Thoughts and stories, by Pal

I am so excited to go here in Salt Lake City, and take my grandchildren!  It just opened, and this weekend is the RootsTech 2017 ev ent starting today -- Feb. 8th through Feb. 11th!  You can go to: https://www.rootstech.org/rootstech-2017 There are live on-line speakers, etc.  Try it! Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please  CLICK HERE It is a major decision to gut a floor of the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake, that hasn’t seen a significant change in construction in decades, especially when the library’s collection only continues to grow. Yet, that counter-intuitive move is what the LDS Church just did to create the new Family Discovery Experience, a center that uses the most cutting-edge technology to bring family history to life with personalized, interactive exhibits. It’s about intriguing and enticing children and their parents to fall in love with their own legacy and those who went before. A s...

I just realized that I haven't posted pictures of our Senior Missions together for a long time!  We have been on 2 missions, the first of which was to Sweden, where Wayne had served his first mission in 1950 to 1953.  We later went to the Hartford, Connecticut, mission.  I'm going to tell more about them in these posts about Wayne -- up to February 21st, which is one year since he has been gone.   (Undoubtedly doing missionary work up there!) The picture above was taken in 1994, when we entered the Senior MTC on our way to Sweden. First posted on December 27, 2013 # 51 When I was about 18 years old, I received a lovely comforting blessing from the 88 year old Patriarch, for whom I typed blessings.  He said the day would come when I would serve a mission.  At that time (1953) a girl had to be 23 years old to serve a mission.  I didn't expect to be able to go then, and I did get married about 2 weeks before I turned 21.   We began ...

I wrote this on August 21, 2016, exactly 6 months from Wayne passed away.  Now 2 weeks from today, it will be a year.  Time is passing so fast!  Below this part is a scripture and quote, which was on Latter Day Light today. It has been 6 months today since my dear husband Wayne D Eckman passed from this life into eternity.  I miss him so much!  But I'm sure he and his twin brother Blaine are very busy up there, having fun, and doing missionary work! The picture above was the spring of 1956, after we were married, at Dixie College.  Wayne is 2nd from the right on the bottom row, when he was on the Dixie College Baseball team, the first year we were married. The photo below was also about that time, when he was in college. I've written many articles about him, which you can find under the "labels" under his name, Eckman Wayne D.  There are several articles about him and his twin brother Blaine.   This was taken 10...

Our family life began on September 24, 1955, in the St. George, Utah, Temple Our family when we had only 6 children!  About  1968. About 1971, in the backyard of our home in Sandy, Utah. In 1975, just before Wayne M. went on his mission to Ecuador. About 1988, at my mother Ruth's 80th birthday party. About 1982, after we had moved to St. George, Utah                                                                                                                           About 1983, just before McKay went on his mission to Taiwan. About 1993, before Pam got married.   About 1994, when Wa...

A better reason to exercise!  This motivates me more than other reasons!  I need to exercise more, and it may help me live longer, and give more service! 3 Ways You Didn't Realize Physical Exercise Can Increase Spiritual Strength by Dr. Rich Tenney  | Feb. 04, 2017 Makes You Think Mormon Life Comments Why are we here? When asked this question in Sunday school, the answer often given is “to receive a  body  and be  tested .” While this is a right answer, have you noticed that the discussion that usually follows tends to pass over the  body  and focus more on how to pass the  test ? I’m sure the adversary appreciates this. Why? Because when we think and act as if we are in our premortal, unembodied state, it undermines our  agency , or what Elder Bednar calls our  capacity to act  (general conference, April 2010). There are a number of subtle physical consequences that co...