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Utah Temples Tour: Jordan River, Oquirrh Mountain, Draper, Timpanogos, Provo

October 14, 2008 by rickety 4 Comments

Jordan River Temple

On Saturday we visited Utah’s four most northern temples. Today on Day 2 of the Utah Temples Tour, with the rickety weather behind us, was the turn of five more temples. Rising at 4am and leaving at 5am we had an addition to our number with Andrew, a friend of the family.

The Jordan River Temple

The Jordan River temple is so close to the Oquirrh Mountain temple that I got them crossed in Google Maps. After we figured out that a darkened, half built temple with scaffolding was not the Jordan River temple we looked around for a lit temple. Spencer texted Google and we got the address. We were in time for the 6:40am session. The inside of the temple seemed to me to be a super-sized Ogden temple. The celestial room was smaller compared to the cathedral-like Bountiful celestial room. Spencer ran into his aunt who was working on the temple grounds pulling out flowers that were hit with the frost.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

Temples Under Construction

Upon leaving the Jordan River temple we went back to the Oquirrh Mountain temple for some photographs in daylight. The temple sits prominently on a hill and will been seen across the countryside when it opens. Being right off an exit of Bangerter Highway will give patrons easy access.

We headed over to the Draper temple for some more photographs. The Draper temple is half way up the mountain so it too will be visible for miles. This temple is closer to completion and will be dedicated Friday, March 20, 2009.

The Mount Timpanogos Temple

After one session at the Jordan River temple the boys were hungry so we ate in the Mount Timpanogos temple cafeteria before catching the 11:30am session. This temple is almost a carbon copy of the Bountiful temple. Only the patron entrances were different with Bountiful facing north and Timpanogos facing west. There are some second floor differences and the Timpanogos cafeteria didn’t allow substitutions. :)

The Provo Temple

A short drive took us to a 3pm session at the Provo temple. Another carbon copy, this time of the Ogden temple. We knew where this temple was with three returned missionaries in the vehicle (it is by the MTC). The temple really looks majestic with the mountains as a backdrop. A great photo taking opportunity. It was time to feed at the fast food trough so we stopped by Wendys. Once the bellies were topped up we drove for home.

Tomorrow will find us at Vernal and Monticello for Day 3 of the Utah Temples Tour.

Provo Temple: Spencer, Dan, Rick, Andrew, Paul, Jake

Baby Bryson: Six Days Old

October 13, 2008 by rickety 4 Comments

When we put Bryson on the floor he woke up but didn't cry

Bryson on the couch so I can get a better angle for the photographs

Derek and Sarah came by our house to eat with us on Sunday. They brought Bryson, who was born last Monday, along and I took the opportunity to take a few photographs. A six day old baby doesn’t move very much and his head is a little rickety so there is a limited amount of photography available. We also had to wait until he woke up. I mentioned that I have never heard Bryson cry and her parents said he would cry if you put him on the floor. I tried that but he didn’t cry. I think I’m going to like this baby.

I have placed online a high res (2.6 MB) image of Bryson.

Bryson at six days old

The flash photography was bugging Bryson but he didn't complain

General Conference Quiz

October 12, 2008 by rickety Leave a Comment

Temple Square in Salt Lake City
For those who watched General Conference last week it is time to see how well you were really listening. Allowance can be made for a rickety memory but you might be surprised how much you can recall. There are quotes from conference talks below, sometimes just a few words, for you to see if you can identify the speaker. Give it your best guess and then point your mouse over the word Speaker and see if you got the correct answer. Twenty questions, all from Saturday sessions of conference.

Arms of safety. Speaker Talk
Brethren, may we cease to aspire and cease to retire! Speaker Talk
The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church. Speaker Talk
As I prayed, the feeling came: “You don’t know everything, but you know enough!” Speaker Talk
There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. Jesus Christ is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way is madness. Speaker Talk
They covet a crown or a cave. Speaker Talk
First, learn what we should learn. Second, do what we should do. And third, be what we should be. Speaker Talk
One evening, when my wife and I were away, our children’s babysitter, intrigued by the prayer she heard them saying, asked them this question: “But what is the difference between your religion and mine?” The reply from our eight-year-old daughter was immediate: “It’s almost the same, except that we study a lot more than you do!” Speaker Talk
Missionary work is the lifeblood of the Church. There is no greater work, no more important work. It blesses the lives of all those who participate in it. It will continue blessing future generations. Speaker Talk
Lift Where You Stand. Speaker Talk
Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result. Speaker Talk
The answer is simple: it was because my father read the Book of Mormon. Speaker Talk
Our present day is filled with global distress over financial crises, energy problems, terrorist attacks, and natural calamities. These translate into individual and family concerns not only about homes in which to live and food available to eat but also about the ultimate safety and well-being of our children and the latter-day prophecies about our planet. Speaker Talk
In our families and in our stakes and districts, let us seek to build up Zion through unity, godliness, and charity, preparing for that great day when Zion, the New Jerusalem, will arise. Speaker Talk
In our search to obtain relief from the stresses of life, may we earnestly seek ways to simplify our lives. Speaker Talk
The Savior is the perfect example of praying for others with real intent. In His great Intercessory Prayer uttered on the night before His Crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His Apostles and all of the Saints. Speaker Talk
He is pleased with the noble servant, not with the self-serving noble. Speaker Talk
You may have thought then, “Once I finish my mission, being a faithful priesthood holder will get easier.” But in a few years you found yourself getting even less sleep at night, while trying to support a wife and a new baby, being kind and loving, scrambling to get some education, reaching out to the members of your elders quorum, perhaps even helping them to move their furniture, and trying to find time to serve your ancestors in the temple. You may have kept a smile on your face with the thought: “When I get a little older, being a faithful priesthood holder will not require so much. It will get easier.” Speaker Talk
Along the way the train stopped occasionally to get supplies. One night during one of these stops, my mother hurried out of the train to search for some food for her four children. When she returned, to her great horror, the train and her children were gone! Speaker Talk
Therefore, as a husband or son, express gratitude for what your wife and mother do for you. Express your love and gratitude often. That will make life far richer, more pleasant and purposeful for many of the daughters of Father in Heaven who seldom hear a complimentary comment and are not thanked for the multitude of things they do. Speaker Talk

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Utah Temples Tour: Logan, Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake

October 11, 2008 by rickety 7 Comments

Spencer, Jake, and Daniel relaxing on the way to the Ogden Temple

Logan Temple

After a lot of talk and a little bit of planning the Utah Temples Tour actually got underway today. I rose at 4am, showered, and then awoke Paul, Jake, and Daniel. We stopped by to get Spencer a few minutes after 5am and headed for the Logan Temple. Now the neat thing about an early morning session is that you can’t miss the temple in the dark. It is on a hill and well lit. Which is just as well because we went past our turn. But no worries, we knew right away. We entered the waiting room just as the 6:30am session was due to start. When we left the temple I took photographs around the temple grounds. There was a cold wind blowing as a storm moved in. The boys are hungry after a session — this is a really curious phenomenon — even though they are sitting 98% of the time. We were going to eat at Burger King but Paul complained, “They don’t have sausage egg McMuffins!” We ended up at McDonald’s.

The angel Moroni atop the Ogden Temple

Ogden Temple

We headed out to the Ogden Temple to catch the 10:40am session. Jill called to say she would meet us there. Jill being with me at the temple reminded me of over 28 years ago when we were married for time and eternity in the Ogden Temple. The ceremony was short and simple but the result was very powerful. Knowing that you are bound to each other forever makes you try a little harder in your marriage. You are also more likely to be open to be guided by correct principles. Anyway, back to today. Either our session started early or the session that we ran into started late. As we neared the end of our session we had to wait ten minutes for another session to finish. That must have really made the boys hungry.

Bountiful Temple

Next it was the Bountiful Temple for the five of us. Jill left to take care of the grocery shopping — it is nice to have someone responsible in the family. We hoped to get some photographs but by the time of our 2pm session it was snowing. After the session of course it was time to eat. We ate at the temple cafeteria and finalized our plan to push on to the Salt Lake Temple.

Salt Lake Temple

We took our photographs of the Salt Lake Temple before going into the 6pm session. Fortunately there was a lull in the storm though it was quite cold. This session made four in all which is a record for me for one day. When I used to travel overnight to the London Temple the members of the stake I was with used to do three sessions in a row. Over the years since then all I ever did was one session. That was because the temple was just down the road so I could go more often. Today we got home at 8:30pm after a successful start to our Utah Temples Tour. By taking in the Salt Lake Temple we jumped one temple ahead so that on Tuesday we will go straight to to the Jordan River Temple.

The Salt Lake Temple at night

Update

The Utah Temples Tour continues on Tuesday.
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Taking Stock of my Personal Finances

October 10, 2008 by rickety 2 Comments

Market Losses

Several bloggers have been posting about the effects of the recent rickety stock market on their finances and giving advice. I am appreciative of this, it helps to see how others are faring — I might learn something. So it is time for me to do the same and perhaps you may pick up something of use. Today for the first time in months I checked the status of my retirement account. For the last three years I have been invested in the 2020 Lifecycle Fund (L Fund) which, according to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) website, works like this:

The L Funds provide you with a convenient way to diversify your account among the G, F, C, S, and I Funds, using professionally determined investment mixes that are tailored to different time horizons. Your “time horizon” is the date (after you leave Federal service) that you think you will need the money in your TSP account. Because it is important for each L Fund to maintain its target investment mix, the TSP will automatically rebalance each L Fund daily. Then, each quarter, the investments in each L Fund will shift to a slightly more conservative mix. In addition, experts will review the investment mixes periodically to be sure they are still appropriate.

So the L Funds include a mix of all available funds:

Government Securities Investment (G) Fund.
Fixed Income Index Investment (F) Fund.
Common Stock Index Investment (C) Fund.
Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment (S) Fund.
International Stock Index Investment (I) Fund.

As you can see I am well diversified. In the recent stock market declines the G and F funds held steady while the C, S, and I funds took a pounding. For the quarter ending 30th September I had a loss of $16,663.71 which also includes money contributed. Not bad. But from 1st October to 9th October I had an additional decline of $31,665.27. So even a diversified account is getting hammered. When the roof falls in it takes about everything with it. However, it is not all bad news. For 2006 the L 2020 earned 13.72% and in 2007 6.87%. As of yesterday those earnings approximately equal the losses.

Other Funds

I recently reported on Prosper where I now have 34 loans earning an average of 17.5%. While the stock market is causing grief throughout the land with seven days of triple digit declines, my Prosper loans serenely cruise along with not one point of return disturbed. Of course I plan for defaults but I haven’t had any yet.

Where to put one’s petty cash? I have mine earning 6.01% in rewards checking accounts at Coulee Bank and 5.01% in Lee County Bank and Trust (the rate was reduced from 6.01% today). I’ve not understood why more people don’t take advantage of a FDIC insured rewards checking account that pays this high of an interest rate. Of course I also have a local bank and credit union.

My Plans

My plans now are to the leave my L Funds as they are and continue to contribute the maximum amount. As soon as the stock market settles down there will be a flood of money coming back into stocks. Then we will see a number of triple digit increases.

I plan to wait a few weeks and watch how Loanio progresses and either invest some money there or in Prosper. I will look around for another bank to replace Lee County Bank and Trust. I think the minimum rate for a rewards checking account should be 6%, considering the monthly requirements that are demanded.

As far as spending is concerned I will continue as normal. What is normal? For me it is conservative but not spartan. That’s about it — business as usual. And if you’ll excuse me for tonight, I have a retirement fund I want to check again.

Update

1 Mar 2009 I did indeed leave the L funds as they are and continued to contribute the maximum amount. Recently I put new contributions into the G fund. Loanio and Prosper went into “quiet periods” so I put money into Lending Club instead. Lee County Bank dropped their rate to 3% so I joined my local Deseret First Credit Union to earn 5%. I continue to spend as normal, which wouldn’t even bring a mouse out of recession.

Proposition 8 and the LDS Church

October 9, 2008 by rickety 3 Comments

A Challenge

The latest challenge to traditional marriage is from Jonathan Lewis, a political activist and entrepreneur from Ohio, who has challenged Hollywood to donate to fight Proposition 8. Lewis said in a statement:

With Election Day five weeks away, we are concerned that the entertainment industry hasn’t stepped up to the plate to fight this unnecessary initiative. My family and I are issuing a $500,000 challenge to the entertainment industry. We will match the next half-million dollars that entertainment industry leaders contribute.

Meanwhile Ron Prentice, Chairman of Protest Marriage, says:

Our powerful first ad, featuring San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsroom, has been viewed tens of thousands of times online, and has helped raise nearly $200,000 from our online supporters. Please watch the ad and keep the momentum going by sending a message to Proposition 8’s Hollywood opponents.

Protect Marriage Fund Raising

Since July 1st. the Yes on 8 campaign has raised about $22.8 million as of Tuesday 7th October. More than 62,000 Californians have contributed their financial support to pass Proposition 8. About two-thirds of all donations received have been $100 or less. Ninety-five percent of all donations have come from within California. The latest YES on Proposition 8 campaign finance report was over 5,000 pages, so large that the office of the California Secretary of State needed extra time to load the report onto their Web site.

[Read more…]

Kaysville City Fire Station Openhouse

October 8, 2008 by rickety 4 Comments

Kaysville City fire engines at the openhouse

Openhouse

Today was the Kaysville City’s Fire Station Openhouse. Jill and I went along to tour the fire station. It is in no aspect a rickety structure as it is built to withstand earthquakes — a very handy quality in a building. Fire engines can’t put out many fires if they are buried under a mountain of rubble. We took a look at the fire engines and I climbed inside of one. I’ve never had any desire to be fireman but I am glad they are around.

Inside the fire station

The Fire Department

The fire department is responsible for fire emergencies and fire safety. The department has medical technicians and paramedics who have advanced first aid or crash injury management certifications. The fire department is convinced that a smoke detector on each level of the home cuts the chance of dying in half if there is a fire. The Kaysville Fire Department will test, change batteries, and install your smoke detectors free of charge. Remember also that a number on the front of the house, where it is easily seen, could provide a quicker emergency response time.

UHP Seat Belt Convincer

The Utah Highway Patrol’s Seat Belt Convincer was in attendance though I didn’t stay to try it out. The Convincer features two separate single-occupancy carriages atop a 26-foot flatbed trailer. The steel frame carriages, which bear a resemblance to Jeeps, have drive trains that allow them to collide with each other at a speed of 5 mph. Typically, wrecks happen at 30-35 mph and if the seat belt is tugging at you this hard at 5 mph, you can then imagine how hard it would be in a crash. The new Convincer was a senior project designed and built by a group of Weber State University engineering students.

Life Flight

An Intermountain Life Flight helicopter landed on the road to the rear of the station and some of the children got to climb inside. I was surprised how strong the wind was from the rotors as the helicopter landed. I wasn’t standing very far away and I had difficulty holding my camera. Intermountain Life Flight began service on July 6, 1978, the 7th air medical transport program in the U.S. and has transported 52,546 patients since it began.

Life Flight landing at Kaysville City fire station

Utah Temples Tour Update

October 7, 2008 by rickety 2 Comments

The Tour

I am finalizing the Utah Temples Tour. We begin on Saturday 11th. October. I will be blogging via Rickety for each of the four days if you care to follow the tour online. Those definitely going are my sons Paul, Jake, and Dan, Dan’s friend Spencer, and myself. That makes five so we have room for two more in the minivan. My wife is staying behind to help Sarah with Bryson. I have the gas budgeted and two rooms in Monticello taken care of. So there you go, most of the cost is taken care of but you will be expected to buy your own souvenirs. :)

The Details

You can get an idea of the tour by reading the posts from August and September. However there are changes that are reflected in the table below. We will visit 13 temples in 4 days, completing sessions in 11, and traveling 1,526 miles. As a bonus the Sullivan family have requested we take some of their family names with us. On checking the session times it was interesting to find that Provo and Vernal have Monday sessions. Monticello I had to call and they have sessions during the week at 10am, 12 noon, 5pm, and 7pm. What’s the deal here, do they take really long lunches? They also have no clothing rental or cafeteria so it can’t be that they are doing the laundry or cooking the food. I’m getting spoiled living by all these large temples. Anyway, it prompted Jake to go and acquire temple clothes of his own.

Utah Temples Tour
Date	Temples	Start	Finish	Miles	Map	Notes
Oct 11	3	Kaysville	Kaysville	154	Map
Oct 14	5	Kaysville	Kaysville	125	Map
Oct 15	3	Kaysville	Monticello	499	Map	Stay over
Oct 16	2	Monticello	Kaysville	748	Map

Derek, Sarah, and Bryson

October 6, 2008 by rickety 7 Comments

Jill holding Bryson at the hospital

It was a happy day as Bryson Henry Moss came into the world. Finally you can call me Grandpa Rickety. Here is how it all happened. Sarah had been having some labor pains Thursday so we were expecting an early arrival. On Friday morning Derek sent an email to Jill that read:

He was born last night!
Bryson Henry Moss, 7 lbs, 6 oz, 21 inches long!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations Grandma!!!!!!

It turns out he was just kidding so on Sunday Jill was skeptical when this text message arrived at 10:32pm:

We’re in the hospital. They are going to start her in probably a couple of hours. We’ll spend the night and probably have the baby some time in the morning.

Jill called Derek to see if he was joking again. This time it was the real thing. We went to sleep. Well, I did but Jill was too excited and she stayed up awhile longer. I told her to go to sleep, the baby isn’t going anywhere. Jill and I had already arranged to be off work on Monday because Sarah was going to be started today anyway. The following text messages arrived from Derek to keep us posted on the birth:

5:13am — She just had the eperderal put in. Jill texted: Dilated to what? Derek: Don’t know but she’s doing great now.
6:49am — She is at a 4, the doctor is here.
6:53am — Jill texted: Is the water broken? Derek: I think the doctor just broke it.
9:30am — She is at a 7 now.
11:13am — 9.
11:14am — Jill texted: Is the doctor there? Derek: No. He’s delivering another baby.
11:29am — She’s going to start pushing in a couple of minutes.
12:13pm — 8 lbs. 13 oz., 22 inches.

Bryson Henry Moss born 12:05pm., 8 lbs. 13 oz., 22 inches.

Congratulations Sarah and Derek. In a few days check Derek’s blog for some baby snaps.
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