Utah Mountain Autumn

Last weekend Glen and I enjoyed a beautiful drive through the Utah Wasatch Mountains while we listened to General Conference talks. We only lost our signal once as we were near the top and drove past a cliff. We began our drive by going up Provo Canyon at the base of Mt. Timpanogos which still has vestiges of last year's snow.

We drove to Midway and then turned west past the golf course and headed up.

September was unusually warm making up for the late start to summer, so the aspens were still changing.

I loved the undulating color on this mountainside.

After reaching the highest point of the road, we found ourselves driving toward Cascade Springs.

It was a perfect day. The clouds were also beautiful.

We soon found ourselves gazing back at the road we had first traveled past Deer Creek Reservoir.

We realized that we were going to connect up with the Alpine Loop which is known for prime leaf peeping.

We found these beautiful leaves near the road.

Oranges . . .

Yellows . . .

and Reds . . .

Thanks Utah for a beautiful autumn trip. I always feel a need for an autumn color trip somewhere. The Utah mountains delivered.

Provo Tabernacle to become a temple

This morning in General Conference in Salt Lake City, it was announced that the Provo Tabernacle which was heavily damaged by fire on Dec. 17th of last year will become a temple. The above is a rendering of how this temple will look upon completion. For more go here.

I blogged about the terrible fire and its aftermath here. This news today was perfect news. How appropriate to take the shell of the historic building that is left and making it into an even more Holy House of the Lord.

General Conference weekend

What is General Conference? Read this article published in the Washington Post to find out.

I look forward to this special weekend which comes twice each year, the first weekend in April and October. The messages shared will help to shape the way I choose to live my life. They will buoy me up and give me hope. I can't wait!

Watch with glittering eyes

I went on a long walk this morning. When I came home and checked for what was new on the computer, I came across this quote. I hope that I not only "watch with glittering eyes" but that I listen with sensitive, wide open ears (no ear buds) every time I walk in God's glorious world.

Forget Me Not

Small, beautiful forget-me-not flowers took on a new meaning for me last Saturday evening. Elder Deiter Utchdorf gave a beautiful address specifically for women at the General Relief Society Meeting broadcast. The forget-me-not flower with its five petals prompted him to address five things which we should not forget in our lives. It was timely and gentle.


Please go here to read a summary of his talk. Go here to watch his address. It is worth your time.

Elder Utchdorf has led an amazing life. As I read this article, I became aware of his Arizona ties. Some how that made him even more personable.

Bread, butter, and more

Women are so generous. We asked for donations of homemade bread.

Loaf after loaf of beautiful bread flowed into the stake center kitchen yesterday.

We provided the butter and honey, but the music and speakers of the General Relief Society Meeting Broadcast provided the true sweetness.

Our generous Relief Society sisters also provided homemade butters and jams which provided more flavor. Watching the women enjoying one an other's company added that extra something to this long planned for event. Thank you for donating these things made with your very hands and for joining with us for an evening of genuine sisterhood.

This week's fabrics

I've been using these fabrics to make table toppers for a special yearly event to be held on Saturday.

The women who are members of my church from around the world will gather in their respective church buildings to listen by satellite to messages prepared just for them by church leaders. After they are spiritually fed, we will feed our local sisters (about 325) a simple bread and butter dinner partly in honor of the emphasis currently being placed on the History of Relief Society, thus the picture on the invitation of Emma Smith who was the first Relief Society president in 1842.

A book detailing the history of Relief Society was announced at the annual Relief Society Broadcast a year ago and was recently made available to all members. I am honored to be a part of this women's organization to which my great-great grandmothers, great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mother all participated. I feel it has enriched the lives of generations.

The UPS man just dropped off this box and I am so excited. Once this busy week is over I can start my "Aunt Grace's Garden Party" quilt. It is a block of the month quilt (really row of the month so it looks like a garden) which I will receive a month at a time through next February. All those primary colors are making me feel a bit giddy!