Thoughts and stories, by Pal

The visiting General Authority for our Stake Conference tonight and tomorrow is President Russell M. Nelson, the President of the Quorum ot Twelve Apostles.      We all are so thrilled with that, and I will take good notes, and put them on this blog in a day or two.  He follows President Thomas S. Monson in Priesthood seniority. I just returned from sitting quietly in the back of our Stake Center building, and listening to the men's chorus practice "The Spirit Of God", which they will sing in the Priesthood Leadership Meeting going on there right now!  My oldest son Wayne was playing the piano accompanying them.  He had been asked, and as his specialty is the accordion, the right hand on the piano came easily.  But the left had he had to practice a lot.  I gave him a few ideas on how to turn pages (it was a long song) -- to keep one hand playing while the other hand turned the page, etc. plan which note is at the front of the next page, etc....

Today brought back many memories of various times in my life.  I have been to 2 Temple dedications, as I remember, of temples dedicated here in Utah, via watching on a large screen in our chapel.  Also the beautiful hymn, my favorite, "The Spirit of God" was sung, and I have a special story about that. Those of my readers, did you hear, about 5 years ago of the really elegant tabernacle, with spires, etc., in Provo which burned down, with only  the shell of  brick remaining?  It was quite a landmark at the time,  and many important people, musicians, Church, etc., had  spoken and entertained there.  Well, awhile after they decided to  revive it, and make it into a Temple.  It was quite an undertaking, as  only the brink walls remained.  They had to secure them, and do a lot  to keep them from falling down, while they totally rebuilt the  interior.  The temple by the MTC is used so much by the missiona...

 THIS IS THE FINAL ENTRY OF SAMUEL MILES' JOURNAL.  THIS LAST ENTRY IS RATHER LONG, AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME READING IT.  THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY OF EARLY ST. GEORGE, WHICH HE WAS A PART OF. 1862 - After closing my school in March, I resumed my farming and cultivated two city lots.  On the 7th of May was born my fifth son called John Talmar.  I acted as teacher in the ward and assisted Bishop Hill in settling tithing.  Three hundred teams were sent to the frontiers to assist the poor saints to the valley.  (These were saints on the plains who needed help to get to Utah).      On Sunday the 19th of October, 1862,  my name with 150 others was called to go with our families to go strengthen the cotton growing country in the southern part of the Territory. (Dixie -- now St. George) I immediately began to make preparations to go with my family.   I sold my hay and pasture lots near the city.  I made a good fit out wag...

We are very blessed to live here in St. George, Utah, where there are many wonderful and inspirational activities to go to.  On Wednesdays, here in the Tabernacle, they have a program, usually quite musical, and on Friday nights, they have an inspirational lecture by a well known person.  On Saturdays from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. they have an organ recital, or other musical recital.  Many other nights they have concerts by local choirs and musical groups. This is an amazing building, to realize it was built in the desert small pioneer town of St. George, when people were so in need.  My grandfather, William Gustavus Miles, was a stone cutter on that very building.  It has a magnificent interior, and has spiral staircases, and a balcony on 3 of its walls.  I have enjoyed accompanying many talented people in several concerts there.  It has a lovely Steinway piano! Tonight we went to a wonderful program by Clive Romney.   It was his great gr...