Showing posts with label Temple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Temple. Show all posts

Friday, January 4, 2013

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud for All to Hear

I was very fortunate this year to attend the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert featuring Alfie Boe, Tom Brokaw, and the Candy Bomber, Gail Halvorsen. It was easily one of the most fantastic performances I've ever been to. Mix Alfie Boe's amazing tenor voice with Tom Brokaw's incredible story of the Candy Bomber, as well as Richard Elliot's crazy organ-playing talents, and you're in for a night filled with emotion. It was truly a memorable event. Watch a snippet of the night here.
 


 I was able to attend the concert twice, and one of them happened to be Sunday morning. We were told not to applaud because it was a live recording for 'Music and the Spoken Word.' Let me tell you, that was not an easy task. It took all I had not to applaud because the story of the Candy Bomber is so incredible (you HAVE to watch it when it comes out on video) and Alfie Boe is amazing. 

Alfie played Jean Valjean in the 25th Anniversary of Les Miserables so he sang, "Bring Him Home." It brought me to tears each time. You can listen to it here. I promise you won't regret it.



I snuck a picture of the Boe's, Brokaw's, and Halvorsen's posing for a picture after the Sunday concert. :)



I feel beyond blessed to live so close to Temple Square and that I'm able to attend its incredible events. If you want to listen to more of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concerts, or any of their other music, check out their YouTube website here. It's pure awesomeness. :)

Friday, October 26, 2012

Mobe & Montachello

    For fall break my family ventured to Moab & Monticello. We had some wonderful adventures together. Here’s a bit of what we did: Visited Newspaper Rock (full of hieroglyphs) and answered Karissa’s question of how the Native Americans were able to get over the fence blocking the rock. After my wonderful explanation of Native Americans being swift and elegant like deer while using their special jumping moccasins to get over the fence, I was informed that she meant modern day people. So naturally, I had to demonstrate what any modern day person would have done... and jump the fence just how the Natives would have. Um...yeah. I’ve never been skilled in the area of “fence-jumping” so blood resulted. Just kidding. But my attempt was quite mortifying.

 Moving on, we had a nice family dinner in Monticello before attending the temple. When I mean it was a nice family dinner (of delectable Subway sandwiches), that was after our attempt to eat at a locally run restaurant. After looking at the prices on the menu, our jaws hit the table in amazement of such high prices. The majority of my family usually has too much fear of embarrassment to just get up and leave out of a restaurant, but it seemed as though we didn’t have a choice. So, we ran out on a restaurant. Dad stood up and led the way. Mom passed us, however, literally running out of the restaurant, zooming past incoming customers with awe in their faces. The rest of us tried to walk out calmly as to not insult the owner. Overall, quite an embarrassing event considering the waitress would find a suddenly customer-less table with six menus and six glasses of water. Luckily our trip to the Monticello temple made up for the awkwardness of the evening. It was the smallest temple I’ve ever been in, but just as wonderful of an experience as any temple.

 The following day, my dad discovered a small burr with protruding spikes. Dad explained to Rebecca that he found a porcupine egg. Becca, all knowing, said, “Dad. Porcupine eggs aren’t spiky.” Porcupine...eggs? We all got a kick out of that one. We ventured on several hikes, one of which was to Corona Arch. You know Spiderman? Well we met him on our trip. Just as we got to the Arch, he jumped off, free fell, then swung from his strong rope. Ah! CRAZY! But don’t worry, he had a helmet, which of course would have saved his life if his rope broke and he fell 300 feet. Savanna immediately wanted to try, but my mom rebuked that idea, stating she did NOT raise children who wanted to do that. hahaha



  Later we went to the Moab Diner--this restaurant was a much better experience than the previous night. In fact, it was an amazing experience. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a delightful rocky road milkshake in my entire life. I couldn’t help but exclaim of it’s goodness after each bite. The next day we hiked to the famous arch printed on several Utah license plates--Delicate Arch. My family somehow left me at our camp site restroom though. They just drove away, anxious to get to the trail head I guess. I attempted to run after our van, and luckily Savanna remembered that I was actually part of the family, so I eventually caught up and hitched a ride with them. The arch was pretty amazing, and along the hike we passed several people speaking different languages. I find it interesting that people travel from all over the world to visit a rock...but I guess I’ve been to Canada just to see flowers (Butchart Gardens). We also passed several Aggies. I guess USU and hiking go well together, which is fine by me! The night ended with some wonderful star-gazing with my dad. We saw the brightest, most brilliant shooting star either of us had ever seen. Such a great way to end our trip.





Monday, June 20, 2011

Washington

Boise Idaho Temple

Blessed bathroom break

Columbia River Temple

Gum Wall at Pike Place Market


Delicious Russian Piroshky

Asparagus is big up there right now

Seattle

Old antique shop



Ryan and Megan's Wedding!

Snapshots at the wedding

Some waterfall I can't remember the name of...

Leavenworth...cute little Bavarian town

The real Australian Tim Tams. So good.

Someday, when I can cook, I'll say this. ;)

Tractors!

Cute lil' farm


Cousins!
Shoshone Falls in Idaho

For a complete, accurate, funny description of the trip, visit my sister's blog.

Some pics via Savanna

Friday, July 16, 2010

Wonderful, Wonderful Day

Yesterday was probably one of the best days I've had all summer long. I didn't go anywhere too fancy or do anything too extravagant, but it was a fabulous day. To start off, I went on a hike to Ensign Peak with the Seminary Council (minus 3). We went the back way (not the easy 1 mile round trip deal). We had an awesome time getting to know each other more and discussing how amazing the Gospel is.  

After the hike, I went to the temple with Rachael. Not only was it a spiritual experience, but we saw P.L. and P.A. there. Those of you who know us will know them. ;) The temple in itself put me in a good mood, but when I got home, I received a letter from my friend Nick! He's in basic training right now and I sent him a letter, not knowing if I'd get one back. It was the most wonderful surprise! I then got ready to see Connor from Georgia. It was so great seeing him again, as well as talking with lots of other friends I haven't seen in a while. To add to it all, I went to Kaitlyn's afterwards for an outdoor movie. It was a perfect summer day.

{Connor and...us! Connor is the one in the green shirt on the top left.}

P.S. Kudos if you caught the musical in the title (7 Brides for 7 Brothers).

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Openhouse

This temple is beautiful inside and out. There's no better building than the House of the Lord. Poor Angel Moroni got hit by lightning and his arm and head got burnt Dad showing the locations of three other temples you can see from this viewDraper TempleJordan River TempleSalt Lake Temple My Eternal Family
"There is something about a temple dedication which prompts a reevaluation of one's own performance and a sincere desire to do even better." -President Thomas S. Monson