photo of a dead tree at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon taken on July 8, 2011
The Seven deadly sins with definitions:
Wrath: selfishness or self-interest, love of justice perverted to revenge and spite, uncontrolled feelings of anger
Greed: excessive or inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs, especially with respect to material wealth, status, and power
Sloth: failure to utilize one's talents and gifts, laziness and indifference
Pride: desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self,
Lust: excessive love of others, which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary
Envy: resent that another person has something they perceive themselves as lacking, sorrow for another's good
Gluttony: indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste (excessive desire for food causing withholding from the needy)
We need to change these vices into virtues:
·our Wrath into Patience.
·our Greed into Charity
·our Slothfulness into Diligence
·our Pride into Humility
·our Lust into Chastity
·our Envy into Kindness
·our Gluttony into Temperance.
Once we have all these virtues we will be filled with love for others. Love encompasses all the virtues. Once we have all virtues we will be able to taste Zion.
Just an interesting thing I learned. The writer of Gilligan’s island created each character to be an embodiment of one of the seven deadly sins. As you know all of them were castaways on an island needing to make it back home.
Photo of Mount Timpanogos Temple taken by Paul Talbot who captured this for me in my behalf
since I didn't have my camera with me.
“It is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore,
if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief”
Moroni 7:37
Ministering angels are sometimes sent to guide, comfort, protect, and instruct the Lord’s servants and other faithful individuals in times of need. Angels who minister in our behalf—whether seen or unseen—may include departed loved ones who are aware of our circumstances and are concerned about our welfare. We do not consciously realize the extent to which ministering angels affect our lives.
This photo has special meaning for me. I usually have my camera with me, but on this particular evening I left it home. I was on my way from Salt Lake to give a blessing to a friend who had severe back problems and was incapacitated and couldn’t walk. He called me (on Father’s Day) to give him a blessing instead of his father…since he lost both his dad and mom in a tragic car accident when he was little. The sun was setting as I was driving. The clouds were turning a deep red color as I approached my friends house. Just before I arrived, I passed the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. I stopped to look at the temple with the brilliant sky in the background. Just as I was wishing I had my camera. I noticed a man on the corner (Paul Talbot) taking a picture of this scene. I asked him if he would send it to me. He did, and I post it on my blog with his permission.
Not only does the Lord send signs to us, but people who are there to help us in our time of need. A blessing was given to my friend. He was prompted to have four of us Elders to form a circle (a square within a circle which is similar to the Native America's medicine wheel) As we were giving him a blessing, we all felt the strong impressions that his dad was there with us in the room. An unseen ministering angel. After a blessing of healing was given, my friend was able to stand and give us all a hug. Faith, Healing, Miracles, and Ministering Angels.
The photo is a memory for me of that night. The red in the clouds symbolic of the Atonement of Christ who has the ability to heal us all. We partake of the sacrament every week to remember the blood that was shed for us as we all need access His mercy to be healed.
photo taken of my shadow at Lake Powell on July 8, 2011
"The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened."
Doctrine and Covenants 110:1
The phrase "mind's eye" refers to the human ability for visualization for the experiencing of visual mental imagery; in other words, one's ability to "see" things with the mind. Another term which is closely related in using our "third eye". The third eye is often associated with visions. People who have allegedly developed the capacity to utilize their third eyes are sometimes known as seers. In the last days we read in Acts and also in Joel we read.. "it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your youngmen shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."
photo taken of the street at the beginning of parade with the police escorting
our church and state dignitaries on Monday July 25, 2011
photo of President Thomas S Monson waving to the crowd
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind.
On July 24th, we celebrate the Mormon pioneers arrival into the Salt Lake Valley. A parade was first held on July 24, 1849. It was then known as the "Pioneer Days Parade" up until 1931. From 1931 to 1946 the parade was known as the "Covered Wagon Days Parade". Since 1947 the parade has been known by its current name... the Days of 47' Parade.
LDS ward and stakes always sponsor floats in the parade. Many hundreds of hours of volunteeer time are spent to decorate these floats depicting the theme each year. Recently, the parade has become more inclusive, with other churches participating and celebrating their own Utah pioneers. One of the big crowd pleasers in the parade are the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. Television news personalities, Beauty Queens, and Government officials and the militiary also are a big part of the parade. Of course it always includes the handcarts, horses, bands, and clowns for the children.
HOWEVER, while we keep most traditions alive. There is one tradition that has changed...which isn't surprising.. since most things change over time. Here is one example: The Days of 47' Marathon Route. My wife and I ran this Marathon about 10 years ago. It is known by most as the Deseret News Marathon. The course was very difficult since there were grueling hills that traces the route the Mormon pioners took when they first arrived in the valley. The last miles are run along the parade route. It became known as "being too difficult". My wife and I trained for months running parts of the course with my brother-in-law. We all finished the race. It was difficult, but the reward was great.
Over the years there has been a steady decline of runners. In order to make the race profitable and to encourage more participation, the course was changed to be alot easier. There are no more difficult mountains to summit. The course is mostly all downhill now.
We seem to avoid the difficult, the steep, and the painful.. for the easier, the gentle declines, and the more convenient. While we still have the tradition of this marathon. it is a different course. Not sure the reward is still the same however.
photo taken of the Cliff/Rock Dwellers in Northern Arizona on July 8, 2011
Native American home in Cliff Dwellers, located in Northern Arizona at Marble Canyon and at the foot of Vermillion Cliffs, is known for its unique shaped boulders and rugged terrain
photo taken of Angel Moroni on top of Mt. Timpanogos temple on April 6, 2011
"That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God,
that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation."
Doctrine and Covenants 88:75
In computer networks, a proxy server is a computer system that acts as an intermediary for requests from one server seeking resources from another server. By definition, a proxy is a person authorized to act on behalf of another.
I haven't shared this yet after returning home from the Snowflake, Arizona Temple. Today I thought I should. I went down to Arizona for several reason, one of them was to do the temple work for 5 Native Americans. I did some of the ordinances in the Mesa Temple, and then did the rest in the Snowflake Temple. One of main reason we go to the temple is to gain further light and knowledge. In order for this progression, we must be clean from the sins and blood of past generations. As I was a proxy for one of the Native Americans, I sensed this man's overwhelming feeling of gratitude and joy in being cleansed from the traditions of his fathers and the blood of his generation. Through the Spirit, I knew that he had shed "innocent" blood... and as his proxy I wept for him with tears of love for the mercies given to us through our Savior. There is a very real, and the literal cleansing that we can feel if we access the Atonement.
Today I met a woman from Alabama who is here to go through the Salt Lake Temple with my friend. My friend will act as proxy for her son who died a year ago. Her son was 24 years old and committed suicide. What is even more tragic is that he shot himself over the grave of his father who also killed himself 5 years ago. Both the father and son suffered from clinical depression. My heart went out to the woman who has lost both her husband and son. As the blessings of the temple will be performed today, I can testify that as we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can be pronounced clean from the blood that stains us in this world.
photo taken outside of Page, Arizona at the Navajo power plant.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:1
I give unto you power,
that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven;
and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven;
and thus shall ye have power among this people
Helaman 10:7
There is no greater power than the sealing power here on earth. While a nuclear plant might be one of our most powerful man-made inventions by man... having God's sealing power is greater. If a prophet is given the sealing power, they know that it is NEVER about them or what they have done in this life. It is ALL about GOD. They would never super impose their self at all, No Pride. No focusing light on themselves... it is all about glorifying our Father in Heaven. Christ was the perfect example of this.
Sidenote Info of the powerplant in the photo:
The Navajo Power Plant is located in northern Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Page, and features three 750-megawatt coal-fueled, steam-electric generating units. An electric railroad delivers coal to the plant from a mine on the Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations at Black Mesa in northern Arizona. If someone has alot of time to read.. this talks about the travesty of taking the coal from the Hopi reservations.
I did NOT take this photo (I screengrabbed it from the BBC video)
Are we like the salmon or a trout?
The salmon are anadromous (migrate). They are born in fresh water, migrate to the ocean, then return to back home to fresh water. After leaving the fresh water, just before entering the salt water, their body chemistry changes, allowing them to live in the different water environment. The salmon spend about one to five years in the open ocean where they gradually become mature. The adult salmon then return back up their natal stream to spawn. While hard to believe, tracking studies show that these fish return to the exact spot where they were born. This homing behavior has been shown to depend on their olfactory memory. (smell.. the ability to discern). Not many salmon eggs make it to maturity. Many are lost.
The trout however are content to stay where they are ... they are called "resident". They possible like the security of the pleasant, calm easy water.
In order for the salmon to return back to where they came from, they much swim upstream.. against the current. It is a difficult and strenous requiring an unrelenting force pulling them back. Trout are mainstream fish and they rarely swim against the current...content they are gradually being pulled downstream with the rest of the flow or stay in pools (not really moving up or down stream).
For the salmon, swimming against the the fast moving current is not their only challenge. Unfortunately, there are small waterfalls that they must over which requires these fish to jump out of the water (their security and environment) in order to get to the higher level of water. The Bears are very keen and smart, they stand with open mouth ready to eat the salmon as they attempt to jump past these hairy "gatekeepers" of the higher water. Many salmon do not make it past and are eaten alive.
There is beauty is seeing the salmon pierce the water, jump past the bears into the fresh water of their origin.
This is a beautiful story that the Native Americans have about the salmon.
This story is about when the people ignored the directions of the Creator about caring for the salmon, the salmon disappeared. The Creator taught the people how to care for this food which was created especially for them. He said, "Do not neglect this food. Be careful that you do not break the rules in taking care of this salmon. Do not take more than you need". He told them if they observed these rules, the salmon would multiply several times over as long as they lived.
At first the people diligently obeyed the rules, and they lived happily without problems. All along the river there were different bands of people living in their fishing villages, busy catching and drying their supply of salmon.
But one day something strange happened. The people became careless and they neglected to follow the instructions made by the Creator. They became greedy. They did not take care of the salmon. They let them go to waste when they caught more than they needed for their families. They would not listen to the advice from those who were trying to follow the rules. Suddenly the salmon disappeared.
When the salmon were no longer coming up the stream for the people to catch everybody frantically searched the rivers, but all in vain. There was not one salmon left to be found. Soon they became hungry, their little children were crying and the old people were forced to beg for food.
One day, while they were searching the river, they found a dead salmon lying on the bank of the river. They stared down at it in disbelief when they realized what had happened. They began to cry out in shame and lament their mistakes, "If we are given one more chance, we will do better. If only we could awaken this salmon, the other salmon might come up the stream."
The people called a council and they talked about how they could give life back to the salmon. In legendary times those with supernatural powers could revive a lifeless creature by stepping over it five times. The people tried to use their own spiritual powers to revive the salmon. One by one they each stepped over the salmon five times, but to no avail.
There was a recluse named Old Man Rattlesnake. He never went anywhere always staying off by himself. He was very ancient and all the people called him "Grandfather". Somebody said, "let's ask Grandfather to help us! He is a powerful man. Let him revive the salmon!." A messenger was sent. "Oh Grandfather, would you come and help us revive the salmon. Everybody has failed." Old Man Rattlesnake listened and said, "What makes you think I am capable of reviving this lone salmon after everyone else has failed? I am an old man, how do you expect an old man like me to possess powers to do the impossible!". The messenger was sad. "You are our last hope. Please help us, Grandfather". Finally Old Man Rattlesnake agreed, "I will do my best". He was so old it was very painful for him to move fast. He moved ever so slowly and it seemed like such a long way for one so old.
While Grandfather was on his way, Coyote (a trickster) tried desperately, using all his wily skills to convince the people he possessed supernatural powers. He was thinking to himself, "If I revive this salmon I will be a very famous person." He stepped over it four times, and just as he was stepping over the fifth time, he pushed the salmon with the tip of his toe to make it appear as though it moved. He announced loudly, "Oh, look, my people, I made the salmon come to life. Did you see it move?" But the people were wise to the ways of Coyote and they paid him no attention.
Finally, Old Man Rattlesnake arrived. Painfully he crawled over the salmon four times. The fifth time something magical happened! Grandfather disappeared into the salmon and the salmon woke up and came back to life and the salmon came back to the rivers. The people learned their lesson well and took care to protect their salmon from then on.
Today when you catch a salmon, and you are preparing it for eating or preserving, if you break the spine you will find a white membrane inside. That is old Man Rattlesnake who gave life back to the salmon.
We did not know all this by ourselves; we were told it by our fathers and grandfathers, who learned it from their fathers and grandfathers. No one knows when the Great Chief Above will overturn the mountains.
But we do know this: the spirits will return only to the remains of people who in life kept the beliefs of their grandfathers. Only their bones will be preserved under the mountains
This might be interesting for those interested to watch.
I have spent sometime with the Hopi's and Navajos in the last couple of months.
We can learn alot from them.
Disclaimer: There is a hint of evolution at the end and Darwism that might cause some to reject this, however, I found alot of beauty in what this man says that we all are one family interconnected.
Photo taken of the Salt Lake Jail on July 18, 2011
Yesterday, I visited a man in prison. It was a humbling experience for me. As you can see, this concrete walled prison does not have any windows. No light can penetrate this facility, and those captive inside are unable to see sunlight. Without light, no growth or progression can be made. Instead of natural light, artificial light from manmade electricity is used to “light” the interior. This kind of light has no life giving abilities. To be damned means to stop progression by not receiving further light and knowledge.
Unfortunately, many are imprisoned innocently or on false charges. It is truly sad. Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ were two such men wrongly accused and spent time behind bars. However, experiencing the darkness one gains a better appreciation for the light. As we know, there is only one source of Light. The Light of Christ. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12: 46.
This is the Savior' role:
“To open the blind eyes,
to bring out the prisoners from the prison,
and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”
Isaiah 42:7
On first reading this scripture, it would appear that Isaiah is referring to just prisoners in prison who are without light and are blind. But re-reading, the blind are the prisoners... AND THEM (that are “free”… outside of prison) who also sit in darkness. We are told that there are many who are walking in darkness at noon-day. Read Doctrine and Covenants 95: 5-6.
My wife at night wears a blindfold. This is for her to be able to sleep a little longer in the morning when the sun comes up. She physically places material over her eyes which will not allow light to penetrate her eyes. The blindfold work.
Yesterday in sacrament meeting, the primary president shared an object lesson that I thought was interesting. She blind folded the children and told them to find the picture of Jesus Christ that she hung on the wall. Unable to see, the children were unable to locate the Savior. Because our Father in Heaven loves us, we who are blind and whose eyes are not yet opened, God provides us with His word for us to hold onto. To illustrate this, the primary president held out a rod which led to the picture of the Savior. She had the blindfolded children then hold onto that rod. This helped them find where they were to go. This is faith on His world. Hopefully, as we exercise our faith, we have have knowledge and eventually remove the blindfolds and see the Lord ourselves.
“The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down.” Psalms 146:8
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. :)
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.
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.
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.
Photo taken on our flight taking off from Dallas, Texas on June 4, 2011.
"And this is lifeeternal, 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."
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.
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 standstill, 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.
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.
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.
photo taken on May 11, 2011 Eastrigdge of Grand Canyon looking towards Tuba City in Arizona
"But know that the Lord hath setapart 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 Portuguesefor "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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
"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.
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…..
