Amazing Documents

On the 26th of September I went to an early morning devotional at Assembly Hall on Temple Square for the Human Resource Department of the Church. Elder Marlin K. Jensen, who heads up the Church and Family History Department, was the speaker. After giving a great talk he let us see precious documents from the Church History Museum. I asked if I could take pictures and they were happy for me to do so.

I love this little book. It is about 4"x6".  It is the 1832 journal of Joseph Smith's, the only journal written by Joseph Smith. In his new little book he recorded, I have been commanded to record the important things that happen with the Church, so I bought this little journal to do so." Then six months went by before he wrote again. So human. Somehow that makes me love Joseph even more. After what he wrote in this journal, he had scribes for the subsequent entries.

This, Hyrum Smith's 1841 Book of Mormon, was the very book from which he read to Joseph just before the martyrdom and from which Elder Holland read at General Conference, October 2009.

I was amazed at Wilford Woodruff's penmanship. He started his journals writing in cursive but someone told him it wasn't very legible, so he changed and printed his journal. It is so beautifully done that it almost looks like it is typewritten.  

This manuscript page contains 1 Nephi 3:7. So appropriate.

Sorry this is sideways.

Seeing these documents was a rare privilege for me.

The Best Autumn Ever

By all these lovely tokens September days are here,

With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer.

~Helen Hunt Jackson

It has been a beautiful fall this year, but even so, autumn always makes me a bit sad. However, if all autumns were like this one, it could easily become a favorite season. Cherie and I have been bottling fruit, making frozen jams, and enjoying the fresh fruit of this season.  Every spring I want to move, but when autumn comes the nesting instinct kicks in and I enjoy domestic pursuits. I have even been happy for the return of football. Go BYU!It was fun to see Katelyn as she prepared for the big dance. She is so much fun, so beautiful, and full of the Spirit of goodness and joy.

Lost & Found Smith Morehouse; Provo Falls; Mirror Lake

We decided to go to Mirror Lake, but made a wrong turn and ended up at

Smith and Morehouse Reservoir.

What a fortunate turn!

After we got back on the road to Mirror Lake, we stumbled upon Provo Falls.

I always thought they were talking about Bridal Veil Falls when they talked about Provo Falls. So this was an added bonus.

It was a beautiful day - the weather was perfect.

Finally we made it to Mirror Lake. It's been about 40 years since we were here.

Our daughters were just little girls then. 

We live in a beautiful state with such varied scenery.

I love the high Uintahs and the red rock country of Southern Utah.

This state never ceases to amaze me.

Ciera and Seth's Wedding Reception

Everybody helped.

The spirit of love and cooperation was heart-warming.

The reception was all Ciera wanted it to be.  She said it was "perfect."

The dancing of our daughters and our grandchildren was the highlight for me.

Such uninhibited joy!

Ciera Becomes Mrs. Lancaster

It was a truly beautiful day at the St. George Temple.
All four of our daughters were there, and that is a great blessing. 

Such Happiness!

Melissa

Tom and Julie

Hayley Kim and Lyndsey

It was great to get the four pictures below of Cherie, Julie, Kim and Chantel with us.

Ciera and Lauren

Lyndsey and Hayley

Emily played the piano for the luncheon.