Vote for your favorite national park in Utah!

Utah is a beautiful state.  Five reasons for this beauty are the five national parks within its boundaries.  The five National parks are Zions, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef.  All are located in Southern Utah and have red rocks.  Zions and Bryce are the most famous.  Canyonlands and Arches are within a few miles of each other near Moab.  Capitol Reef is located northeast of Bryce Canyon by Fish Lake.

Capitol Reef isn’t as well known as the other five parks, but is just as beautiful in its own way.  The park has stunning red cliffs, a visitor center, campground, petroglyphs, a scenic drive and hiking trails.  Two hiking trails go into the geologic formation known as the Waterpocket Fold.  These trails have steep cliffs on each side.  One has been used for decades to pass through the area and etchings can be seen on the cliffs from the 1800’s. 

Recently I visited Capitol Reef National Park with my family.  I took the picture and video while visiting.  As you can see, Capitol Reef is beautiful in the day and at sunset, too.  Head to Southern Utah and enjoy the beauty!!

 

 

 

 

America's National Parks

I love to visit the America's national parks.  America created its first national park just a few years before her 100^th birthday.  The first national park to be created was Yellowstone National park.  This granddaddy of national parks was created in 1872. 

One of the reasons that I love the national parks is because of their beauty.  Yellowstone has its waterfalls, wildlife, geysers, and hot pots.  Crater Lake is a beautiful, pristine lake in a volcanic crater.  Yosemite has Redwood trees and one of the highest waterfalls in the world.   Teton National Park has the majestic grandeur of the craggy Teton mountain peaks.

Another reason I enjoy the national parks is the learning and education there.  Most national parks have visitor centers with movies and displays to help you understand the park, its history, and geology.  A fun and educational activity at most national parks is the Junior Ranger Program for children.  Children are given a paper or booklet with activities to help them learn more about the park and its environment. 

For beauty, family fun and education the National Parks can’t be beat!   

Motherhood and the Journey

The Family Proclamation states that “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”  This weighty responsibility begins even before a child is born and never ends.  Mothers nurture when they protect their children from harm, both physical and spiritual.  Mothers nurture when they train and educate their children.  They nurture when they support and encourage their children as they learn at home and school.  They also nurture when they feed their children---over and over and over again.

The journey of motherhood and nurturing can be long and hard.  It doesn’t end when children leave home, but continues on and extends to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Mothers can even nurture those who are not related to them. 

In this technological age, when mothers need help with mothering or nurturing they turn to blogs.  Sometimes called Mommy blogs, they have become quite popular, especially in Utah.  In fact the Deseret News reported that “new Moms who blog seem to transition into parenthood with a greater sense of social support and connection.”  (Deseret News, January 7, 2012)

Recently I read about a “Mommy blog” called 71toes.  It is written by Shawni Pothier, the daughter of Richard and Linda Eyre.  The Eyres have taught and lectured on families for decades.  Another daughter, Saren is the co-founder of PowerofMoms.com.  For some candid comments on motherhood and nurturing, log on! 

http://www.71toes.blogspot.com

  

http://www.PowerofMoms.com

 

Fun on the rail journey

Wholesome recreational activities are a fun part of the marriage and family journey.  A wholesome recreational activity can be as simple as a walk around the neighborhood or the local park.  The activity can be a quick visit to a favorite ice cream or yogurt shop.  Putting together a jigsaw puzzle, playing a board or card game, and watching a movie are all simple, fun, family activities.  

 

Wholesome recreational activities can also be planned.  Vacations are wholesome recreational activities that can last for days or even a week or two.  Family vacations can be camping in the forest by a lake or staying in hotels in a large city.  Families can see Mickey Mouse at Disneyland or giant redwood trees in Yosemite.   

 A wholesome activity can even be an “old-time rail journey!”  For a real journey on an old time train try the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train in Colorado or the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad in New Mexico.

Whatever wholesome recreational activity you choose, be sure to enjoy it and your family!!!

 

Working on the Journey

The marriage journey is a long one of work, work, and more work.  Hopefully, when two people marry they have both already learned to work hard.   Besides  employment outside the home there will be cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, gardening, weeding –the list is endless.  When children join a family the work increases.  Then there is feeding, diapering, washing, bathing—the list is endless.

Teaching children how to work should begin early when children are willing to do simple chores around the home.  Even though in many cases it can be easier to do things ourselves, children like to feel and need to feel that they are “helping.” Teaching a child to work sets a good foundation for the rest of the child’s life. 

Knowing how to work hard will also help a child spiritually.  They can learn how to do the spiritual work of praying, fasting and studying the scriptures.  Hard work will prepare them for Church service and for a mission.

We all need to learn to work and work hard.  “We all have work; let no one shirk.”  (Hymns #252)

Compassion on the rail journey

Compassion is an important principle listed in the Family Proclamation.  The dictionary defines compassion as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune and is accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”  

The Savior is the great example of compassion.  There are at least eight references about the compassion of the Savior in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.  In the Book of Mormon when the Savior appears to the Nephites, the scriptures record that the Savior “cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.”  (3 Nephi 17:5)

The Savior told them, “My bowels are filled with compassion towards you.”   He then asked them if they had any sick, lame, blind, halt, maimed, leprous, withered, deaf or “afflicted in any manner?”  He instructed the people to bring the afflicted to him and he would heal them.  He told them, “I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy.  (3 Nephi 17:6-7)

We need to learn to do as the Savior did when he visited the Nephites.  He observed the people he was with and perceived their need. He then applied compassion and decided to stay with them a little longer and heal their afflictions.

Sister Linda K. Burton, the Relief Society General President, has suggested that we need to “First observe, then serve.” She also said, “What better place to first observe and then serve than in the home?”  As we observe and serve with compassion our marriages and families will be blessed.

The Glue of Love

The word love is mentioned five times in the Family Proclamation.  According to the Proclamation husbands and wives are admonished “to love and care for each other and for their children.”  Parents are told that they “have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness.”  Parents are also told that they need to teach their children “to love and serve one another.”   Love is one of the principles listed that helps to make a successful marriage and family.  Additionally, the Proclamation states that “fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness.”

Why is love so important in marriages and families?  Because love is the glue that holds marriages and families together.  When we love someone we want the best for them.  We are willing to sacrifice for them.  When we love someone we are willing to put their needs before our own.  We are willing to give our time and money and resources to make their life the best that it can be.

The Savior taught, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Surely, those of our own family are our closest neighbors and deserve our most devoted love.

Respect

One definition of respect is “a sense of worth or excellence of a person.”  Respect is one of the foundation stones of establishing a successful marriage.  When a young couple marries they each need to have a sense of worth and a sense of excellence for their spouse.  This feeling translates into actions of love and kindness.

It is a blessing to watch couples who respect one another.  The husband opens the car door for his wife.  He speaks of her good traits and her accomplishments.  The wife praises her husband and supports him.  Even when they look at each other there is approval and love.

In contrast, it is sad and heart-wrenching to watch couples who do not have respect for one another.  They speak unkindly to each other in loud, angry voices.  They belittle one another in front of others.  They are unable to see the good in each other.  They have very little toleration for the imperfections of each other.  These actions cause spouses to suffer and can cause a marriage to end.

In order to keep a marriage strong, spouses must respect one another.  This can also bless their family.   As children see respectful interactions between their parents they can learn respect for their parents, their siblings, and for their future spouses.  

Traveling with Repentance and Forgiveness

In the “Family Proclamation” forgiveness follows repentance in the list of successful marriage and family principles.  We all prefer a smooth marriage and family rail journey, so when we hurt others it is essential to make amends.   When we repent and make amends we want others to forgive us.  We prefer that the forgiveness happens fast so that the incident can be forgotten and we can be “done” with our repentance. 

Those who repent and those who forgive must exercise patience and forbearance with each other.  Often those who have been wronged can be resistant to forgiveness, especially when they have been deeply hurt.  Just as it takes more time for a deep cut with stitches to heal than a paper cut, a person who has been deeply wounded will need more time to heal and forgive. 

As we journey, we find that we are never “done” with repentance or forgiveness.  We will continue to make mistakes.  Our fellow travelers will do the same.  Therefore, we will all continue to need repentance and forgiveness.  Repentance and forgiveness will need to travel with us for our entire lifetime!

"Speedily Repent"

One of the principles listed in the “Family Proclamation” is repentance.  Repentance is essential for everyone who is on the marriage and family rail journey.  When we are married and part of a family, it is especially easy to make mistakes because we are close to each other—riding in the same train car and sitting in seats next to each other.  Because of this closeness, we not only see the mistakes of family members, but we see the mistakes with a magnifying glass.   

Because we all make mistakes on a regular basis, we need to learn to “speedily repent, yea, very speedily.” (D&C 136:35)  We need to learn to say “I’m sorry” and to try to make amends when we offend others.  As we try to repent and make things right, others will be less inclined to use the magnifying glass and be more tolerant of our mistakes.  Certainly we can all use less magnification of our mistakes!

Prayer Helps the Journey

Prayer is the second principle listed in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” that will help build “successful marriages and families.”  The Lord instructed the Nephites to “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.”  (3 Nephi 18:21)  We all want our families to be blessed.

Nephi was given the commandment to build a ship.  Nephi prayed often to the Lord for His direction on how to build it.   In answer to his prayers, the Lord showed Nephi how to build the ship.  Just as Nephi prayed to the Lord, parents must pray to the Lord and ask Him to help us build our families according to His will.     

Not only are parents commanded to pray for their families, but they have been commanded to “teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.” (D&C 68:28) Parents are responsible to teach their children to pray so that their children can know God and have the blessing of the His direction in their lives.

Prayer is a great blessing to spouses and children as they call upon the Lord for his help in their lives.   There is a great comfort that comes when you hear someone pray for you.  Whether a spouse or a child, it makes you feel loved and important.   Prayer will give marriages and families additional help to be successful.     

Faith in Marriage

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” states that “successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”  These nine principles will help to make our marriage and family “journey” more pleasant.

Faith is the first principle listed.  Faith in God is an essential part of a successful and happy marriage.  When a couple marries they need to have faith in God.  If they have faith in God and make Him a part of their marriage, they can receive His help to treat each other kindly, to work out difficulties, to make decisions, and to forgive more easily when problems occur.

 A married couple also needs to have faith in each other.  Each spouse needs to have faith that the other spouse will “honor marital vows with complete fidelity.”  They need to have faith that the other spouse will do their best to make the marriage work and that they will do their best to help the other spouse.

Just as faith can help your marriage, faith can help your family.  If you have faith in God, He can help you teach and train your children.  Faith plays an important part in successful marriages and families.

 

Marriage has been compared to an “old-time rail journey.”   What can help improve the marriage and family journey?  A document introduced by President Gordon B. Hinckley in September 1995 can be a major factor in improving marriages and families.  This document is “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

President Hinckley stated, “Why do we have this proclamation on the family now?  Because the family is under attack.  All across the world families are falling apart.  The place to begin to improve society is in the home…We are trying to make the world better by making the family stronger.”   

How can this document help marriages and families?  The Proclamation explains our eternal roles as males and females. The Proclamation gives clear direction that “marriage is ordained of God.”  It tells us to base our marriages and families on the “teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  It explains the role of husband and wife and mother and father.  It clearly states principles that will help to establish and maintain successful marriages and families.  It also explains our responsibility to our communities and nations to “promote” laws that will support marriage and family so that others will benefit, too.  

Do you want to improve your marriage and family rail journey?  Get a copy of the “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”  Read this divinely inspired document and apply the teachings in your marriage and family and surely the journey will improve.

Enjoy Your Journey

Years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley was speaking about marriage and quoted Jenkins Lloyd Jones.  Jones likens marriage to an old-time rail journey. 

President Hinckley said:

“Marriage requires a high degree of tolerance, and some of us need to cultivate that attribute. I have enjoyed these words of Jenkins Lloyd Jones, which I clipped from the newspaper some years ago. Said he:

‘There seems to be a superstition among many thousands of our young [men and women] who hold hands and smooch in the drive-ins that marriage is a cottage surrounded by perpetual hollyhocks to which a perpetually young and handsome husband comes home to a perpetually young and [beautiful] wife. When the hollyhocks wither and boredom and bills appear the divorce courts are jammed. …

‘Anyone who imagines that bliss [in marriage] is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.

‘[The fact is] most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …

‘Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
‘The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride’.” (“Big Rock Candy Mountains,” Deseret News, 12 June 1973, A4.)  (Ensign, March 1977, p. 58.)

Life and marriage truly are “like an old-time rail journey.”  In fact, the same thing can be said of jobs, raising a family, serving in the Church and community and just about anything we choose to do.  Fortunately, there are things we can do to improve the ride.

One thing you can do to improve the ride is to make sure you are on the right train going to the right place! Read all the instructions and get the information you need to help you choose the right train.

Also, don’t depend on the train to do everything to make the trip spectacular.  Be prepared and take the things you might need.  One important thing to carry along is a good attitude.  My daughter took a trip to Israel.  On the day they visited shepherd’s hill outside of Bethlehem it was quite hot.  One traveler wouldn’t even leave the bus because of the heat.  How sad to miss shepherd’s hill because it was too hot.

If you aren’t currently experiencing a “beautiful vista” on your train ride, don’t just sit and stare out the window.  Learn to use what resources you have to improve the ride.  You could read a book, knit or do a puzzle. You could even help a fellow passenger and improve their ride, too!

Finally, learn to do as Jones suggests and “thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”  Gratitude can change smoke and cinders into beautiful views when you learn to thank the Lord for His blessings and tender mercies.

Do your best to enjoy your personal rail journey!