm to be revealed.

Doctrine and Covenants 123:17

The summer solstice occurred today at 1:16 p.m. EDT (17:16 GMT), the time the sun is at the highest point possible in the sky. In the Northern Hemphisphere, June 21 is the longest day of the year and marks the official beginning of summer. Solstice is derived from Latin words meaning, "sun stands still." Wherever a person is on the earth today, solstices occurred at the exact moment across all global timezones. Even though on June 21 is the day that the Northern Hemisphere receives the most sunlight in 2011, it is not necessarily the hottest day of the year. Since it takes several weeks for the earth to release the heat from the sunlight, the hottest days in summer are usually in July or August.

In this picture we see the sun, the red sky with water below, and a descending bird. All very symbolic imagery.

Father's Day: King of the Jungle

photo taken of lion on a safari ride at Animal Kingdom on June 11, 2011

Yesterday was Father's Day. A day we honor our fathers.. the "king" of the family. We know that no king can be powerful unless he has a loving, strong, and nurturing "queen" by his side. The Lion has been a symbolic image in scripture for the Lord, (as well as the Lamb). In modern day literature from CS Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan is the lion which has many similarities to a Savior figure. Christ as a lion is not the ruthless, stealthy, powerfully aggressive, bent on defending its turf, seeking to devour and destroy. But, instead as a symbol for controlled, majestic power and strength.

We know that the day will come in the Millenium that the Lion will lay down with the Lamb. An animal that is once feared, will be one that can be seen playing with babes.
  
I wanted to share something personal since unless I post it on this blog, I tend to not find the time to write it in my journal.. but recently had a dream about a lion. I will write more shortly.

Extreme Contrasts a month apart: from Hogans to Castles

photo taken of a hogan (traditional home of the Navajo people) on May 12, 2011

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photo taken of Cinderella's castle at DisneyWorld on June 12, 2011

“All that can not stand, must be shaken.”

Before I left for my trip to Arizona I listened to an audio recording by Lance Richardson, a LDS author of the book, The Message, which talks about his near death experience. In addition to writing his book, Lance did extensive research on the oral history and latter day prophecies of the Native American Indians.

Most fascinating to me was the Hopi Indians oral history. The Hopi’s believe that they did not migrate to this land but came in ships, arriving in what is now Central America. They were a bloodthirsty people, continually at war with their brother tribes. Then came a time when they decided to change their ways. They buried their weapons in the ground, and make a covenant to not shed blood any more. Because they had such a long history of violence, their enemies did not believe their change and came upon them, slaughtering them. But as they saw their sincerity in their conviction, that they would not lift up their swords to defend themselves, many of their brothers joined with them. They moved to a new location further North and their brother tribes made a pact with them to protect them, and they in turn gave them food. They eventually moved North until they came to where they are today. ( The 3 Mesa Arizona reservations) Also in their history… the 'Messau' appeared to them and taught them skills of living and told them prophecies of the future.

The Hopi’s describe dire latter day prophecies of three 'shakings' that are obvious references to World Wars I, II and III. The third shaking would not happen if the people turned to God, learning from the first two; but if not, it would be far worse than either the first or the second. The first two were as if with 'one hand,' while the third shaking would be 'with both hands.'

There were several signs that they were given just prior to the Third Shaking. One of which would be that they would be able to hit a button and light would appear in their hogans. (Electricity)

All of this background story leads me up to an experience that I had on my trip. I was able to meet a Native America man and he took me to his hogan (house) seen in the above photo. He made a special point to tell me that just recently a power line was brought out to their remote home. Fulfillment of one of the signs prior to the third shaking. I contrast this with the rest of the world who basically live in a “fairy” tale like living in Cinderella’s castle of an “all is well” mentality. So many signs around us point to an interesting/distressing events all around us…some days it feels that the earth is starting to be shaken for the third time.

COMMUNICATING THROUGH SYMBOLS AND PICTURES: HOPI

photo taken on May 11, 2011 of Hopi artwork painted on interior of the watchtower

I will be taking about a 2 week break from posting anything.

WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

photo taken on May 11,2011 overlooking the Hopi Reservation

I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men,

save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing

which he commandeth them." -

1 Nephi 3:7 

With God, I can do anything.

Without God, I can do nothing.

This photo has deep meaning for me. It is posted as a reminder to me that the above scripture is true.

SET APART... Higher Ground.. A MESA

photo taken on May 11, 2011 Eastrigdge of Grand Canyon looking towards Tuba City in Arizona

"But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself:

the Lord will hear when I call unto him."

Psalms 4:3

The term "mesa" is used throughout the United States to describe a  flat-topped mountain or hill.  Is is a physical place that is "set apart" from and higher than the surrounding area. A mesa ( Spanish and Portuguese for "table") or table mountain is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape.  The largest mesa in the world is considered to be the Grand Mesa  located in western Colorado near Montrose.

PREDICTIONS versus PROPHECIES

Photo taken of the Wasatch front snowcovered mountains and full lake at Liberty Park.

 Today is June 1, 2011. 

Hard to believe school is out this week and summer has begun, mainly because it just snowed a couple of days ago. Looking up at our mountains, it looks like winter and the snow pack is dangerously still deep for this time of year. It is not a matter of if it will flood in the valleys, but when and how much damage will occur.
Even though many are predicting that there will be alot of flooding in the next month. Will is really happen.. or is it just an educated guess, a prediction. Then the thought occured to me... what is the difference between a prediction and a prophesy.

A prediction is a statement about the way things will happen in the future, often but not always based on experience or knowledge. Anyone can make a prediction.

A prophecy is foretelling future events and make a divine declaration of an events to come. It is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a true prophet are then communicated to others by this true prophet. These prophecies  involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come.

MEMORIAL DAY: The bagpiper

photo taken on May 30, 2011 of bagpiper at Wasatch Memorial Lawn

Today was Memorial Day.

 Despite the rain, thousands came to the cemetary to pay tribute to loved ones, including this bagpiper dressed in his kilt barely visible under his raincoat. My father-in-law passed away a couple of years ago and a bagpiper came to his gravesite and played the song, Amazing Grace. There was some synchronicity today because right when we got to the cemetary this bagpiper was playing Amazing Grace about 50 feet away from her father's grave. As soon as he finished, he left. Timing is everything. 

I will write a little more about a couple of things I have learned about Memorial Day and the significance of this day. 

BARREN TREE

photo taken of tree at the Grand Canyon on May 11, 2011

write more soon.

Day of Pentecost: SHAVUOT

Photo of bright sunflowers seen on the mountainside on my hike on May 26. 2011 

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,

and it filled all the house where they were sitting."

Acts 2:1-3

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180 degree panaroma on Lookout Peak looking west into the Salt Lake Valley

(far left is Mt. Olympus and far right is Bountiful)

 180 degree panarama looking East toward Park City (far right is Immigration Canyon)

"And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount:

and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up."
Exodus 19:20

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 A Hawk that hoovered over me for several minutes as I was ascending to the summit of the mountain.

"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove,

and it abode upon him."

John 1:32

Yesterday  (using the sun/solitice calendar for the Jewish holidays) was the Day of Pentecost. This day is historically and symbolicallly related to the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot, which commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai fifty days after the exodus. It is 50 days after the Feast of the Passover.  It is also one of the day commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection.

This day is also called the feast of the harvest and lasted for a single day, which was a day of holy convocation. Special sacrifices were made and freewill offerings.

In modern times in the Kirkland Temple we also learn about a Pentecost:

 Joseph wrote, “The Savior made his appearance to some, while angels ministered to others, and it was a Pentecost and an endowment indeed, long to be remembered, for the sound shall go forth from this place into all the world, and occurrences of this day shall be handed down upon the pages of sacred history, to all generations.” (History of the Church, 2:427–33.)

THE POWER OF WATER TO CREATE:

Photo taken of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon taken on May 11, 2011

"And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts;

he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them;

he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out."

I Nephi 20:21

WHICH IS MORE POWERFUL? ROCK or WATER?

I have pondered a couple of things after my trip to the Grand Canyon. The amazing beauty from the interaction between rock and water.  Rock is associated with firmness, immovable, strength, and masculinity. Water is associated with Life, the most abundant and most necessary for living beings, and is considered a feminine symbol. Water when pure is colorless, transparent, and without taste or smell. Water in the cold temperatures can be converted into ice or snow, and in the heat can be converted into steam or vapor. Rock over time is transformed by water. Water is the powerful force on the earth..... yet most would think that rock is more powerful than water.

The Watchman on the Tower

"And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off;

 and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof,

and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer."

Doctrine and Covenants 101: 54

Overlooking the Grand Canyon sits this modern day watchtower. I was able to climb to the top where I was able to see for miles and miles.. even across the state line of Arizona into Utah. When storms are approaching, the watchmen in the tower can see long before the destruction hits, so he can warn and protect those in the storms path. Also, the watchtower was set up to guard against enemies who would come in secretly to destroy and to steal.  

In ancient times, the watchtower was a tall structure built of field stone in the midst of steep, terraced vineyards. Often the vineyard is far from the village, and needs to be protected both from natural enemies and from thieves. Sometimes the watchtower served as temporary living quarters for the owners during summer because when the grapes became ripe in July...special full time watchfulness was required before the grape harvest to guard the fruit from animals and thieves.

Other references to watchmen on the tower are found in Isaiah and in the Doctrine and Covenants.  Isaiah prophesies that in the last days that there will be watchman that are blind, and compares them to shepherds that cannot understand since they look to their own way. (Isaiah 56: 10-11). The modern parable given to Joseph Smith in D&C 101 talks about the nobleman and the watchman on the tower that also has fallen asleep. If there every was a time of need of watchman on the tower.. the Samuel the Lamanite types...it is now. We have prophets among us today who are not asleep, who cry repentance, who raise the warning voice, and who point us to Christ... . It seems that the portent storms that prophets have warned us about for years are now upon us. It is amazing to me to see the destruction that is taking place around the world... physical destruction from tornados, floods, earthquakes, volcanos, and tsanumis; as well as emotional destruction from divorce, abuse, pornography and debt.

SURVIVING AGAINST ALL ODDS

photos taken of trees at the edge of the Grand Canyon on May 11, 2011

I saw this lone tree on top of a rocky cliff overlooking the Grand Canyon. It reminded me of a parable that I read entitled , "The Weathered Tree". Here is an excerpt from that parable.

…there is a windswept granite rock outcropping, overlooking a beautiful valley. A solitary Ponderosa Pine tree grows in a crack of this cliff. Below her, in contrast, there is a valley forest.


The tree lives in the most difficult spot of all the forest. To look at it, it appears there is too little soil for the tree to have begun life there. Once life began, it looks as if there would be too little water to sustain it. And even if its life were possible, the wind never stops blowing at the place, pushing the tree in one direction, then another, never stopping. The tree has been buffeted and blown relentlessly throughout her difficult life.


A forest grew in the sheltered valley below this granite cliff. In the forest there is rich and fertile ground for the trees, which stores water from the snows of winter and the rain of spring. Trees are sheltered by the valley and by each other from any winds which blow. The forest trees grew straight, tall and in perfect symmetry. The tree on the cliff, however is weathered and beaten. It could not grow straight, but was twisted by the buffeting of the wind as it grew. The weathered tree spiraled as she grew upward, unlike the straight trees below. Once she was struck by lightning, which charred a side of her and tore her original upward reaching arms. Though she suffered injuries which would kill most trees, she miraculously returned to life bearing a dark scar from the lightning on her side and injuries to her up reaching arms. Year after year the trees al grew. In the vally, trees reached heights over 300 feet, while the weathered tree fought for more root space in the granite in which she was planted. Her height was stunted as her energy was spent in the struggle for root space and her lack of available water. She was twisted, so that her heights was further limited by the turns her difficult life had taken.


The forest trees below mocked the weathered tree. They lived in companionship with each other, strong and straight. The solitary tree above had her shameful, twisted body on display for all the other trees to see and mock. “It was right to have this tortured tree kept apart from the rest,” they said. “for she would never fit in with our beautiful forest below”.


The years came and went, and while the weathered tree continued her difficult existence, the forest enjoyed their pleasantries. Deer and elk lived in the forest; ferns grew in its moist shade. There was harmony in the forest which went beyond the trees alone. THE FOREST WAS PROUD…..


(excerpt from the book, The Ten Parables)






Read Isaiah 53

SOARING vs FLYING: The condor bird

 photo taken on May 11, 2011 of a condor bird soaring over the Grand Canyon.

Photo taken of same condor soaring towards the sun.

 

SOAR:  to rise high, to tower in thought or imagination.

FLY: to move through the air by the aid of wings.

I watched this California condor "soaring" above the Grand Canyon. This bird is an endangered species and is one of the world's rarest bird species. As of April 2011, there are 384 condors known to be living, including 181 in the wild. Unlike most birds that "fly", the condor soars. They rarely flap their wings, but use and allow the wind to guide them. They make flying look effortless. 

Some birds never fly like the ostrichs, penguins, emus.

Some birds fly and can only stay in flight by flapping their wings quickly.

and very few birds soar.

.....symbolic of  humans as well.

BTW:

Here are a couple of interesting facts about the condor bird. The condor is the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere. These birds may live for 50 years or more, and mate for life. The world's oldest condor died at 100. The lack of a large sternum to anchor correspondingly large flight muscles identifies it physiologically as a primary soarer. The birds flap their wings on rising from the ground after attaining a moderate elevation they seem to sail on the air. The wings of the largest, when expanded are said to extend 15 feet.

A Natural Wonder of the World

photo taken of the Grand Canyon on the morning of May 11, 2011

"How mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and his dominion is from generation to generation."

Daniel 4:3

Almighty and Powerful

Photo taken of clouds over the Grand Canyon on May 10, 2011

"O Lord God Almighty,

hear us in these our petitions, and answer us from heaven,

thy holy habitation, where thou sittest enthroned,

with glory, honor, power, majesty, might, dominion, truth, justice, judgment, mercy,

and an infinity of fulness, from everlasting to everlasting."

Doctrine and Covenants  109: 77

"And behold, the heavens were opened,

and they were caught up into heaven, and saw and heard unspeakable things."

2 Nephi 28:13

BEAUTY: The Destiny of Zion

photo taken on May 10, 2011 in Sedona, Arizona

"For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged;

her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you,

Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments."

Doctrine and Covenants 82:14

Destruction: The Fate of Babylon

photo taken of the remains after a fire near Flagstaff, Arizona (trees looks like toothpicks on the hill)

"Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which should come upon them,

 immediately after my father left Jerusalem; nevertheless, they hardened their hearts;

and according to my prophecy they have been destroyed."

2 Nephi 25: 10

Descending Below into the Dark.Ascending Above into the Light

Photos taken on May 10, 2011 at the Lava tunnel outside of Flagstaff, AZ

North of Flagstaff, about 10 miles off the beaten path is the Lava River Cave. The cave is about a mile long and the temperatures within the cave range from 32 degrees to 40 degrees all year long. There is alot of ice that is formed in the cave which  never melts and it quite dangerous to enter alone. (Probably will get a phone call after I post this from my mom when they hear that I descended into the cave alone). It is recommended that you call someone to let them know you are entering the cave and then calling back after you exit. Despite not seeing anyone within 10 miles and being complelely alone, I knew I would be protected, and was given several forms of light to take with me to reach the end of the tunnel. This was something I was to experience alone. At the half way point of the cave is a "birth cannel" which you need to get on your hands and knees and crawl in order to continue on to the end of the cave. While I was concerned about the time, I felt I needed to reach the end of the tunnel.. to then turn off all the light I had and experience the thick darkness that can only be experienced deep in the earth. Remarkable things happen when you heed the promptings of the Spirit and allow yourself to be teachable. The Lord is anxious to teach us if we only let him. I will always remember my experience in this cave. While might not seem related.. the below scripture has much more meaning to me now.

"Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round,

the same today as yesterday, and forever."

Doctrine and Covenants 35:1

HAVING JOY in your POSTERITY

photo taken of my parents at my dad's 80th Birthday Party at the Lion House

photo of my three daughters outside my dad's Birthday Party at the Lion House

"And this is mine everlasting covenant,

that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward,

 then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness,

and the earth shall tremble with joy."

JST Genesis 9:22

I'll continue posting pictures of my Arizona trip.. but I wanted to quickly insert these pictures and acknowledge my dad and his amazing accomplishment of turning 80 but still looking like he is 20 years younger.. same with my mom. The good look genes skipped a generation and were then passed down to my daughters. We celebrated my dad's birthday last Saturday on May 14, 2011 at the Lion House.

AWAKE and ARISE...Standing tall from the crowd

photo taken on May 10, 2011 outside of Flagstaff, Arizona

"Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom;

 behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord."

Doctrine and Covenants 133:10

I drove past a forest of trees and looked over and saw this one tree.. alone, standing tall. It was as if all the other trees were asleep in mass... while this one tree was awake and standing tall in the middle of this beautiful meadow. It towered over the other trees. It seems as if it is much easier in life to stay within the pack, to go with the flow, to not make waves and settle for the status quo. In order to be ready for what is ahead, one must awake.. and arise. The Lord continues to call to us to Come, Follow Him. In those 3 words are two commandments.. to come (which requires us to stand up and act) and then to  follow Him.. Follow Him where? Follow Him to the Father. Christ's role is to take us to the Father.

Walking in Darkness at NoonDay

Photo taken on May 10, 2011 near Sedona, Arizona

"They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin,

in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day."

Doctrine and Covenants 95:1-6

I took this picture just around noon time. I think I won't expand more on this but I would recommend reading all 6 verses in section 95 and also Psalms 82:6. What are the clouds/darkness symbolic of? How do we remove them so we can see the sun and walk in the Light?

A Place of Refuge: Montezuma Castle

photo taken on May 10, 2011 of Montezuma Castle in Arizona

"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes,

may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm,

and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."

Doctrine and Covenants 115:6

This is a 20 room "village" or place of refuge that is nestled into a towering limestone cliff.  Its tells of a 1,000 year-old story of some Native American's ingenuity and need for survival in an unforgiving desert landscape. The "Castle' was home to 35 or so people of the Sinagua tribe. The name "sinagua" is a variation of the Spanish "sin agua" which means without water. The remote location built high up in the cliffs offered protection and defensibility from the elements and their enemies.

False Traditions that begin to take over like weeds

photo taken on May 10, 2011 of a highway overgrown with weeds outside of Phoenix

photos taken on May 10th of 2 different paintings of Samuel the Lamanite 

painted by Walter Rane's on exhibit at the Mesa Temple Visitor Center 

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,

after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Colossians 2:8

Currently at the Visitor's Center at the Mesa Temple is the exhibit of Walter Rane's painting depicting many of the scenes from the Book of Mormon. I found it interesting that at the exhibit ...on both sides of the painting of Christ coming to the America... are these two paintings of the Lamanite prophet in the Book of Mormon sent by the Lord to teach and warn the Nephites just before the Savior’s birth. His name was Samuel. Samuel prophesied of signs relating to the birth and death of Jesus Christ and of the destruction of the Nephites. The one on the left is Samuel receiving his call to preach repentance and the one on the right is of Samuel sounding the warning call. He was to go to Zarahelma the city in which the Church was established. I find it curious to know what happened to a once righteous city that was evidentually destroyed.

On my way up to the Grand Canyon I pulled over to a rest stop to take some pictures. I notice this once traveled highway that is now overgrown with weeds. A portent storm was approaching as I was taking this picturs. How does a once beautiful well traveled road eventually become overgrown with weeds. It would seem impossible for weeds to grow up through a supposably firm foundation of concrete? But over time if we are not careful, unwanted weeds will take over.

Further Light and Knowledge

photo taken on May 10, 2011 of the Northside of the Mesa Temple

The temple is one place where we can recieve further light and knowledge. This is where I began my 1000 mile trip in Arizona. In addition to spiritual "light", I received "physical light" here (in the form of flashlights from a friend to explore caves on my way up the Grand Canyon), as well as more knowledge about  the history of the temple. In the temple there are huge murals painted of Joseph and Hyrum Smith teaching the Native Americans. The settlement of the Latter-day Saints in Arizona began in 1858 when Jacob Hamblin led a group of pioneers to the area. Jacob Hamblin became a friend to various Native American Tribes. He is sometimes referred to as the "Buckskin Apostle," or the "Apostle to the Lamanites. A charge set out by the early church to seek of the remnant for who the Book of Mormon is written for.

The Mesa Temple has carved panels at each of the four corners of the temple symbolically depicting the gathering of the various groups of converts (gathering of Israel). This temple is one of the few temples that does not have a spire nor Angel Moroni.

The temple experience was powerful since I brought Native American names with me and did the baptism and confirmations for these men.

Luke 21: 34-36

1000 Mile Loop Drive in Arizona

photo taken on May 11, 2011 of South Rim of the Grand Canyon

I have never been to the Grand Canyon. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. I took the opportunity the past couple days to fly to Phoenix to visit some friends who live up in Snowflake. The trip ended up being an almost 1000 miles round trip that took me all over the state of Arizona. In the next couple of blogs I will share some pictures and experiences.

The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is the largest gorge in the world-a 290-mile-long gash across the face of the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona. John Wesley Powell in 1869 became the first to traverse the canyon by river. He wrote, "You cannot see the Grand Canyon in one view, as if it were a changeless spectacle from which a curtain might be lifted."  I think the same can be said of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the revelations we can recieve as the veil is lifted..

Snow Canyon in the Desert: Oxymorons

Photo taken of South Entrance to Snow Canyon. St. George, Utah on April 22, 2011

Write more shortly.

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.