Expect turbulent waters. APRIL 6 - A significant day.

 

Today is April 6th. Since I wasn't able to hike on the Spring Equinox, today was the best day to make up for it. While never easy to wake up in the middle of night and drive a long distance to a trailhead, reaching a peak in time to see the sunrise is always worth it.  A few photos from this morning. 

Just read this and thought it was important to share today: 

"Expect turbulent waters. But you can still be at peace because of Him. This is the message that Joseph Smith’s restored gospel is trying to get across to us: an immediate, accessible, proximate Lord and Savior who understands and comprehends what you are going through and what you will go through and has the ability to sucor you in your every need. It doesn’t mean your burdens are gonna go away. It means your burdens are gonna be made understandable to you so that what you experience is acceptable and does not harm your soul. Despite turmoil, you can find peace.

 What Christ acquired through His suffering was knowledge and understanding of everything you have or will ever go through or suffer. He understands. But He doesn’t understand that in order for you to simply be the passive recipient of a blessing that He confers as a consequence of what He went through. He went through it so He can guide you to the same end. There is no magic fairy dust. You must rise up. You must overcome sin. You must leave behind you the things that bring about guilt and remorse. He has finished His preparations. And now the Righteous (who has knowledge of how to bring you through that) can guide you, can lead you, can succor you in your affliction so that you too can overcome that portion of the world that you have to contend with.

 He's gonna wipe away every tear, and He's gonna defeat the grave. But that can't make us individually worthy. The only way that we can become individually worthy is if we do as He instructs us to do, acknowledge our own many shortcomings, and then turn around to face God and leave behind us all the things that are unworthy, unacceptable, disobedient; all of our jarrings; all of our contentions; all of our pride; all of our efforts to raise ourselves at the expense of others; all of our ambition, our desire for control and compulsion and dominion, our desire to be profiting at the expense of others. In many respects, it requires Zion for us to fully repent, and yet Zion requires us to be something very different than what we are."

 excerpts from the Preface of the Volume 8 - 2022-2023 of the Teaching of DS 

The 2025 Spring Equinox Hike that never happened. (Viewer Discretion advised.)

Dedicated to my wife and my mom—the two Wisdoms in my life.

The Spring Equinox has always held deep significance for me, not only because it symbolizes life and renewal but also because it marks my mother’s birthday. Observing the equinoxes and solstices—four pivotal days in the year—is something I have always enjoyed. For over a decade, I have observed the Spring Equinox by going on a sunrise hike in the mountains. I usually share photos from my experience, and this year, a few people asked if I had gone on my hike and, if so, why I hadn’t posted any pictures.

The truth is, I wasn’t able to go this year. I hadn’t planned on sharing this, but after some thought, I decided to do so.

A few weeks before the equinox, I woke up with a sharp pain in my left leg, just below the knee. When I looked down, I saw a large bite mark. The area around it was swollen, inflamed, and discolored.

At first, I didn’t mention it to my wife. I assumed it would heal on its own. But as the days passed, the inflammation worsened. The swelling spread down my leg, affecting my ankle and foot, making it painful to wear shoes.

Following the advice of the Wisdoms in my life, I went to an urgent care clinic. The doctors asked if I had seen what bit me. I am not sure what did..but it was something. Unfortunately, I hadn’t found it.

I received several shots to treat the infection, but a few days later, my leg wasn’t improving. I had to return to the doctor, who ordered an ultrasound to check for a potential blood clot. Thankfully, there was no clot, but I was warned to monitor it closely. If my condition didn’t improve, I was to go to the hospital immediately.

Little by little, with the help of anti-inflammatory medication and additional treatments, the swelling began to subside. It took nearly three weeks for my leg to return to normal.

Lately I have thought a lot about this experience.

What should someone do if they find something potentially harmful in their home? Bites with severe reactions like mine are rare. Many would simply kill whatever it was on the spot. 

My daughter, however, has a heart of gold. She won’t even harm a fly.  Time and again, I’ve seen her carefully scoop up insects and release them outside, returning them to the earth where they belong.

This made me think hypothetically: 

What if there were a structured, fair process for safely removing something from a home? Imagine if, after following that process, someone still felt it hadn’t been done correctly. What if they insisted on bringing whatever it was back inside, claiming the process that was followed was flawed? Would those living in the home feel safe?

Would it be righteous to prioritize the procedure over the well-being of the household? Or what if we  say, “They will do what they will do,” and allow the it stay in our home. Just don't get to close to it or aggravate it. 

What kind of a father or husband am I if I didn't do anything, and just let that thing stay in my home. What if it attacked again and bit my wife and daughter.

Sidenote: 

My wife and I recently watched the movie Braveheart. This is the 30 year anniversary release of this historical movie epic directed by and starring Mel Gibson. It tells the story of William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against England’s oppressive rule in the late 13th century. After the brutal murder of his wife by English soldiers, Wallace unites the Scottish clans in a fight for freedom against King Edward I ("Longshanks"). I was inspired to see the sacrifice that William Wallace made in the defence of his wife and his people.  If only there were more men like William Wallace today. 

REMEMBER YOUR VOCATION

Morning sunrise over the Wasatch Mountains.

A vocation is a calling or a sense of purpose that drives someone toward a specific path in life. The term comes from the Latin word "vocatio," meaning "a call" or "summons," and it traditionally carries a sense of being drawn to work that aligns with one’s values, talents, or passions. Too often, we forget our vocation and get distracted on other things. 

I appreciated the wake up call this weekend to remember my vocation. 

IT IS A GIFT TO EXIST and WITH EXISTENCE COMES SUFFERING

Some photos and thoughts from evening hike up to Guardsman Pass last weekend.

Solace: 

comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness. 

It is a gift to exist. And with existence comes suffering. There is no escaping that. But, if you are grateful for your life - which I think is a positive thing to do, though not everyone feels that way, and I certainly don't always feel it myself-  then you have to be grateful for all of it. You can't pick and choose what your grateful for.

So, what do you gain from loss and suffering? You gain an awareness of other people's losses, which allows you to connect with them. This connection enables you to love more deeply and understand what it’s like to be human. You can then relate to others and love them in a profound way that not only accepts the fact that we all suffer, but also makes you grateful for your own suffering, for it gives you the ability to truly understand others.

It’s about embracing the fullness of your humanity. What’s the point of being here, of being human, if you can’t be the most human you can be? I’m not talking about being the “best” human, but the “most” human. That means acknowledging—and ultimately being grateful for.. EVERYTHING - even the things I wish hadn’t happened, because they gave me a gift.  

(adapted quote by Stephen Colbert)

GLIMMERS OF HOPE vs TRIGGERS OF FEAR

Photo of sunrise over the Wasatch Mountains

I read the following advice this morning that I thought I would share: 

If you want to decrease stress, start paying attention to your "glimmers".

Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. They're those tiny moments of joy, awe and peace that cue our nervous system to feel safe, calm and connected.

Once you start looking for them, you will see them everywhere ...

To combat stress and cultivate inner peace, focus on cultivating and appreciating your "glimmers"—those small moments of joy, wonder, and tranquility that soothe your nervous system.

Unlike stressors that trigger anxiety, glimmers signal safety and connection, fostering a sense of calm. These moments, often overlooked in the rush of daily life, are abundant once you begin actively seeking them out. 

Glimmer to me has always meant slight, minimal, and hardly unrecognizable. We all witness "glimmers" in our life but often times choose to view only the negative "triggers" 

The world we live in often seems fixated on highlighting the "triggers", and it can feel heaving when those consume our thoughts and minds. The recent tragic fires in California have not helped.  Fear, stress, and anxiety are just a few of the many names that reflect "the accuser". But hope, peace and comfort are "glimmers" that reflect the Lord. 

HOLY **** !

 Just when I thought the reconstruction of the Salt Lake Temple could not get worse. We are now going on six years since the beginning of the "Reconstruction" of the Temple. For those of you who are unable to see the current state of the Temple right now, I share the below photos.  High above the Temple between the spires, there are now eight port-a-potties positioned above the temple. (See lower left in the below photo). I have zoomed in so you can see up closer these Honey Buckets)

I had friend email me a photo of the temple and said this when he saw the portable toilets on top of the temple and said the following: 

Those are the only two words to describe this scene. Literally. 

(or maybe two other words -Desecration and Defecation)

 (btw: the large crane was partially photoshopped out of the photo) 

GRATEFUL THAT 2024 IS OVER!

It's been a while since my last post, but I wanted to kick off the New Year by sharing a quote from Orson Ferguson Whitney that perfectly captures the year 2024 for me.

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . . . and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.”

Despite the challenges and hardships of the past year, there were also some truly beautiful moments. Below are a few photos I never got around to posting from some hikes and experiences in 2024. The first photo probably best represents what 2024 felt like. My wife took it while hiking behind me.

With all that said, I felt it was important to share this today. This morning, I woke up with a heart full of hope and gratitude. I’m feeling incredibly optimistic for what 2025 has in store

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Sidenote:

Last night, my wife and I watched the movie Mary on Netflix.  I hesitate to recommend it. The creators took GREAT artistic licensing and I found some of the content to be disturbing, especially how they portrayed the angel Gabriel as well as some other scenes. But that being said, I appreciated the contrast between the virgin Mary to the King Herod. Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Herod the Great was incredible. It shows what the  insatiable lust for power can do to a man. 

Here is the trailer to the movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d74vHvsACSs

FROM THIS TO THAT

SL Temple renderings released in 2020 vs the updated renderings released in 2024:

Shortly after President Nelson announced the renovation of the Salt Lake Temple, the LDS Church released the official renderings of what the rooms in the Salt Lake Temple would look like. There was not too much change, other than maybe new carpet and chairs. The news release stated the following:

“The four additional renderings released today indicate the careful and elegant approach we are taking in the renovation of this house of the Lord. We also look forward to welcoming many visitors to Temple Square during the next few years to witness this historic renovation.”

"The renovation is expected to be complete in 2024 and followed by a public open house and rededication."

However, last month, the Church released new renderings showing a significantly different design for the Salt Lake Temple, with the projected completion still years away. I believe they completely restructured the interior of the Salt Lake Temple, removing the muraled walls and reconfigured them to be theatre rooms. The previously painted mural rooms will now resemble luxurious megaplex theater  and live sessions will no longer be held in the temple. The current completion date is set for the end of 2026, with a world-invited open house expected to last nearly a year, likely pushing the opening date for temple use to early 2028. 

Here is a side by side view of the rendering that were released in 2020 to the current renderings of what to expect at the end of 2026.

 FROM THE THIS TO THAT:

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Before renovation of the Terrestrial Room and Baptistry on the Left to the new renderings on the right.

Sidenote: If the Catholic Church were to "earthquake-proof" the Vatican, I wonder if they would prioritize preserving the historic murals or if they might consider painting over the Sistine Chapel ceiling? I hope the former option.

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Not only have there been significant changes to the design of the new Salt Lake Temple, but it was also announced that the Temple Garment has undergone renovations. There is now a sleeveless option.  Out of respect for the garment, I won't post a photo of it, but I will share what can now be worn with the new design. Currently, only in hot and humid climates can these garments be purchased but will be available in the United States in 2025. https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2024/10/17/heres-when-sleeveless-lds-temple/

Here's when sleeveless LDS temple garments will be coming to the U.S.

CAUGHT IN THE NET

In the Saturday Morning Session of General Conference, Elder Oaks spoke about commandments, explaining that there are two types: Permanent and Temporary. He also talked about the importance of the phrase, "Follow our Perfect Role Model and His prophet."

He began his talk with, "This year, millions have been inspired by the gospel study plan known as the Savior’s invitation, ‘Come, follow me.’ Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice. It is a continuous commitment and way of life that should guide us at all times and in all places."

As we watched, I recorded his talk and noticed something unusual. When President Oaks mentioned "Following Christ," a photo of President Nelson was shown instead of the Lord. I found this intriguing and wondered if it could be perceived as a subliminal message suggesting that following Christ equates to following President Nelson—or even implying that Christ = Nelson. I truly hope it was an oversight and that they intended to show an image of Christ. Unfortunately, this was broadcast to the millions of members who watched the conference that morning.

Below is the my video recording:  VIDEO LINK

Yes, we should look to Jesus Christ as the Perfect Role Model. However, I often struggle with the command to follow any man, no matter how righteous. A better approach might be to "give heed" or "listen," but never to simply follow.

Research indicates that relying on others for information, and worse, just following them can affect our cognitive processes. Studies suggest that when we offload our thinking and adopt the LDS slogan, "When the prophet speaks, the thinking is done," we diminish our own critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

I share this context to illustrate an experience I had during a hike last week.

The past year or so, I would hike almost weekly with friends, following a predetermined trail  by one person in our group.  When you can simply follow the person in front of you, you tend to pay less attention than if you were hiking alone. Unfortunately, due to some circumstances, we no longer continue these weekly hikes. However, as a group, we managed to go on one last hike last week to a beautiful mountain summit where you can see both Salt Lake City and Utah County Valleys It was crucial to stay together, as there were many different trails, and it would have been easy to get lost or separated from the group.

I wanted to hike back up to the summit last Saturday evening before sunset, observing Yom Kippur. I knew how to reach the trailhead and believed I had paid enough attention to remember the correct path. I recalled that we veered off the main road after about a quarter mile, and when I spotted a sign that read "Designated Hiking Loop," I assumed it was the trail I should take.

As I hiked, I noticed I wasn’t climbing as I expected and felt uncertain about the direction. I encountered another hiker and asked, “Is this the trail to the summit?” They replied, “Oh no, this is just a loop trail. It won’t take you to the top.”

So, I turned back, left the "Designated" Trail, and found the steep path that would take me to the peak. Since I had simply followed someone on the previous hike, I wasn’t familiar with the route on my own. I had lost precious time and had to run most of the way, despite the pain in my body. It was important for me to experience the end of Yom Kippur by witnessing the sunset.

Here is an aerial view of the two trails. The green trail represents the "Designated Trail" I was on, while the gold trail shows the steep path I had to navigate to reach the tower at the summit.

This hike was very important to me, much like the hike I took ten years ago to Lake Mary, which I briefly mentioned in this blog post.. LINK TO THE REST OF THE STORY

Symbolically, this hike resonates with the constellation of Pisces, represented by two fish swimming in opposite directions. One large fish is caught in a net, endlessly looping and circling the equator, while the smaller fish has broken free from this stagnating cycle. This smaller fish is heading north in search of God.

The best part of the hike was reaching the top just minutes before sunset. At the summit stands a spiral rock formation. The spiral is a powerful symbol found in various cultures, often representing growth, evolution, and the journey of life. In many spiritual traditions, it signifies the path of enlightenment and personal development, suggesting a continual unfolding of understanding.

In some Native American cultures, including the Navajo and Hopi, spiral formations are considered sacred, symbolizing the connection between the earth and the cosmos. They represent the journey of life, spiritual growth, and the cycles of nature.

To remember this hike, I paired some of the photos I took with words from the soundtrack of Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a short book written by Richard Bach in the year I was born. The story follows a seagull named Jonathan who seeks to master the art of flight. He yearns to understand the nature of flying and the exhilaration it brings. Ultimately banished from his flock, he perseveres in his passion, transcending his physical limitations and becoming something greater than an ordinary seagull.

VIDEO LINK

CUTTING OUT, REMOVING, SHORTENING and DISCARDING TRUTH

I've spent some much-needed time in the mountains over the past couple of weeks. Despite the challenges we all face in life, I always find comfort in spending time hiking even though I am getting older and have to deal with the pain and sore muscles, I am always in awe of  God's creations.  We are at the cusp of a season change, from summer to Fall. Probably my favorite time of year. This world is a world of change. Nothing remains the same. Either we are gaining more light or we are losing light. I recently read that "One either searches out new truth — finds it, lives it, and thereby becomes restored to truth — or one backs away from it. If one is backing away, losing it, neglecting it, and discarding it, one is in the process of apostasy. With respect to God’s people, apostasy is always marked by a change of ordinances and breaking of the covenant."

Photos taken in July 2024 up Big Cottonwood Canyon

As everyone knows, over the past few years, the LDS Church has undergone numerous change especially to the Temple.  It seems like this is the new normal. Every time I go to the temple there is something that has changed.  Makes me wonder if these changes are driven by convenience, survey results, public opinion, or the needs of the rising generation. For instance, if it were deemed crucial for everyone to read the Book of Mormon for their salvation and we sought to make it easier, would we consider removing entire sections of scripture, such as the war chapters in Alma? Removing almost a quarter of the content without warning or divine revelation would be significant. While one might argue that removing repetitive or contentious passages could be inspired, it raises the question of how we would react if large repetitive sections of the Temple Endowment narrative were removed out. Were they not inspired in the first place? Was there is purposed for the repetition? If it is inspired to do this to the sacred rituals. Why stop there? maybe we could consider removing all repetition and editing things down to only to shortened versions of our scriptures, conference talks and Sunday School lessons. 

"If we fail to keep God’s ordinances exactly as prescribed, 

they are broken and no longer effective."

(Isaiah. 24:5.)

"House is always to be built for His presence. When accepted by Him it must remain exactly as He ordered it, or there are only two results: First, If the ordinances are not kept, He withdraws and the house is no longer His. Men are then free to do what they choose within the temple because God neglects it. The other result is that if the Lord still claims it, then those who offend within His House offend God.

Given the vanity and pride of mankind, it seems unlikely there will ever be people who are willing to strictly observe only what He asks as He asks it. It is a mistake to think we can improve on what He gives us, and yet we do.

When there is a House built for God (New Jerusalem), it will necessarily be through people of restraint, meekness, humility and patience who take no credit and think themselves no better than their fellows. It will be an undertaking requiring a heart like our Lord’s, full of the virtues He displayed. There will need to be a priest, like Moses, who was the meekest of all men. (Num. 12:3.) There will need to be someone, at last, who knows the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the Powers of Heaven, and when the heavens are offended, they withdraw. When withdrawn, other false spirits rush in to please and reassure us in our vanity and pride."

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

The phrase "when it rains, it pours" is an idiom used to describe a situation where multiple negative events or problems happen in quick succession, often overwhelming the person experiencing them. The idea is that when one thing goes wrong, it seems like everything else starts going wrong too, much like how a light rain might suddenly turn into a downpour.

My wife and I were driving home on the I-15 freeway a few days ago when, out of nowhere, a sudden downpour descended from the sky. I snapped a quick photo as it swept across our path. This moment captured perfectly the past month for our family. We've experienced a heartbreaking series of losses—my dad, a close friend, and most recently, our beloved dog of 15 years. It’s true what they say: "when it rains, it pours"

Despite the difficulties we try to move forward with faith and hope. 

Yesterday, a friend shared with my the following story. 

A woman who was terminally ill was discussing her final wishes with her pastor. She told him that she wanted to be buried with her scriptures and that she wanted to be holding a fork in her right hand. The pastor was puzzled by the unusual request and asked her to explain.

The woman smiled and explained that throughout her life, she had attended many church dinners and social gatherings where a meal was served. After the main course, the servers would often lean in and tell the guests to "keep your fork" because something better was coming—usually a delicious dessert like pie or cake.

She told the pastor that this phrase, "keep your fork," had always reminded her that the best was yet to come. So, when people saw her in her casket holding a fork, she wanted them to wonder why. Then, she wanted the pastor to explain that the fork was a symbol of her faith—her belief that even after death, something better was coming, a beautiful afterlife with God.

Sidenote that I thought was interesting: 

The phrase "when it rains, it pours" became associated with Morton Salt through an innovative advertising campaign launched in 1911. At that time, one of the challenges with salt was that it tended to clump together in humid weather, making it difficult to pour. Morton Salt developed a solution by adding a small amount of magnesium carbonate to the salt, which prevented clumping and allowed the salt to pour freely, even in damp conditions.

THE PASSING OF MY FATHER - SACRED SUNRISE and HIKE

I have seen many sunrises and shared photos of some, but the most sacred and significant sunrise occurred a week ago this morning. Instead of from a mountain top, I watched the sunrise from my parents' bedroom window right after my dad passed away. It's hard to believe it's already been a week since he left us.

My love for nature and hiking in the mountains was a gift from my dad. His favorite hike and fishing spot was Lake Blanche, a challenging 7-mile trek in Big Cottonwood Canyon. This week, I embarked on that hike as a tribute to him. I felt his presence with every step, and he sent me signs to let me know he was aware of me and watching over me.

My dad loved chiasms and would always find them in scriptures, helping us gain insight from their deeper meanings. Right at the trailhead of my hike to Lake Blanche, a moose appeared out of nowhere. It’s not very common to see a big bull moose at 4:00 AM on a well-traveled trail. When I reached the lake at the end of the trail, I looked across and saw another big bull moose accompanied by a young bull moose. Chiastic in structure, a moose at the beginning of my tribute for my dad and then two moose at the end—it had my dad's signature all over it.

Words can't adequately express the feelings of losing a parent. No matter how old you are, it is never easy to lose your dad.

SUMMER SOLSTICE 2024

 Photos from this morning's solstice hike. Always a different experience, but never a disappointment.