Week 28 - November 5-11

This week was our, once a month, opportunity to spend a half day doing research and half a day doing temple work.  As a result we decided to drive to St George.  We saw these beautiful snow covered peaks as we drove down.  We were surprised at how high the mountain tops were.

The St. George FamilySearch center is within eye sight of the St. George Temple.  Elder Koberstein and I are looking forward to the day that we have a FamilySearch center near our home in California.

 I spent the day writing a life sketch about Olive Boynton Hale.  I learned that "when Olive was a girl she became acquainted with Jonathan Harriman Hale, a young man from her home town...While living at Dover, New Hampshire, there came into the neighborhood some missionaries telling of a strange new book, translated from golden plates.  This book they were  permitted to read.  Their hearts were touched and they soon became converted, and Olive and her husband Jonathan were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by Elder Gladden Bishop, the branch President of the Church at Westerfield, New York.  They were baptized on 13 June 1834." These quotes were taken from the history written by Louie Ann Hale Call, a granddaughter.  It was a fun afternoon to summarize the life of this Great Great Grandmother.

We then had the opportunity to take my nephew Michael's sweet little family out to dinner.  We went to Red Fort Cuisine of India.  They have nan bread and curry much like we enjoyed in Japan.  It was fun to visit for a few minutes with them. 

Elder Koberstein and I then enjoyed an evening endowment session at the Saint George temple.  I have been to the temple site a few times but never able to go inside (young children or the temple was closed for cleaning).  It was fun to be able to go inside.  The Saint George temple was the first dedicated temple after the saints moved from Nauvoo.  It was dedicated January 1, 1877 by Brigham Young.  It was build on swampy and unstable soil but "Brigham Young insisted on the site, saying it had been dedicated by the Nephites.  Pioneers used a cannon, now displayed at the temple Visitor's Center, to pack volcanic rock to firm up the ground for the foundation.

A year after its dedication, lightning destroyed the temple's original tower.  Interestingly, Brigham Young was never pleased with the tower, calling it "Squatty."  The taller more splendid tower seen today was rebuilt several years later." -quote from "The Utah Temples Passport Tour Guide"

Elder Koberstein and I spent the night in Hurricane, Utah were we watched the BYU/University of Massachusetts football game Saturday morning before we headed to the Cedar City temple.

The Cedar City temple was dedicated December 10, 2017.  In many ways it looks like the Saint George temple but sports an Angle Moroni on its tower.  It is so new that it has not had time for trees to have grown around it.

 This temple can be seen from the freeway as you drive toward Cedar City.

"Early settlers dreamed of having a House of the Lord.  The popular 1850's LDS Hymn, "High on the Mountain Top", was written by Joel Hill Johnson, a nearby resident of Cedar City.  More than 170 years later, Johnson's dream is reality.  This sacred structure now crests the top of Cedar City's Leigh Hill." -quote from The Utah Temples Passport Tour Guide/picture of Joel Hill Johnson from Wikipedia

A THOUGHT FOR YOU

For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.

For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore the course of the Lord is one eternal round.  1 Nephi 10: 18-19