Hope

I want to start this post by quoting Elder Steven E Snow's talk in April General Conference.  He said,

"We should never let hope be displaced by despair. The Apostle Paul wrote that we “should plow in hope” (1 Corinthians 9:10). The exercise of hope enriches our lives and helps us look forward to the future. Whether we are plowing fields to plant or plowing through life, it is imperative we, as Latter-day Saints, have hope.

In the gospel of Jesus Christ, hope is the desire of His followers to gain eternal salvation through the Atonement of the Savior.

This is truly the hope we must all have. It is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. Peter admonished the early followers of Christ to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Our hope in the Atonement empowers us with eternal perspective. Such perspective allows us to look beyond the here and now on into the promise of the eternities. We don’t have to be trapped in the narrow confines of society’s fickle expectations. We are free to look forward to celestial glory, sealed to our family and loved ones."

 

 

     I am so grateful for hope in my life.  I am grateful for my pioneer ancestors that relied on hope to guide them here and establish a new life for themselves.  They followed the prophet, they gave up what comforts they had for a long trek west in a covered wagon.  I am grateful for my wife and I have the hope that I can be as good as she is.  You have to know that I definitely married up.  As in the quote above, she was ready as Peter admonished to give that answer and in so doing has helped to turn a life around and to show a daughter of our Heavenly Father that He is there and that He does watch over us and is concerned about us.  She told this person about prayer and talking to our Heavenly Father since He truly does want to know how we are doing.

     In this picture I took recently, I think of the raging storm that rolled through downtown Salt Lake City like a freight train.  The House of the Lord stands as a beacon of hope to us all of being reunited with loved one's who have passed on and most importantly of being reunited with our Heavenly Father.  The storms of life will continue to rage around us but as we look to the temple, we see a rock that is unwavering, unchanging and it gives us a hope to be a better person.

  

Treasured

This photo is right after the large thunderstorm from the previous post.  The skys parted and left this beautiful sight.  Temple Square is at the bottom of the picture.

I also love this quote from Elder Jeffrey R Holland,

"I testify that not one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other."

Standard of Truth

I took this photo yesterday evening when a really bad thunderstorm rolled through downtown.  The clouds were very ominous and when I saw how this one turned out, I really liked it.  It looks as if the clouds are going to gobble up the temple, in fact it almost looks like a face looking down at the temple.  The temple however, stands there boldly and nobly proclaiming the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In viewing this photo I can't help but think of the Standard of Truth, which states,

“No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear; till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

Pure Love

This quote is from Elder Richard G Scott's talk in the April 2011 General Conference.  He said,

"Pure love is an incomparable, potent power for good. Righteous love is the foundation of a successful marriage. It is the primary cause of contented, well-developed children. Who can justly measure the righteous influence of a mother’s love? What enduring fruits result from the seeds of truth that a mother carefully plants and lovingly cultivates in the fertile soil of a child’s trusting mind and heart? As a mother you have been given divine instincts to help you sense your child’s special talents and unique capacities."

 

I took this photo last weekend while we were with family in Provo Canyon roasting hot dogs and bratwurst.  This is the Provo River looking west down the canyon.  Directly to the left, out of the picture, is Bridal Veil Falls.

Silver Lining

I really like this quote from Elder Jeffrey R Holland,

"Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He matches with His own the tears His children shed."   

I took this photo of the Bountiful Temple last night while on a hike with my beautiful daughter Maria.



A Father's Joy

I am so grateful to be a father.  What greater joy can there be in this world but to have an eternal family.  I look to my children and see such a wonderful and happy future for them.  The world is such a wonderful and beautiful place.  As I have taken my family up to the mountains or our to the west desert here in Utah or as we have traveled to California there is such beauty everywhere you go.  Then when you think that it can't get any better, God paints the sky all kinds of colors with the amazing sunsets.  All of these experiences are so much better when experienced with your family.  So, as this father's day comes this weekend, I am posting a photo I took at Temple Square that expresses what a father's joy really his.  This quote is from Howard W Hunter in a talk in the November 1994 Ensign,

“You should express regularly to your wife and children your reverence and respect for her. Indeed, one of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”

Pathway to Heaven

I took this photo yesterday evening while I was downtown.  I like how the grass acts as a pathway to the temple and the temple can lead to eternal life.  Also, here is a great quote by Neal A Maxwell,

"When we rejoice in beautiful scenery, great art, and great music, it is but the flexing of instincts acquired in another place and another time."