Gone but not Forgotten

     As this Memorial Day has come and gone, my family and I took the opportunity to visit the graves of our loved one's.  My wife and I took this time to help our children know who the people whom we visited as we discussed their lives and accomplishments.  Memorial Day is a great day to reflect upon eternity as our hearts are turned to our ancestors as we go and pay our respects.  I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ that allows me to seal my family together forever.  What a comfort this brings to me to know that once they are gone, that it is only a temporary seperation and that I will see them once again.  Here is a quote from Russell M Nelson in the May 2010 Ensign,

     "Consider the spiritual connections that are formed when a young woman helps her grandmother enter family information into a computer or when a young man sees the name of his great-grandfather on a census record. When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple."

     As we were visiting the grave of my wife's mother, we saw this grave nearby.  Through time, the elements have virtually washed away the record from this gravestone.  Cracked, sunken and faded, time has tried to erase the record of this person.  I took this photo because in seeing this old grave-marker so worn and beat up by the elements, this person has not been forgotten with the flowers that had been placed at the top of the headstone.  A reminder that they are still in the hearts of loved one's.  So it is with our Father in Heaven, when we think that we are forgotten or don't matter much anymore, there is always that comforting spirit reaching out to us letting us know that He is there and that we are a child of God. 

Marriage

     I first want to say that I am married to the most incredible and wonderful woman I know.  She is truly amazing.  We were married 13 1/2 years ago in the Salt Lake Temple.  How grateful I am for that special day.  For on that day, she and I came together at the altar and made covenants with each other and with God.  She has made me a much better person.  She is an amazing mother to our children and I count my many blessings that I have the opportunity to spend eternity with her.  To the world, I say, you can have your wealth, fame and popularity.  It may come and go and eventually will be gone.  I have what I want in this world and am extremely happy.  I love this quote by Ezra Taft Benson, from the May 1988 Ensign,

     "One good yardstick as to whether a person might be the right one for you is this: in her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?"

     I took this photo recently while I was walking around downtown.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't take too many photos of people.  I like buildings and landscapes.  Buildings don't move or argue with you.  Anyway, I always like to walk through Temple Square and the LDS Church headquarters block with all of the gardens.  It is always changing with the seasons and will always look different.  This time, I noticed two newlywed couples out getting their photos taken in front of the temple, so I set-up the tripod and took my shot.  I really like the way it turned out.  I have no idea who they are, but I wish them all the best in their new life together.

The Lord's Errand

     This quote is from President Thomas S. Monson, in the New Era magazine, August 2008,

"As we go about our daily lives, we discover countless opportunities to follow the example of the Savior. When our hearts are in tune with His teachings, we discover the unmistakable nearness of His divine help. It is almost as though we are on the Lord’s errand; and we then discover that, when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.” 

     I am so grateful for my Savior and for what he has done for me.  Most importantly, I am grateful that he is always there waiting to help me and that all I have to do is ask.
     This photo I took is of the front door knob of the Salt Lake Temple.  It is on the south set of doors on the east side of the Temple.

Spirit of God

I decided to start a blog to share my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Also known as Mormons.  I have a great love of photography and I am continually working to get better at it.  I only started taking pictures about 3 1/2 years ago when they began construction on the City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City.  This first photo I am sharing is the Salt Lake Temple at sunset.  I like to call this one, The Spirit of God, like a fire is burning.

Elder Boyd K Packer said, "Temple. One other word is equal in importance to a Latter-day Saint. Home. Put the words holy temple and home together, and you have described the house of the Lord!”
(Ensign, May 1993)