Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Do you have Mormon pioneer heritage? FamilySearch has created a simple sign-in tool that will allow you to discover your pioneer heritage. After you discover more about the pioneers in your history, take the time to read their trail stories, also found on this page. The past is an amazing storybook. http://spr.ly/6185lI9X    (copy and paste!) Wayne's great great grandfather Phillip Kirk, had quite a history, and 3 of his children came 4 years before the parents had enough money to come also.  This tells their touching stories. 61. Wayne's great great grandfather, Phillip Kirk, "Burned in effigy" Today, I want to tell the story of Wayne's great great grandfather, Phillip Kirk, and his wife Mary Ann Taylor.    Mary Ann was 17 years old when she married Philip Kirk, 20 years old. They had 10 children, four of whom died young. Early in the 1840’s, Mormon missionaries had been sent to England to tell the people there of a new rel...

The Proctor's who are the editors for Meridian Magazine have written 3 stories about pioneer children and their adventures and mishaps.  They tell of the pioneer's desires to come to Zion, even if they had to send only one or part of a family.  Tomorrow, July 24th, I will relate some stories from our own ancestors who also sent some family members ahead, when the family couldn't afford to all come.  They showed great faith. Wednesday, July 23 2014 Three Children’s Pioneer Stories on the Trail to Zion By Scot and Maurine Proctor Those wheels west toward a distant mountain valley called Salt Lake and a dream called Zion were so much a part of the thinking of the early Saints that even the separation of family members, sending one at a time as the means could manage, was common. Just to set your foot there, for a son or brother to plant a crop and call it home, for a baby bearing your name to catch its first breath in the mountain ai...

This was published last Friday in Meridian Magazine, and I believe it has some very important warnings.  Many things that look enticing or beautiful, could become our downfall, and bring us much unhappiness. Friday, July 18 2014 Picking Flowers in the Minefields of Mortality By Ted Gibbons Thirty-three years ago I was with a tour group in the Middle East. One lazy afternoon when things were safer than they are now, our bus left Israel and crossed the border into Syria for a brief tour of the Golan Heights. The scenery was spectacular. We enjoyed the contrast of green land and blue sky and white clouds, and talked about the conflicts that had raged in this area throughout much of recorded history. After a while we noticed in the distance a purple haze covering the ground. As we drew closer, we found ourselves next to a field of globe-shaped purple flowers at the end of long stems. There were many acres along one side of the road, covere...

For those who have read Seth Adam Smith's blogs, you will know he once tried to commit suicide, and his father found him and saved him.  Since then he has become so grateful for life, and has a beautiful way of expressing it.  I need to think about these thoughts, because recently, I have had a lot of stomach problems and nausea, and find myself not enjoying life most of the time.   Of course, we are looking for solutions, but at least I am ALIVE!  I need to concentrate on that!  This is his article as he wrote it.  I don't want to apologize for re-posting his blogs often lately-- they just happen to have been very worth reading the last few days! INSPIRATIONAL I’m Grateful For Paper Cuts BY   SETH ADAM SMITH   ON   JULY 20, 2014 •  (  LEAVE A COMMENT  ) Some time ago, I was asked by Nate Bagley (of  Loveumentary.com ) to participate in a Gratitude Challenge. As part of this challenge, I was ...

I especially enjoy Seth Adam Smith's blogs.  In this entry I'm including both his blog on July 17th, Thursday, and July 18, Friday.  I wasn't able to copy and paste a link to the video, so below, where it says CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ! ! COPY AND PASTE THE URL -- http://sethadamsmith.com/2011/05/18/windows-liberty-jail/ There is a very impressive short video to watch!  Be sure and turn on your sound, and learn some amazing Church History stories of those men who were in the Liberty Jail with the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is another thought provoking article by Seth Adams Smith.  INSPIRATIONAL Please Stop Hating Your Body BY   SETH ADAM SMITH   ON   JULY 17, 2014 •  (  11 COMMENTS  ) We live in a culture that  hates  the body. Don’t believe me? Look around. We set unsustainable standards of physical beauty and enlist models to represent them. We then...

This goes with # 190, of pictures when the apostles were married!  Fun to see. Remember the world-wide indexing project that starts tomorrow -- Sunday July 20th, at 6 p.m. MST, and lasts for 24 hours. Apostle Photos: When They Were Called CARLY M. SPRINGER - MAY 14, 2014 They’re as familiar to us as our favorite movie stars, but do you remember when they were first called to be apostles? Check out these “then and now” photo comparisons of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles! See just how much time these men have given in service of the Church! Their appearances may have changed over the years, but the selfless leadership and inspired messages of these men are timeless. President Thomas S. Monson President Thomas S. Monson Sustained October 10, 1963, age 36 Photo from  lds.org Now age 87 Photo from  lds.org Sustained October 10, 1963, age 36 Photo from  lds.org President Henry B. Eyring Sustained A...