Youth Extravaganza

Elizabeth, Hannah, Steve and I have all been involved with a big event up here in Ogden this summer. It is a Youth Extravaganza. Kind of like the old Dance Festivals but bigger and ... more modern.

Here is the link to see pictures and to listen to the music that our 10 Stake North Council is using. http://site.ariseandshineforth.com/ Click on the North Council. There are actually nice pictures of both Elizabeth and Hannah. There are also several pictures of their friends as well - it's almost a little odd that they got picked out of the crowd of 3500 youth.

It's been a lot of work and a real test in so many ways. We have seen several parables re-enacted such as the servants that come at the 11th hour, the 10 Virgins and the Prodigal Son. This experience has really connected to the eternities.

The North Council's section is on the Pre-Existance and the songs and narration are amazing. I can feel the Spirit every single time the kids are on the field and they shout for joy because of the plan of salvation. I also love the song, I Never Stand Alone as it reminds that me that I really don't stand alone when I stand with God - I'm standing with his prophets.

Beginning Ballroom

This is a pretty amusing video of Elizabeth and Hannah's beginning ballroom dance class. The music cuts out and they are missing a boy. But they still looked great - AND wholesome and didn't appear to be in training for Las Vegas or some other hussy joint.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXvXPoyx6WI

World War II Class

I am wrapping up a semester class on World War II. It has been an interesting class - I would have to say that I now know way more about the Holocaust, the Nuremberg Trials, the Bomb, the Nazi party, rivalries between Allied generals, D-Day, the North African campaign,.... then I ever thought I would want to know. It's been great. But a little stressful.

I have met some new amazing heroes. The term hero has been redefined for me, it is not about action but rather about motives. Heroes never act to aggrandize themselves, they only see the world as it is, and as it should be and then put themselves in between to do what they can.

To Diet Eman, John Bradley and the Marines at Iwo Jima, Raoul Wallenberg, the boys of the 101st, Steve's Uncle Sterling, the prosecution team at Nuremberg, to the thousands of men and women who retained their humanity despite the great length of the war ... Thank you. Thank you.