MAN-MADE vs. NATURAL

photos taken on Sunday, May 27, 2012 which happened to be Pentecost.

Above are two waterfalls up Provo Canyon. The waterfall on the left does not have an name, it is man-made and is at the beginning of the canyon near the city of Orem. The waterfall on the right is Bridleveil Falls which is higher up the canyon.

I will write more shortly.

MEMORIAL DAY 2012

photo taken on May 27, 2012 of the birdhouse out in front of our home.

While today is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, Memorial Day has become a day for more general expressions of memory, as people visit the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not. On Saturday, my family visited the grave of my wife's father. He died a few years ago from cancer. Saturday also happened to be his birthday. He would have been 78. We left a Birthday card along with flowers.

We tend to think that only human's grieve the loss of a loved one. It is my belief that animals also have emotions of sorrow and grief.

A mother sparrow made a nest in our front yard birdhouse this year. We enjoyed seeing and hearing the chirping when the little baby birds hatched. Unfortunately, a predator of some kind came into the nest. We found the remains of the little birds on our lawn. The mother bird now sits outside of the birdhouse... with an occasional chirp. She seems to be grieving the loss of her babies. I took this picture yesterday in the morning. It has been over a week now. She still has not left.
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Below is a photo and from a story that I came across on the interent of a male pit bull mourning by the side of his dead companion has moved many to tears after it was posted to Facebook. On Friday, the female pit bull was killed by a car on South 16th Street in Phoenix, but her partner refused to abandon her. The male dog stayed by her side for more than 14 hours before Animal Control removed her body and now, they say, he is still so depressed he may not be able to find a home to adopt him. He would not eat or drink, but licked and stayed with his friend

NORTH PEAK OF PARAWON GAP

photo taken on Sunday, May 20, 2012.

the day of the Allular Eclipse

About Parowan Gap          

Hugh Nibley states, “By an interesting coincidence I had spent the previous week in Cedar City with President William Palmer, a patriarch as well as stake president, who taught anthropology in the college there. He had been initiated into the Paiute tribe, and took me out to their sacred place in the plain southwest of Parowan [Parowan Gap]. The building of the highway had put an end to the rites of initiation that once took place there, but President Palmer described the teachings and ordinances as far as was permitted. In particular he told the story of the descent of the Lord from heaven as if at that place, an event much like that described in 3 Nephi. Tobats was the God of all Creation; his son Shinob was the peacemaker full of love and eternally young. One day the Evil One Un-nu-pit killed Shinob. At once a great darkness fell upon “Tu-weap,” the whole earth. It was absolute blackness for three days. In this chaos and confusion everyone was groping around in howling and lamentation. Finally, a voice from the top of the mountain spoke; it was Tobats the Father. He told them to move about with outstretched arms, calling out to each other, and joining hands with whoever one touched. Thus they formed lines, and the lines were instructed to join with each other; people in the lines were to cry out for husbands and wives and children until all families had reformed. Then the noise ceased, and a voice told them to climb the mountain or mesa where Tobats was. They worked their way up the mountain, toiling in human chains and finally forming a huge circular formation on the top, with Tobats in the middle. Well, Tobats said he would shoot an arrow straight up (this is the well-known Indian and world-wide theme of the arrow chain to heaven [the fiery pillar of light?]). His arrow produced a tiny spark of light; but the second arrow brought light, which grew like an explosion until it flooded all the land. The blackbird and the flicker have been honored ever since because their feathers were used for the arrows—they are perpetual reminders of the great event.” (See Hugh Nibley, Promised Lands, in Brother Brigham Challenges the Saints, FARMS-Deseret Book. See also William R. Palmer, Two Pahute Indian Legends: “Why the Grand Canyon Was Made” and “The Three Days of Darkness,” Cheney, WA: Citizen Journal Press, 1987, pps. 21—22.)

SOLAR ECLIPSE: A Sign in the Heavens

Below are some photos I took of the allular solar eclipse down at the Parowan Gap. The work allular means “shaped like or forming a ring”. This type of solar eclipse is also called the “Ring of Fire”... because a ring of sunlight will still be seen as the new moon passing between Earth and the Sun, which blocks most, but not all, of the sun’s disc.

I feel there is some symbolism in this “sign in the heaven”. It begins a new day, a birth, a crowning... it is sacred especially since it occured on the Sabbath.

The Sun is a symbol of the Male, the Father, and Light. The Moon is a symbol of the Female, the Mother, Phases and cycles, the Womb. (A “New” Moon is unseen to us which is symbolic of Mother in Heaven.)

When this solar eclipse occurred, the sun and moon aligned and became "one." An eternal gold ring appears. It looked as if the Moon had a golden crown.  Interesting in childbirth just before the baby is born there is a moment in time called the Ring of Fire. It is right at the point of “crowning” when the baby's head remains visible without slipping back in. It is the most intense pain occurs and womans body feels like it is on fire.

There is alot more I could share, but here is a series of 8 photos (8 symbolic of rebirth). All of these photos are not photoshopped but are "pure" from the camera, however but the different effects were created by the settings on the camera I was using and a lens filter I had on my camera to shoot directly into the sun.

Photo 1:

The Sun just before the eclipse started around 6:00 PM on May 20, 2012. (due to the camera lens, the sun looks alot like an 8 pointed star.. alot of symbolism in this photo alone)

Photo 2:

The moon begining to align with the sun. High contrast between the glowing white light of the sun and the shadow of the dark moon

Photo 3:

Intensity beginning just before the complete union and alignment.

Photo 4:

Crowning, ring of fire and climax of the sun and moon's alignment.

Photo 5: 

 UNION and COMPLETION

Photo 6:

Moon beginning to separate from the Sun.

Photo 7:

The sun beginning to descend below the horizon.

Photo 8:

Red Sunset

Happy Mother's Day

It is hard these days to find a wife who is not only beautiful, talented and loves the outdoors, but a woman who is an amazing cook, and is a seamstress who made all of the dresses on our four daughters in the above photo. Grateful for all that I wife who puts her family needs first. I am a blessed man.
Happy Mother's Day. I Love You.

Brigham City Temple

Another photo taken of the Brigham City Temple on April 28, 2012

DENY NOT THE GIFTS OF GOD

photo taken on April 28, 2012 of the statue of Moroni

on top of the Brigham City Temple that is still being constructed.

I had the opportunity to spend the day with my oldest daughter last Saturday at her competition in Odgen..  We had some time before the awards ceremony so we went up to dinner at the Maddox in Brigham City. After dinner we went and walked around the temple that is being constructed  The sun was at the perfect height to take this picture. It is not very often that you can look directly into the sun.. let alone take a picture of it.

Just wanted to share a couple of thoughts. We tend to focus on just the first 5 verses in the last chapter of the Book of Mormon, primarily verses 3-5. It is the promise that the missionaries use to know if the Book of Mormon is true. I think we would also benefit reading more about the Gifts of God that are found in the following verses"

".. I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.

And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits.

And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as He will."

BLESSINGS

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

3 John 1:4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Morning's First Light

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

I will write more shortly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA

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

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

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE

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

Doctrine and Covenants 42:22

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

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

Happy Birthday Kat!

I Love You.

D

THE SON RISING ON EASTER MORNING 2012

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

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

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

my children, and my beloved brethren.

2 Nephi 26:1"

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

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

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

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

FULL MOON on APRIL 6, 2012

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

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

and the power thereof by which it was made."

Doctrine and Covenants 88:8

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

BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD

photo taken this morning on APRIL 6, 2012

 

 And the angel said unto me:

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

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

I Nephi 11:21

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

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

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

  

The Symbolism of the Paschal Lamb:

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

Just as a sidenote that I learned from a friend:

  

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

I STAND ALL AMAZED and AMAZING GRACE

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

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

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

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

"Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord,

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

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

my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities."

2 Nephi 4: 17

HAPPY ARE WE

Photo taken of our baby Eden on March 25, 2012

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

Proverbs 3:13

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

Job 5:17

GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEKEND: Beginning of a New Day

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

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

despite the encrouching dark clouds.

 additional symbolic photos taken on April 1, 2012

"And now I show unto you a parable.

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

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

JST Matthew 1:27

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

I will write more shortly

SERENITY OF SPRING EQUINOX

Photos taken on early morning hike on March 20, 2012

"And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord;

wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things."

1 Nephi 18:3

One of the Lords best way to communicate to us is through symbolism:   Symbolism in the scriptures uses a familiar object, event, or circumstance to represent a principle or teaching of the gospel. The interpretation of the symbol is usually very personal. We can ask the Lord what the meaning of a symbol is. Nephi asked for the interpretation and the meaning of the symbols shown to his father in his dream. However, we don't need to be sleeping to see symbols, and to be taught by the Lord.

Most of us rely on the written word in the scriptures to be taught the gospel. Yes, the scriptures are probably the best source to learn the gospel, but it is possible, and actually very important to have personal tutoring sessions from above. How else do we develop a relationship with our Savior.

I am currently taking a few college classes. At the end of  each chapter in my text books are key words that are important to remember. Here are a few key words for me to remember from Spring Equinox.

• "Cloud" from the North
• Left Hand of God
• Sliver of MoonLight remaining
• Three Layers of Clothing
• Slippery Slope
• Need for a sure footing
• Alignment
• Guidance and Direction
• Light hitting the Highest Point
• Pyramid
• Flock of Birds
• Gratitude
• Tracks in the snow.
• The Cycles and Seasons of life.

VERNAL EQUINOX 2012

Photo of a pyramid shaped rock I found on top of mountain this morning on March 20, 2012.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,

as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn,

and the day star arise in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:19

Today is the Vernal Equinox.. Vernal, or the latin word vernalis meaning "of the spring".. and Equinox translated literally, means "equal night." Because the Sun is positioned above the equator, day and night are about equal in length. Today is a day of balance. Equal light, equal dark. Starting tomorrow our days will get longer with more sunlight.  I thought this photo was best to post today to show the balance between light and shadow. Hopefully in the next few days I will have time to share more photos from today.

 It is also probably no coincidence that early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox

POWER of GOD vs CONTROL of MEN

photo taken up in the Wasatch Mountain

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.

For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

Romans 13:1

Tomorrow morning at 2:00 AM we switch to Daylight Savings Time. The power of men through congressional law control us to move our clocks ahead one hour.  We use the friendly  and positive term "spring forward"... (but in reality we lose an hour, but gain it back in the fall).   By advancing the clock one hour, the sun appears to set later in the evening. Of course, it also rises one hour later in the morning. The day of the big switch used to be the first Sunday of April, but in 2005, Congress revised the rule as an energy-saving measure. Bottomline line for me... I lose an hour of sleep.

Men feel powerful when they can control things. They become prideful. We might think we have power to control, like changing/altering the time...  but we don't control we only manipulate the things of God.

What would you do with an Extra Day added to your life?

TODAY IS LEAP YEAR DAY...

We are given an extra day to our calendar, to our life.

 "Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life;

yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely."

Alma 5: 34

I posted a similiar photo to this a few months ago.

http://davidkat99.blogspot.com/2011/10/solitiary-tree.html

I took this photo on the west side of Utah Lake on a drive in between General Conferences Session last fall. This photo includes the barbwire fence that is symbolically keeping us away from the "Tree of Life." 

How would you spend your day if you were given an extra day added to your life in mortality?.. What would you do with it? Who would you spend it with?

Hard question to answer.. but I think if I had an extra day.. and I had not yet had the opportunity to partake of the Tree of Life, like Lehi did with his family...I think I would spend my day cutting down the barbwires that keep me from reaching that tree and leading my family there and partaking of the fruit together.

I think we spend most of our mortal life on the opposite side of the barbwire fence.     

MOUNTAIN, PYRAMID, TEEPEE:

This is a photo of Lands End Mountain in Montrose, CO. 

I hiked to the top of this mountain over a year ago. 

The photo was sent to me by a friend who lives in Montrose.

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This is a redrock formation which looks alot like a pyramid. Its located at the mouth of Snow Canyon. 

Photo taken on February 18, 2012

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This is taken at the base of the Anasazi Petroglyphs in Santa Clara, UT. I recieved permission to spend a night with my family and sleep inside the teepee. Photo taken on February 19, 2012

I will write more shortly about what all three have in common.

THE SUN: Seal of Melchizedek

photo taken at a friends home in St. George on February 18, 2012

I took this picture down at our friends home in St. George. There is alot of symbolism that I saw in and around their house. This particular sun is on the outside of their home. It faces east to see the morning sun. It also is symbolic of the seal of Melchizedek.

I first learned about the seal of Melchizedek from Hugh Nibley's book, Temple and Cosmos: It is two offset, intersecting squares.  (sometimes seen with a circle or dot in the center of the two squares symbolic of the fixed, or sure place.)

The seal  is the universal symbolism of balance, harmony, and cosmic order. Its pattern is associated with early astronomy and ancient religion. It is symbolic of both stars and humanity’s earliest attempts to understand and communicate the order and unity inherent in the Creation.
The seal also is symbolic of an eight-point star. Eight also means renewal, and rebirth The eight lines are symbolic of the four corners of space (north, south, east, and west) and time (two solstices and two equinoxes)

STAR GAZING (not to be confused with Oscar Night in Hollywood)

Photos taken tonight on February 26, 2012

ALIGNMENT of PLANETS (Jupiter and Venus) AND THE MOON..

the Big Dipper above Mount Olympus taken on Wasatch Boulevard

The big dipper to the left and the bright star on the right which is Mars.

While most people were watching the "brightest stars" in Hollywood at the Oscars... there were heavenly stars or brightest planets in the solar system that lined up in the evening sky last night. The planets Venus and Jupiter  were visible in the western evening sky at sunset on Sunday, with the crescent moon hovering nearby. The planet Mercury was also visible briefly just after sunset before slipping below the horizon,. and the planet Mars is also was visible in the east a few hours after sunset.

While most the day was somewhat hazy, it was an a tender mercy to have the clouds dissipate to view the heavens last night. I was grateful to get a few nice photos of the planets, moon and other constellations like the Big Dipper.

SYMMETRY and CONTRAST

photo taken about a hundred yards from the home we stayed at with friends 

over President's Day weekend on February 18, 2012

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things."

2 Nephi 2:11

If you look at the photo, most would see just a desert landscape. Few might notice any symbolism in it, let alone see the symmetry or the contrasts. Here are just a few things to notice.

The contrasts(opposites) and the symmetry (balance):

• The top half of the photo is sky, the air is invisible to our eyesight, yet the substance is everpresent. (Heaven Above)
• The bottom half of the photo is land, the ground is solid, and tangible. (Earth Below)
• On the bottom half there is vegetation.
• The top half is solid and immovable rock.
• The left half of the red rock is in the Light. The right half of the red rock mountain is Dark. There is a canyon, or gulf that divides the two.

What is interesting to me is that there are clouds that appear on the red rock mountains in the Light. The air/gas has taken a form and descended down onto the high elevations of the earth.

Sidenote:
We usually misquote the above scripture by saying "there must be opposition in all things". We drop the "an" which changes the meaning. As quoted in 2 Nephi it simply means there must be a choice - good or bad, holiness or misery, etc. The way we misinterpret the scripture makes it sound like there always has to be a trial or difficulty. The test is simply are we going to choose the good - or the bad?

ADAM and EVE? ...The Anasazi Petroglyphs in Southwest Utah

photo taken February 19, 2012 of Anasazi Petroglyphs near Kayenta, Utah

in the southwest desert by Snow Canyon

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty,

so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

2 Corinthians 11:3

My family with our dear friends spent some time this past weekend exploring an ancient dwelling site of the Anasazi Indians. The word "Anasazi" means "the Ancient Ones" or the "Old Ones." This petroglyph site is near Kayenta, Utah which we learned was a sacred site dedicated by Elder Vaughn J Featherstone back in 1988.

In an LDS Church News article about the dedication, Elder Featherstone said, "I think after death, we don't wander far from where we lived on this earth. I think the ancient Lamanites that once inhabited this valley are nearby."

In above photo of one of the petroglyphs, there are two central figures.. a man and a woman. In my opinion, the figures could possibly be depicting Adam and Eve.  Below the woman on the lower left appears a fallen man who looks to be holding a serpent. This serpent appears to be biting (bruising) the heal of Eve. In the upper right, appears another figure, possibly a royal King or Supreme Being, since the figure appears to have a crown upon his head. Could these petroglyphs be depicting the first story of Adam and Eve and the Fall?

I was able to speak with an 80 year Anasazi man who lives on the site about the petroglyphs and the surrounding area. He said the petroglyphs tell the story of the history of the world.. of the past, present and future. Here is short video of him offering a prayer song to us with his drums. When I asked him what the meaning of the song was.. he said.. "We walk the same path where our Creator walked long ago."

PRESIDENTS DAY and THE MORMON BATTALION FLAG

Photo of the Mormon Battalion Flag that I took in the office of Eldred G Smith,

the Presiding Patriarch of the Church. He has the one and only original.

President's Day it is meant to honor and remember the past presidents of the U.S. and their contributions to creating the country it is today. Advocates in the 1960′s wanted to honor both Washington and President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12, on a single federal holiday. February 22 is President George Washington’s actual birthday. Oh, how caliber of Presidents have changed over the years since our Founding Fathers.

I mentioned in an early post that I spent some time with Eldred Smith in his office. I haven't felt that I should share publically much of what was discussed, but thought it would be appropriate to share the following.

Eldred Smith has in his possession the original flag used in the Mormon Battalion. John Smith (Hyrum's oldest son, and Eldred's great grandfather was a standard bearer. It is nine feet long. The flag has the stars and stripes like the American flag.. If you look closely.. the flag used to have the beehive painted in the blue square with 13 stars surrounding the hive (representative of bees) However, an eagle was painted over the hive to best show the allegiance to the United States. He has a photo of him holding the flag while sitting on a horse. Flag was within one foot of the ground. The flag has no sewing on it. It is painted on one piece of linen. It was originally to be the flag of Deseret and they painted over it to become a military flag. Not only was an eagle was painted over the beehive, but the California bear was painted on the center. The words LIFE GUARDS were painted on it. The battalion carried it to California and back.

Early latterday saints really were not "uber" Americas and did not have the allegiance to man made government, but had the goal to bring the Lord's Zion and His government of peace to the earth. However, it seems like The United States literally beat the Church into submission. Now the Church is uber-American. The truest of true American institutions. Many years later in the early 1900's The Republican Party beat the Church into submission during the Smoot Senate Confirmation hearings. Now the Church is uber-Republican. The reddest of red states is Utah.

With each of these events the greater historical pressures on the Church have affected how we have developed. And we continue to develop. Slowly and unpercieved, mind you, but we develop nonetheless.

Gradualism is the way in which even glaciers move. Eventually, however, even glaciers begin to melt when they reach warmer climates.

DAUGHTERS OF GOD

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.

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

Doctrine and Covenants 42:22

.......................

Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands;

and their husbands and their wives love their children.

Jacob 3:7

I am a blessed man. I live in a home of angels.Grateful to all that the Lord has blessed me with. A friend of mine gave the following Valentine's Day advice. Instead of spending money at an expensive restaurant, or buying the biggest teddy bear, chocolates, and/or jewelry, he said, " in rebellion against the commercialism of our day, make it an act or write a poem (or if you're incapable of that then a letter), or show some kindness instead of making a purchase."

Well in addition to shaving my beard this morning (my act of kindness to my wife), I thought I would write a Valentine's Blog/Poem to my wife and 4 daughters.  

Roses are Red,

Violets are Blue.

You are beautiful daughters of God

and Your Father loves you.

D&C 88:90 The voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds

DISCLAIMER: I did not take this photos.

Spectacular "cloud tsumani" rolls over Florida on February 5, 2012

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/10/10375026-spectacular-cloud-tsunami-rolls-over-florida-high-rise-condos


I don't have much to say about this, other than when I first saw these images  come across my computer screen, I immediately had this scripture come to mind in Moses 3:5

" For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth."

I have been reading a book called "The Harbinger" written by Jonathon Cahn. It is an important book to read if one is not familiar with promises (and curses) assosiated with this Promised Land we call America. We are currently walking a very dangerous path in light of the parallels shown in scripture.

ELDRED G. SMITH: Presiding Patriarch to the Church

photo taken on February 7, 2012 ( one month after his 105th Birthday)

photo taken in Eldred's office of the photographs of his patriarchal lineage back to Hyrum Smith.

I will write more shortly