MORMON SOPRANO

Salt Lake Tabernacle March 31, 2007 courtesy Getty Images

The famous Salt Lake City (Mormon) Tabernacle underwent a massive renovation project from 2005-2007. This involved a meticulous process balancing historic preservation with essential modernization and seismic upgrades. According to my site stat tracker, the majority of my readership now lives outside of Utah, and a considerable amount of you reside outside of the United States. Therefore many of you have either not had the opportunity to visit beautiful Temple Square yet, or you have not returned since the renovation. I thought you may enjoy reading a brief history and watching some nice video clips about this unique, beloved and world-famous building. Click on any photo to enlarge. (more…)

Gordon B. Hinckley

“I hope you enjoyed that magnificent anthem presented by the Choir—“He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not, Nor Sleeps.” It is from Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and the words are adapted from the Psalms. (See Ps. 121:4.)… (more…)

“Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” Psalms 30: 4-5

“Wherever you live on this earth and whatever your life’s situation may be, I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the divine power to lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness. The Lord knows your circumstances and your challenges. He said to Paul and to all of us, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” And like Paul we can answer: “My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (

“Our journey into the future will not be a smooth highway stretching from here to eternity. Rather, there will be forks and turnings in the road, to say nothing of the unanticipated bumps. We must pray daily to a loving Heavenly Father, who wants each of us to succeed in life…I remember reading the account of a man who, just after the passing of his wife, opened her dresser drawer and found there an item of clothing she had purchased when they visited the eastern part of the United States nine years earlier. She had not worn it but was saving it for a special occasion. Now, of course, that occasion would never come.In relating the experience to a friend, the husband of the deceased wife said, “Don’t save something only for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion…The words ‘someday’ and ‘one day’ are fading from my vocabulary. Now I take the time to call my relatives and closest friends. I’ve called old friends to make peace over past quarrels. I tell my family members how much I love them. I try not to delay or postpone anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives. And each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day. Each day, each hour, each minute is special.” – Thomas S. Monson, “Treasure of Eternal Value,” Liahona, Apr 2008, 2–7

Some who have spent a long winter of guilt and spiritual starvation emerge into the morning of forgiveness. That great morning of forgiveness may not come at once… Do not give up if at first you fail. Often the most difficult part of repentance is to forgive yourself. Discouragement is part of that test. Do not give up. That brilliant morning will come.” Boyd K. Packer, “The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” New Era, Apr 20054

“Part of our precious legacy—to be remembered and renewed—is that though deepening trials throng our way, we know that our afflictions can be consecrated to our good. Good can come from trouble. Trauma can enliven the heart and enrich the soul. Clouds do have silver linings, and the leaf will burst again on the dry branch. “Weeping may endure for [the] night,” sang the psalmist, “but joy cometh in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5.) …To all of you, I express my love and my compassion, and I give you my blessed witness that our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ live and sustain us and that the Comforter witnesses within us—even now—that our personal joy can be full.” – Elaine Cannon, “Reach for Joy,” Ensign, May 1982, 95

Continued From Part 2: The Band Muk –

This is the third installment in a 3-part special series entitled “Talented American Mormons Help Cambodia“, with exclusive photos, video and interviews.

Muk appears Live on CTN

Trevor Wright, A. Todd Smith, Jordan Augustine and Joseph Peterson were basking in the glow of their wildly successful live Cambodian Television (CTN) appearance on July 19, 2008. The American band “Muk” was an overnight sensation! The attention this generated wherever they went, was unexpected. As Todd describes: (more…)

CONTINUED FROM: Part 1: Talented American Mormons Help Cambodia

On the brink of embarking to Cambodia for a major documentary film shoot, BYU students Trevor Wright, A. Todd Smith, Jordan Augustine and Joseph Peterson still managed to brainstorm additional creative projects. Their boundless talent branched into the realm of music. Todd describes the birth of their band as follows:

“Honestly, the band started as a joke. Last year the four of us were in Hong Kong attending a wedding and sight seeing. We got a picture taken there with the four of us together and looked at the photo later and decided that it would make a cool CD cover for some kind of boy band. That’s when Joseph threw out the idea of having a Cambodian band because we all knew how to play instruments in high school. At first we just laughed, but about 8 months or so later I emailed the manager of the biggest TV station in Cambodia asking if we could play, just to see if they would show any interest whatsoever. Immediately the manager e-mailed me back asking for a video of us performing”

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A new rock band called “Muk” is capturing the hearts of Cambodians everywhere, and experiencing unexpected fame. What makes this unique, is that each member of the musical group are four average, white Mormon boys from Utah and New Jersey. It is the story “behind the band”, however, which is most unexpected, rewarding and inspiring.

A big kudos to Emily Jenson at MormonTimes for providing this list of Mormon Olympian (“Mo-Lympians”) Blogs in her latest column. I am sharing it here as a follow-up to my Mormon Olympic Dreams 2008 post (which by the way is getting great traffic – thanks for reading!). Some exciting things are happening in Beijing – and it is fun to read first-hand accounts of the experience!
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While all eyes of the world may have been turned towards Beijing last night, our family was celebrating the Lucky 8 in an extra special way. My paternal grandmother Adeline Kleven Seely Proctor celebrated 88 years of life on the 8^th day of the 8^th month of the 08^th year! (more…)