Earth

Narrated by James Earl Jones, produced by DisneyNature, the movie EARTH is amazing! Rick and I saw it last night at the $1.00 movie theater. Wow. Wow. Wow.
Check out their web site here. for educational links, games and downloads. The photography is second to none. Watch the credits at the end to see what methods they used to capture their amazing shots of our beautiful planet and its inhabitants.

Massacre at the Meadows

Rick and I went to St. George last winter so that Rick could attend a conference. As part of the conference, a class was held on the Mountain Mead*ws Massacre that happened about 40 miles south of St. George in 1857. A professor from Weber State talked to us for about two hours about the events that lead up to that fateful day. It was very sobering and very unsettling to learn what transpired. After the lecture, we all drove out to the site and the professor continued to teach us about what happened that day. He referred us to several books and accounts that have been written on the topic. An organization called the MMM association continues to coordinate efforts to preserve the site and to tell about what happened that day. Their web site can be found here. I was so intrigued by the events that happened that day, that I bought this book

published by Oxford University Press and I've read most of it. It's a tough read. It details a very disturbing and gut-wrenching chapter of Mormon history. A review can be found here.

On September 11, 1857, a band of Mormon militia, under a flag of truce, lured unarmed members of a party of emigrants from their fortified encampment and, with their Paiute allies, killed them. More than 120 men, women, and children perished in the slaughter. Massacre at Mountain Meadows offers the most thoroughly researched account of the massacre ever written. Drawn from documents previously not available to scholars and a careful re-reading of traditional sources, this gripping narrative offers fascinating new insight into why Mormons settlers in isolated southern Utah deceived the emigrant party with a promise of safety and then killed the adults and all but seventeen of the youngest children. The book sheds light on factors contributing to the tragic event, including the war hysteria that overcame the Mormons after President James Buchanan dispatched federal troops to Utah Territory to put down a supposed rebellion, the suspicion and conflicts that polarized the perpetrators and victims, and the reminders of attacks on Mormons in earlier settlements in Missouri and Illinois. It also analyzes the influence of Brigham Young's rhetoric and military strategy during the infamous "Utah War" and the role of local Mormon militia leaders in enticing Paiute Indians to join in the attack. Throughout the book, the authors paint finely drawn portraits of the key players in the drama, their backgrounds, personalities, and roles in the unfolding story of misunderstanding, misinformation, indecision, and personal vendettas. The Mountain Meadows Massacre stands as one of the darkest events in Mormon history. Neither a whitewash nor an expose, Massacre at Mountain Meadows provides the clearest and most accurate account of a key event in American religious history.

Edward and flip flops

What do








and





have in common?
Check out this article and this article.

Love me some Ann Cannon. Her sense of humor is delightful and her weekly columns brighten my day!







And in case you haven't see it, check out this trailer... oh yeah...

And here we have Idaho

We had a great time visiting Janet and Dave last weekend! We appreciated their hospitality and kindness in hosting us. We picked up Mom in Brigham City on Friday afternoon and headed to Rupert. We got there in time for a great BBQ in the back yard. Jan gave us some good tips on seasoning hamburgers and Dave cooked them up just right. We visited for hours and watched the video - 7 Pounds (very interesting movie.) The next day Rick went running around the four miles (trying to avoid all the dogs) and he also ran past the old house. Mom and I drove past the next day very slowly - talking about the changes and "remembering when." It was such a great home in which to grow up.
Nick and his boys came over for a little visit and it was great to see them. Jan, Mom and I went walking in Rupert and enjoyed going around the town square, LDS stake center and just generally enjoying reminiscing and chatting. We then picked up Dave and headed to Twin Falls. We went down to Shoshone falls and checked out all the water that is going over the falls at this time of year. Rick hadn't been there for about 30 years and he really enjoyed seeing the falls again (listen carefully for his comments on the video clip, oh my!) We shopped around some, eating hot dogs at Costco and then headed to the new Twin Falls LDS temple. It was beautiful and it was great to add another temple to our list and to participate in the work that is done there. How great that our family members now have a temple within a closer driving distance for them! After eating a delicious dinner at Outback, we headed back to Rupert and stopped by the grocery store where earlier in the day Rick had discovered these wonderful sweatshirts. Of course he knew I would want one, so he bought me one. Mom saw mine and wanted one for herself and other family members. How great is it to have a Rupert, Idaho hoodie? Love it! We went through the Wilson theater for a little tour (while Jan and Dave attended a wedding reception there) and checked out the renovations that have been going on. They have posted some historical information about Rupert outside the Wilson theater and it was interesting to read where the name "Rupert" came from. Dustin and McKynlee came over for a visit and we enjoyed chatting with Dust and seeing his darling little girl. The next day we attended the singles ward where Janet and Dave serve. Dave was made the new 1st counselor in the branch presidency and it was nice to be there for that. Mom and I ditched out after sacrament meeting and drove around the area some, which is always a favorite of mine. Jan made us a lovely dinner and we enjoyed visiting some more with Dustin and McKynlee who came to eat. We then headed home, dropping Mom off in Brigham and then stopping by Dave and Courtney's home on the way back to ours. We stopped in just in time to sample some of their dinner and to have dessert. It was fun to chat with them. It was a wonderful Idaho weekend. I love to visit Rupert in the summertime and Rick is totally amazed that I can still identify every single crop of plants and tell him what is being grown in the good 'ole Idaho soil. I also noticed that all the crops had very few (if any) weeds. They must be using some sort of chemical that kills the weeds and nourishes the plants because those potato and beet crops looked great! It just does my heart good to stand outside and soak up the ambiance of Idaho.

Patriotic thoughts

In 1776, 56 men signed a document that put at risk their “Lives, [their] Fortunes, and [their] sacred Honor.” This document, the Declaration of Independence, boldly proposed a remarkable idea: that the king was made for the people, not the people for the king.
This was, indeed, a revolutionary document, for, throughout most of recorded history, it had been the king who decided who would prosper and who would not. And because people needed the bread, shelter, and security that the king provided, they often accepted a life of servitude and surrendered their freedom in exchange for these necessities.
But then something happened. The common man began to stir and awaken from his slumber. He began asking questions that had before seemed impossible, too dangerous even to consider: “Why should we forever be children, dependent upon another for our bread? Aren’t all men created equal? Can we truly choose our own destiny? Can we live free?”
From that day to this, the spark of liberty has grown into a bright flame that shines in the souls of millions of men and women throughout the world, inspiring them to create for themselves a life and future of their own choosing.
It is fitting that we remember those brave souls who planted the seeds of liberty. We who enjoy the fruits of freedom have a responsibility to future generations to uphold, protect, and preserve those self-evident truths that gave birth to a new era. Though separated by the centuries, we can stand with those who boldly declared that all people everywhere are “endowed by their Creator with [the] unalienable Rights [of] Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Music and the Spoken Word, July 5, 2009

Since hearing this broadcast I've been thinking about the message it contains -

In my opinion, this thought, this idea is what sets our country apart from all others. The idea that WE create for ourselves a life and future of our own choosing. Our great land affords us many choices and opportunities. Because I have grown up with this freedom, I don't often think about all the blessings that it affords me. Choice. What greater blessing is there than having choices and the agency to pursue those choices?

• I choose to travel around freely and go and do whatever I want to do (within the confines of the law of the land.)
• I choose the course my life will take and I have the freedom to pursue that course
• I create the life for myself and my family (with my husband) that I want to achieve. Within reasonable perimeters, I can become or do whatever I want to do.
• I have opportunities for education and self improvement. If I work hard enough, I can achieve my dreams and goals. No one stops me but me.
• I'm not denied opportunities because of my gender or race. I have the same chances to succeed as everyone else. Because I was raised in a great home, I have even more chances because I was shown a great example.
• I have religious freedom. I can follow my conscience and show my faith in God according to my beliefs. I allow all others the same opportunity.
• I truly have a life with many liberties and the opportunity to pursue happiness. How many countries in the world even care if the people in them are happy? My country cares and encourages happiness!
• My happiness is based on my liberties, my opportunities and my freedom to be me.