Category Archives: Utah

Sabbath of Service in Bountiful

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Sabbath Cleanup in Bountiful, Utah

It’s been a “beautiful day in the neighborhood”! Bountiful residents were out in force on Sunday helping their neighbors clean up from Thursday’s big windstorm. We were also gearing up and “battening down the hatches” in preparation for a second storm predicted to hit tonight with 70+ mph winds. All sabbath services of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern Utah were shortened to a one-hour sacrament meeting. Then members were sent Continue reading →

Withstanding The Wind

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At 4:00 am yesterday morning Mr. MoSop and I had our own Clement Clark Moore moment, i.e. ”when out on [our] lawn there arose such a clatter, we sprang (sprung?) from our bed to see what was the matter”. In our case, we flew to the kitchen and turned on the floodlights where “what to our wondering eyes should appear” our back fence was no longer standing here! There were also plenty of flying objects in the air, but none of them were jolly or remotely resembling tiny reindeer. Continue reading →

For Times of Trouble, Remember The Pioneers

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The Brigham Young Monument in Salt Lake City, ...

Image via Wikipedia

This weekend Utah commemorates the first pioneer arrival to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. On July 24, 1847 a weary and ill Brigham Young raised up on his elbow from the back of a wagon, looked out over a vast desert valley, and confirmed “This is the right place!” Soon, that same desert would “blossom as a rose” and Mormons throughout the world answered the call to leave their native land and “come to Zion”. Thus began a gathering of epic proportions which shaped America in powerful ways. The Mormon Pioneer exodus Continue reading →

Fight Like A Girl For Mother’s Day

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Today's Race - over 15,000 people! (photo taken by me)

Today I joined with my family, friends and over 15,000 new “bosom buddies” in the annual Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure in Salt Lake City, Utah. This event is always held the first Saturday of May and you can read about our experience last year, here. Although the weather was predicted to hit record temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit, we were blessed with Continue reading →

Temple At Sunset

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The weather here in Utah has been very dramatic over the past week [to say the least]. Last night we were hit with a blizzard leaving 15 inches of snow in under 3 hours on my driveway [sadly, a branch from our beloved oak tree succumbed to the sudden weight]. However, March began delightfully balmy. Just last Thursday Salt Lake was treated to a splendid sunset, and  I was given a serendipitous photo op. Sadly, I own a low budget camera and I haven’t figured out how to carry a tri-pod in my purse. Hopefully you can enjoy a little of the magic anyway!  :) MoSop

 

Salt Lake City Temple at Sunset ~ March 3, 2011

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Facts about The Salt Lake City LDS Temple

Mormon Temples: In Depth

Mountain Blue: Meet The Band

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What do you get when you cross Bluegrass, Southern Gospel, and A’Cappella harmony with a handful of talented Mormon musicians living in Utah?  The answer is Mountain Blue, a powerful vocal group with a unique sound, contagious melodies, and wide audience appeal! Continue reading →

A Cheerleading Victory Like No Other

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This is a story about how one unlikely girl fulfilled her dream of becoming a cheerleader. It’s really a story about hope, and love, and what’s still right with the world. Continue reading →

Catholics and Mormons: United We Stand

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Cardinal George greeted by LDS Authorities

There’s an old saying: “What a difference a day makes“. In the grand scheme of things, a “day” might be 24 hours, or perhaps a week, a month, a decade, a generation, or even an eon. Biblically speaking, who is to say how long a “day” needs to last for God’s six creative steps, recorded in the first chapter of Genesis? Time is an elusive illusion. A mortal encumbrance. However, once in a while the whole creative process aligns in such a way that we are allowed to glimpse a significant change, and appreciate Gods handiwork. 

Yesterday was one of those days. Continue reading →

Payson Temple Surprise!

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Utah County

Utah County

Yesterday I stopped off at my salon to get a broken nail fixed. As usual, a small TV in the back of the room was on. It happened to be queuing up the 6:00 news. Suddenly, I was hearing Utah would be getting another Latter-day Saint [Mormon] Temple! This is our state’s 15th LDS temple, and the 3rd for Utah County.

Payson Temple Site

The new temple will be located in Payson City, Utah - a growing rural community with population 17,500 located approx. 20 miles south of Provo City (home to Brigham Young University, and the Missionary Training Center). Payson is about a 1 hour drive south of Salt Lake City. This will bring the total number of LDS temples worldwide, already in operation or in the planning and construction phases, to 152.

Pres. Young

It is reported that Brigham Young, 2nd president of the LDS church, prophesied that a temple would one day be built in Payson. President Young often stayed at the John B. Fairbanks house on Main Street on his way to St. George.

LDS Gen. Conference

Amidst my joy at this news, I have to say, I was truly surprised. Usually, new LDS temples are announced during a session of the semi-annual General Conference of the church. It’s a moment of anticipation. The prophet comes to the pulpit, he smiles and talks just a little slower to savor the moment, and we all lean in closer to hear the ‘big reveal’. However, Payson wasn’t on the list last October. Not that I’m complaining – I think it’s fabulous! Way to go, Payson! Way to go President Monson for not waiting until April!

From the official announcement we read:

Artists’ renderings, the size of the temple, groundbreaking dates and other information will be released as they become available.

In other words, there’s still some mystery and anticipation remaining! At the press conference, President Thomas S. Monson stated:

Mt. Timp Temple

 ”Temples answer those soul-searching questions of the purpose of life, of why we are here and where we are going. They are sanctuaries from the storms of life and bless the lives of members of the Church who worship within their sacred walls.”

 

Video: Why Mormons Build Temples

Haiti and Media Meltdowns

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Haiti Orphan Evacuation

Since the devestating 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti Jan 12, media networks have exponentially inundated us with tragic tales & images combined with stories of survival, heroism, sacrifice, service and love. Not a day goes by without “Haiti” being present somehow in our conscious or subconscious life. If you are anything like me, then over the past two weeks you’ve probably done two or more of the following:

  • Made at least one monetary contribution - such as texting “Haiti” to 90999 or logging online to websites such as American Red Cross, The LDS Humanitarian services, or HealingHandsForHaiti.org , etc.
  • Prayed for Haiti
  • Replayed images of suffering Haitians and desperate rescue workers over-and-over in your mind.
  • Remembered Haiti as you blithely jumped into the car to run a quick errand, took a drink of water, ate a meal, hugged your spouse/child/friend, or … found yourself leisurely strolling through an aisle in a cavernous grocery/discount/home improvement/retail store surveying products stacked to the rafters that you knew millions of suffering people desperately needed RIGHT NOW TO SURVIVE, but could not receive.
  • Found yourself magnetically drawn to reading every special feature, breaking news report, and dramatic human interest story involving Haiti, [especially lingering on the positive ones] and then feeling driven to keep re-telling these stories to any family/friend/co-worker/perfect stranger within earshot.

Yesterday, I arrived home a little earlier than the rest of my family, so I opened up the local newspaper thinking I would do a quick “catch up” before lunch. For the next hour, or more, I sat transfixed as I read one unforgettable, heart-wrenching & heart-warming story after another in my Deseret News.

  1. A  survivor found after being buried 11 days - Amazing!
  2. The bitter-sweet rescue and evacuation of Haitian Orphans - Beyond Words!

  3. Utah helps Haiti

    The miraculous story of Jeremy and Hollie Wardell bringing daughter Gabby Home - Incredible!

  4. Nurse Liz Howell, a 9-11 widow, binding hearts in Haiti  - Inspiring!
  5.  Nurse Howell’s tender account of helping an injured 4-year-old boy in Haiti. Priceless!

Reading these stories swamped my heart with alternating waves of sorrow and joy. I found myself having to stop often due to my inability to focus or breathe. These symptoms were, of course, directly tied to my uncontrollable sobbing. Although my mind was a million miles away, I distinctly heard a teenaged daughter loudly whisper: 

“Dad! Stay out of the kitchen! Mom’s having another one of her media meltdowns!”

True enough.

Moments later, the same daughter tiptoed into the kitchen just long enough to deposit an extra large box of Kleenex on my lap, before retreating quickly to the other side of the house. Later that night, just after I had heroically composed myself and we all sat down to our nice dinner, and just before the knot returned to my throat and my eyes welled up again, I was offered another piece of sage 16-year-old advice:

“Next time Mom, don’t even THINK about the news until you go get the Kleenex first!”

Orphans in Haiti are held by volunteers

Helping Haiti One By One

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Mormons Mobilizing

‘Mormons’ and ‘Service’ are synonymous. When tragedy strikes, no matter when or where, you can bet a group of Mormons will be on the next plane bringing truckloads of blankets, sanitation kits, food, clothing, medical supplies and volunteers. Local Mormon leaders, missionaries and congregations will be coordinating the efforts, and the local Mormon churches will immediately become a designated shelter. 

"Helping Hands"

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hailed as having one of the best organized Humanitarian Aid Services in the world. But Latter-day Saints don’t wish to trump their own horn. They desire to serve quickly, quietly and efficiently. They strive to follow the example of Jesus, taking care of His children “one by one“.

“and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.” 3 Nephi 17:21

Infant born at Haitian LDS Chapel Jan 19 '10

When Haiti was struck with a catastrophic earthquake last week, Mormons mobilized! Thousands of volunteers immediately stepped up - whether through donations of money, products, and services, tying quilts, packing up supplies, or putting their lives on hold to physically go to Haiti.

The devestation in Haiti is so vast, and the needs are so great, it is hard not to become overwhelmed with the news reports, and the mounting task ahead. However it is heartwarming to see people of all faiths and nationalities coming together, rolling up their sleeves, and digging in (often, literally) to help the Haitian people.

There is hope for a brighter day in knowing that help is coming to Haiti one person and one day at a time.

LDS volunteer plays with Haitian children Jan 19,'10

The following two video clips, courtesy Deseret News , gives a glimpse at the work Utah “Doctors without Borders” and “Mormon Helping Hands” are doing right now.

“go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”  Mark 10:21

A Team of Utah Doctors Helping in Haiti

“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”  Mosiah 2:17

LDS Relief Efforts in Haiti

To Make A Donation, Go To LDS Humanitarian Services

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Read Updated Stories & Become a Fan! Facebook Page – LDS Humanitarian Services