Sez O'Grady: Skype

Sez O'Grady: Skype

Skype

Skype Call Recorder

Riviera for Skype is a Skype call recorder. It automatically records Skype calls and conversations to MP3 files.
Very convenient for recording interviews, tech talks, conferences, audio casts, pod casts for learning later, etc.

Leaving

This is an article I wrote about leaving Wynnum. It tells why I left and where I am.

So I’m leaving. I’ve been packing. Tonight my back is breaking, my legs are stiff, my head is up there or maybe it’s down there and I am wondering what I am doing packing to shift to the other side of this big, brown continent at the age of seventy. I ask you, is this really necessary? It would seem so to take over a house recently vacated by the dearly departed ex-husband who has crossed the great divide and left this...mess that has been inherited by the four sons we shared from our matrimonial stakes. They needed help they said, so I am leaving. What do I take? What do I leave behind? Does it really matter? Oh, yes, there are grandchildren to think about. There are all those containers full of precious historical bits and pieces that were their great grands. Oh yes, there are the photographs the sons want submitted to the Stockman’s Hall of Fame. The ex that is, not me. I wasn’t a bucking, dungaree-clad horsewoman. I never got that far in the outback stakes, thanks to his nibs. His photographs, not mine. Well you see, the ex in our very young-in-love days before matrimony decided he would teach me to ride. I sat the horse like a pro and he didn’t like that. So he decided he would teach me to shoot and I cleaned up all the cans laid along the stockyard rail. He didn’t like that either, for I had bested him. I neglected to tell him that my beloved stepfather had taught me to sit a horse and the rules of handling a .22 and a .303 when as a teenager and I went scrap-iron hunting with him out amongst the old goldfields diggings. Stockwoman extraordinaire and Dead Shot Brown I was then, the O’Grady came later. Sorry husband-to-be and that was the end of any grandiose scheme I might have had about ridin’ and shootin’. Jealous bugger.
So why am I packing and moving? It’s a challenge. A filthy house awaits me. It’s full of boxes and baggage stacked everywhere. It’s full of junk and daddy long-legged spiders. It’s got an overgrown back and front yard that who knows what is lurking there. It’s got old bombs, the kind that ‘might make something of it one day’ look. The ex collected them. Like he did car parts. I’m curious. What is hidden amongst all that junk? There are more photographs I know. There is stuff there from when I was married to him. There are photographs of the ‘oldies’ on that side of the family. And there will be more aching backs, stiff legs, a head up in the clouds or down under facing me and an opportunity to find the truth. The truth you say? Oh, yes. He was a great romancer of the truth, twisting it around till it scarce resembled what it had been and having everyone believe it was gospel, didn’t you know? He ‘taught’ me to cook, wash and clean house. Me! The eldest of a family of eight kids. Bragging bugger! A son said Dad wanted me to move in after he had gone. No rent. Now that is something to think about, being a poor, miserable pensioner pretending to be a writer. What do you mean pretend? I am! The ex was cunning though as I would seek the truth amongst grotty and anciently deteriorating papers that were stacked in deteriorating cartons. He also knew I would clean all his messes and junk up that he had been too lazy to do himself and rescue what was worthwhile. Men! Some mothers had ‘em! And she did the same thing to me when she died! Mother-in-laws...er...the ex-type. So I’m going, saying goodbye to my writing buddies, to my friends, to my way of life. Hey, hang on there! There are my bush poetry and other poetry friends over the other side of this big brown continent. There is a lot of my family over there. But I have family here too. Oh gloom. Another box taped down, another box prepared. Time to take the aching body, stiff legs and silly head to bed. I’m going and that’s that. Good night!

Moving

I have moved from Wynnum, Queensland to Western Australia and am living in Kelmscott. It has taken nearly three weeks to get my system connected to bring in the outside world, and now, after many prayers, patience and hassles (urk), I've finally made it. Accessing my email was to find a delightful message from my friend in Penn Valley, California, who has started a blog about the adventures of the Young family and I am thrilled to be a follower, as I hope Allison will be for mine. This is a great way to let friends and family know what we are up to. My next goal is to visit the Perth Temple when it reopens next week.

President Thomas S Monson

A helmet found in the horrifying mess after the collapse of one of the twin towers
What he said to the Washington post regarding 9/11 which is two days from now to remember the horror of terrorists act ten years ago. It is a gentle reminder to seek the Lord and follow Him, to have faith in Him. Many turned to God after the destruction, but gradually many are falling away again. People soon forget their God.

The calamity of September 11th, 2001 has cast a long shadow. Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts. It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world. This week, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, along with Tom Brokaw, will pay its own homage to the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001
There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.
Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well.
Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change.
But we are less faithful than He is. By nature we are vain, frail, and foolish. We sometimes neglect God. Sometimes we fail to keep the commandments that He gives us to make us happy. Sometimes we fail to commune with Him in prayer. Sometimes we forget to succor the poor and the downtrodden who are also His children. And our forgetfulness is very much to our detriment.
If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.
The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly “need Him every hour,” not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.
It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm.

Thomas S. Monson is president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

WashingtonDC Temple

The beautiful Washington DC Temple that had damaged spires after the earthquake

The damaged spire shown by Scott Trotter
An earthquake on the 5,8 Richter scale was felt on the east coast of America, a rarity. The Washington Temple lost some of its spires as the news blurb states, but no damage inside or elsewhere. The Lord and His angels were no doubt very busy during the quake for their were other Temples in the area including the one on New York

KENSINGTON, MD. — Tuesday's earthquake caused "minor damage" to the Washington, D.C., Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the temple's spires and facade were damaged during the earthquake.
"There was no damage to the temple interior and no injuries were reported," Trotter said. "The temple remains operational."
Area resident Douglas Wiggins told the LDS Church News that the tips broke off of four of the temple's six spires. The tip on one of the remaining two spires was bent.
In nearby Washington, D.C., the National Cathedral experienced similar impact, with its central tower and three of its four corner spires sustaining damage in the earthquake that registered a magnitude 5.8 and was centered 40 miles northwest of Richmond, Va.

Man and Woman for marriage

19th August 2011 I sent off an email to Ross Vasta stating that I wanted to keep the definition of marriage as it is when they voting goes to the senate next week. I also signed the petition. Marriage definition is a union between a man and a woman for life and I explained that this is important for our nation, our people and our children.

man+wife4life!
In Brief:
Late last year the Federal Parliament passed a Greens’ motion calling on MPs to consult with their constituents on whether Australia should introduce same-sex marriage. The motion is putting enormous pressure on the Gillard Government to renege on its election promise to keep marriage between a man and a woman. It is vital we show politicians that there are a large number of people who do not want marriage redefined.
Action:
Sign the petition in support of marriage;
•Email your member of parliament to say marriage has too many benefits for children and society to be redefined;
•Ring your MP's office to voice your concern (contact details are available by clicking here - if you do not know your electorate please click here); and,
•Preferably, make an appointment to visit your MP.
Please take action straight away!
The details:
The Greens are pressuring the Gillard Government to renege on its election promise to preserve marriage. Sadly, some Government MPs have bowed to this pressure.
A Greens' motion was passed in Parliament in the last sitting period of 2010 calling on members to consult with their electorates on the issue of same-sex marriage. While this looks democratic on the part of the Greens, their real intent is to build pressure for undermining marriage. Please make use of this ‘consultation’ to tell your local MP that marriage is too important to society to be redefined.
If marriage is redefined, as it has been in Canada, the next push will be for marriage to include polygamous relationships, as is currently being tested in a court in Canada.
This is the most important year ever for Australian marriage. Your courageous and active participation in the debate will ensure the law continues to reflect the complementary and natural reality of the male-female marital union.
:: so what now? | how to get involved

1 | your say | send a pollie_mail 2 | strength in numbers | sign petition
3 | shape opinions | letters to the editor 4 | get_informed | more info
:: sign our petition | join the groundswell
wepetition | To the Honourable President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled:

The petition of the undersigned shows:
On November 15th 2010 in the House of Representatives the following motion was passed: “This House calls on all parliamentarians, consistent with their duties as representatives, to gauge their constituents' views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same sex couples including marriage". This petition is a response to that motion.

Your petitioners ask/request that the Senate:

Note that the undersigned support the current definition of marriage as outlined in the Marriage Act 1961 namely: “marriage means the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”, and that we call upon the Senate to act in defence of this definition of marriage and not to permit recognition of any other form of relationship to be considered equal to marriage as defined above

Scripture study

Jane's keen on Scripture study then applying her findings in her life, as I am in mine. Scripture study is a wonderful way of learning about our Lord and Saviour and what He requires from us. We strive to emulate Him, follow Him and learn of Him. We strive as sisters in Zion, Heavenly Father's mothers in Zion, as elect ladies, His special daughters, to do all that is required of us

Jane's story:
I read all the cross references to Revelation. Then Gifts. The diligence, which quickly became heed and diligence.
Now I am reading Charity. Because I thought I needed more or it. I could see an attitude adjustment was needed.
But something happened to the reading. I got so busy doing the charity, being charitable in word and deed I forgot to read.
I can tell, as my notebook is open with the day and date of the last time I sat and read my scriptures.And it is not yesterday.
I can report though, great success in the change in my heart. And surely that is the desired outcome. Yes the scripture reading has to be there, but if it causes no change what’s the point.
I am sure I need more charity, I mean, who doesn’t? But for now I am going to move on to a new subject. I am considering Gratitude, blessings. thankfulness. That kind fo thing.
Because of late I have been Greatly Blessed. In small (what’s small really?) significant ways.
Abundantly.

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Well done!

By: ogradycm on August 14, 2011
at 8:50 PM
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Another priesthood holder, so very young, has gone

So very sad. Heavenly Father must want this Preisthood holder for a wise and glorious purpose in the Celestial Kingdom. An unmarried returned missionary dedicated to his work of helping to bring democracy to troubled nations and getting rid of the hated and notorious terrorist Osam Bin Laden. Workman';s honour and glory are eternal. May his family be strenthened at this sad lost and may the samll town of Branding be strong and never forget her heroes. They have lost three young men so far. I have cried reading this article

BLANDING, San Juan County — Jason Workman knew since he was a young boy that he wanted to be a Navy SEAL.
He knew the odds of making the elite fighting force were slim. Workman not only accomplished his goal, but he also became a member of the elite Navy SEAL Team 6.
Saturday, Petty Officer First Class Jason Workman, 32, was among the 31 Americans killed, including 22 members of SEAL Team 6, when their helicopter was shot down by insurgents in Afghanistan.

Sept. 7, 2010
Members of the SEAL Team 6 were responsible for killing Osama bin Laden.

Sunday, the small southern Utah town of Blanding, where flags flew at half staff, was in mourning over the loss of their hometown hero. The town of about 3,000 people has already lost two other servicemen in the war.
"This community loved what this young man was doing for us, as well as our other soldiers are doing for us," said Blanding Mayor Toni Turk.
Workman was a man that even if residents hadn't personally met, they were proud to call him one of their own.
"We are so proud of someone like Jason being from a small town to become an elite special forces soldier," said his childhood friend Tate Bennett.
Workman was a star athlete in Blanding, playing high school football, baseball and basketball, reaching All-State status in at least two of those sports. He was also a strong swimmer and competed in triathlons, Bennett said.
But what made Workman a hero to many, Bennett said, was how well-rounded he was.
"He was not only real good athlete and real popular kid, but he was pretty academic. He took a lot of AP classes. He was just really, really well-rounded. He was very personable, very out going."
"He would do anything to help the guy across the table from him," said family friend Rick Eldredge. "He would give you the shirt off his back. He was just willing to do anything for anybody and he's proven by giving his life to this country."
Workman was the youngest of four brothers. Bennett remembered when Workman's older brother graduated from West Point when he was about 14, he was adamant even then that he was going to grow up to become a Navy SEAL.
The other time he remembers Workman being vocal about his conviction to be a SEAL was right after the Sept. 11 attack.
After going on a LDS mission to Brazil (which he finished in Philadelphia due to illness) he went to Southern Utah University and later enlisted with the U.S. Navy.
"He was doing it for sole purpose of becoming a SEAL," Bennett said Workman told him.
Bennett said that Workman knew the odds of becoming a Navy SEAL were slim. But he was determined to make it.
"Not making it just wasn't an option," Workman said. "He didn't become a Navy SEAL by chance. He knew that's what he wanted at a young age and made it happen."
Bennett recalled Workman always had "some crazy story" about the kind of training SEAL prospects were put through.
Once he became a SEAL, Bennett said it was his understanding that Workman's speciality was in explosives.
But he admitted he didn't even know Workman was part of the Team 6 until recently.
Even if Workman had not accomplished his goal of becoming a Navy SEAL, Bennett said he "would have been a hero for somebody in some other aspect, like a firefighter or law enforcement."
Bennett believes that Workman thought his purpose in life was to serve and help others. He was big, strong and smart and, "recognized that his gift was best used in helping other people."
Workman returned to his hometown nine months ago to train area police and deputies, and was planning to return in December to do some more training
Workman is survived by his wife and 21-month-old son who live in Virginia.
The Workman family released a statement thanking everyone for their prayers and support.
"Jason had been in the service for almost 8 years. He loved his job and was great at it. Jason was the Best of the Best. Jason was admired by so many and will be dearly missed," the family said in their prepared statement.
The family said Workman would be buried later this week in Arlington National Cemetery.

Susan Dayley

What’s out your backdoor? asks Susan Dayley
All I can see out my back door Susan is rooftops and trees with a vast sky overhead. Its out my front door the view can be interesting, for here I catch interesting scenes of the heavy rain that pelts down at times, of the sunsets if I'm lucky, and my neighbours hi-set homes, the green of the verge and lawn, red of the geranium, and views of some of my potplants. I would dearly love to look out either door and see mountains, Heavenly Father's most marvelous creations.






















Susan's Tokyo Mountains
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. –Psalm 121:1
He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
Rocky Mountain High
–John Denver

5 Pictures and less than 200 Words.
by susandayley on July 22, 2011
I’m a mountain person. I love looking toward the horizon and seeing them. I love how they draw my eyes upward with promises.
One time I visited a Japanese garden just beyond our hotel in the middle of Tokyo. I looked over the green barrier of the shrubbery to the steel and glass vertical city mountains just beyond. The view confused me. When I lived in Texas, I loved the people and the adventure, but I felt lost in a land without mountains rising on the horizon.
I took the pictures below “out my backdoor.” They are my view north, east and south. To the west is a mound called West Mountain. Somebody from “back east” must have named it. I prefer to think of it as the “hill to the west.” (Actually I don’t think of it much.) I didn’t take its picture.

Robin Mills and Warrawagine Station

Robin and his wife Lyle have been very good friends for many years. Their move to Warrawagine from their farm in Watheroo provided an opening for me to do my Honours and then Doctoral Degree. The first was based solely on Warrawagine and its history, the second covered part of it and six major river basins in Western Australia's vast North West. Their son Chris has been a long time friend of my own sons since the days of Cubs in Watheroo when I was Akela. Robin is in the news frequently, being outspoken on many issues, and he an Lyle are very caring, loving and concerned people, well aware of the tragedies that can unfold in the bush and doing their best to alleviate suffering. Below are several articles related to Robin and his family.

Camel action plan devised - Sally Barker
A new action plan to control feral camel numbers has been developed by delegates at a feral camel conference in Alice Springs this week. The plan is to raise awareness of the feral camel problem and set up an accredited abattoir in the Northern Territory to help reduce the numbers. It's estimated around 600-thousand camels are now roaming around the rangelands and numbers expected to double in eight years. The camels cause untold ecologically damage and smash toilets and bores in order to get to water. Robin Mills from Warrawagine Station in East Pilbara says the action plan is a step in the right direction. He says, "I think the key point was that everybody is aware of the fact that the numbers are escalating out of control, and that we'll have to look at control methods. The initial hope is that we can create a harvesting method whereby they can be utilised and not just shot and wasted sort of thing." The action plan will be sent to federal and state governments for comment.
Robin Mills, Warrawagine Station in east Pilbara

Northern WA too wet to muster
An example of the challenges for WA farmers...while those in the south grapple with drought, several pastoralists in the state's NORTH have had to stop mustering due to torrential rain .
Robin Mills from Warrawagine Station in the Pilbara, says they've measured about 90 millimetres in the last five days.
The unseasonal rain's left trucks bogged, and put the muster back by a fortnight.
Robin Mills: The two trucks are still stranded on the flats just out from the homestead. Their tyres are sort of sitting in about four inches of water at this stage, with mud all round. We've had to let the cattle out, we can't handle them while it's wet. So yeah, it's put a bit of a dampener on things.

Award recognises Pilbara aid
Posted May 19, 2003 11:41:00
A man from the Pilbara, in Western Australia's north-west, has been awarded a prestigious police certificate for his role in saving the lives of two people stranded north-east of Marble Bar two weeks ago.
Warrawagine Station manager Robin Mills was presented with the award by the Assistant Police Commissioner after he found the tourists who had blown all their car's tyres trying to cross rugged terrain.
Mr Mills and his sons used a helicopter to find the missing pair, and supplied them with food and water, a satellite telephone and equipment to fix their four-wheel drive.
Mr Mills says he has been involved in two other rescue efforts in recent years, but says he is not a hero.
"Anybody that's in that position would do the same thing. It's just we're the last station before the desert and it just seems to be an area where that's happened," he said.
"It may not happen again for many years but, I mean, any person would have done what we've done. You don't want to see people stranded out there and I guess one day somebody will come to our rescue."

12 January, 2010 12:01PM AWSTCleaning up Cyclone Laurence
By Lana Reed Cyclone Laurence may have knocked Wallal Downs, Eighty Mile and Mandora down...but it didn't knock them out!
Cyclone Laurence spent eleven days in the Kimberley and four days in the Pilbara before dying out on the 23rd of December, 2009.
It dumped over 600mm of rain, crushed homesteads and buildings like they were cardboard boxes, saw hundreds of cattle perished and put the damage bill into the millions.
Wallal Downs, Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park and Mandora Station took a direct hit as Cyclone Laurence crossed the coast as a Category Five system.
Sandfire Roadhouse was also damaged.
The clean up of Cyclone Laurence will continue for months to come.
ABC North West and ABC Kimberley went down to see the devastation first hand.

. Local hero awarded medal
http://www.abc.net.au/media-resource-id-261424. Robin Mills, Geoff Mills, and Ian Walton who rescued two truck drivers from the Nullagine River in the Pilbara. ... Warrawagine Station owner Robin Mills. Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16: 56: 00 0800.
Station owners rescue trapped truck drivers
Updated June 14, 2008 13:52:00
Two truck drivers have been rescued after their rigs were trapped in rising waters in the Nullagine River in the Western Australian Pilbara.
Three trucks were carrying manganese from a mine east of Marble Bar when their drivers tried to cross the rain-swollen river about 4:00am today.
One of the drivers abandoned his truck and made it to the river bank, but the other two were stranded.
Police were called out, as were the owners of a nearby family-run outback station.
Robin Mills owns the nearby station.
His son Geoff drove 180 kilometres to reach the site where he used a jet ski to tow the drivers to safety because the river was too turbulent.
Meanwhile, Mr Mills had used a helicopter to reach the men.
"The second guy - the one that was sitting on the side of the tipper - he was pretty distressed with hypothermia so we were able to lower out of the helicopter thermal blankets and a little two-way radio so that he could talk to us and at least he knew what we were doing," he said.
The two rescued drivers were taken to hospital suffering hypothermia.
Police have praised Geoff Mills, saying he took his own life in his hands to rescue the two men.

Cardo Stud

I spent ten years with my husband and family on this great stud farm. Glen Keamy was an exceptional and caring boss for my husband to work for, and always considered me as his wife. My job was to watch for rain and pelt for the stud ram shed to shut the door to keep the expensive little darlings dry. I would see them lined up at the door, white faces turned to where I was coming from, expressions definitely telling me to hurry up. They were pampered, spoilt, always had their faces washed and a heater to keep them warm in the winter, with fans in the summer. They were expensive and well-bred pedigrees carrying beautiful, fine wool.

The West Australian had this to say about him:
When it comes to merinos, Glen Keamy can only say they have been his life's work.
Mr Keamy, who received a Medal of the Order of Australia, said he was "proud and honoured" to receive the accolade for services to the stud merino industry and local government.
The former Wesley College student grew up on the family's Cardo merino stud, near Watheroo, north of Perth.
As a boy, his earliest memories were conversations about merinos, but he could not have imagined that a lifelong obsession would take him all over the world and earn him international recognition.
He is a former president of the Australian Association of Stud Merino breeders and was president of the World Federation of Merino Breeders.
Mr Keamy said his many years on the Shire of Moora had given him a "great opportunity" to contribute to his local community.

Temple growth

The Church is growing, slowly growing, across the face of the earth. Indeed in these historic times we are witnessing the spreading of the Gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. I am truly blessed to be here now.

LDS Church announces 'hopes' to build new temple in France
Published: Friday, July 15, 2011 4:01 p.m. MDT By Joseph Walker, Deseret News
In 2004, President Gordon B. Hinckley visited Latter-day Saints in France as part of a 10-day European tour during which the Copenhagen Denmark Temple was dedicated. During a meeting in Paris, the LDS Church News reported that he told the French Saints they were "worthy of the richest blessings of the Church."
"I wish I could announce that we could have a temple here, but we do not have a suitable place yet, in my judgment, to build it," President Hinckley said. "So we will continue to look. I don't know when it will be built, but I am confident that that we will have a temple for the French-speaking people of the church sometime in the future.
"Sometime in the future" is closer now.
In a departure from recent tradition, LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson today announced that the church "hopes" to build its first temple in France on property on the outskirts of Paris.
"Customarily, new temples are announced by the president of the church at one of the church's general conferences, after local government building approvals and property acquisition have been secured," church officials noted in a prepared statement. "Although the local government approval process for the French temple is still under way, French newspapers are already reporting church plans to build at Le Chesnay, near Versailles, and this prompted today's announcement."
Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the church has been working for many months with local officials.
"There have been several previous attempts to find a suitable site for a French temple, but none were finalized," Trotter said. "French members of the church wishing to visit a temple usually travel to those in neighboring European countries."
Trotter indicated that additional details on the new temple will be presented as they become available.
The long-awaited announcement of a temple is just the most recent development in the LDS Church's 162-year history in France. Although there is earlier mention of sending missionaries to France, the first mission of the LDS Church there was organized in 1849. As was the case in so many European missions, the earliest Mormon missionaries met with considerable resistance, and church growth was slow. At one point the mission was closed for several decades, and wasn't re-opened until 1912.
A unique chapter of LDS Church history in France was the so-called "Paris Art Mission." In 1890, five young artists — John Hafen, Lorus Pratt, John B. Fairbanks, Edwin Evans and Herman Haag — were called as "art missionaries" and sent to study at the Julian Academy in Paris, where they honed their skills in preparation for painting the vast murals in the Salt Lake Temple. That "missionary" effort was, by all accounts, eminently successful.
Church growth in France increased significantly after World War II. The first stake in France was organized in Paris in 1975. Twenty-one years later more than 28,000 members of the church in France were divided into seven stakes. Today there are more than 35,000 Latter-day Saints in France in nine stakes, 57 wards, 54 branches, two districts and two missions.
And now, in the very near future, there will be a temple to serve them all.
Article links

•leParisien article on LDS Church temple in France
From the archive
•Fort Collins LDS temple site announced – July 8, 2011
•Open house begins Friday for San Salvador El Salvador LDS temple – June 29, 2011
•President Monson presides over groundbreaking for Mormon temple in Rome – Oct. 23, 2010
•President Thomas S. Monson opens Mormon conference by announcing 5 new temples – Oct. 2, 2010
•LDS temple in Ukraine given 'to the Lord' – Aug. 29, 2010
"And so, my brothers and sisters, I ask you to be patient for a time," he continued. "Sometime in the future a beautiful house of the Lord will grace this land."

72 hour kit

A writer and contributor from Utah made suggestions for these extra items be included in one's 72. We in our Ward have been doing just that for a number of years, ever since I was called the first time as Welfare Specialist

Additional items to consider for emergency preparedness kits
Published: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 4:00 a.m. MDT By Kathi Oram Peterson, For Mormon Times

I lived through Idaho's Teton Dam disaster. In a second, my parents' lives were turned upside down. I helped them flee their home on the river. Fortunately, my house was out of harm’s way, so they stayed with me and my family. Others weren’t so fortunate.
In the last few years we’ve seen earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fire and hurricanes. Entire cities have been wiped out by tsunamis, neighborhoods have been claimed by fire and families have lost their homes. People have had to flee for safety in a moment’s notice. Many wished they’d had a 72-hour kit that contained essential hygiene needs, a change of clothes, water and food. Today you can find many online sites that detail what needs to be included in a 72-hour kit. But after living through a crisis, my parents added several items to their kits that you might find helpful as well.
1. Printed emergency plan. Print copies of an emergency plan and give them to your family members. This plan should show rallying points, locations of emergency centers, evacuation routes and the phone number of someone who lives out of state whom they can call. During some disasters, you might not be able to call within the city, but you may be able to reach someone living out of state. During the Teton Dam Disaster, I could call my aunt in Washington, but I couldn’t reach my parents who lived in the same city as I did.
2. First aid kit. Not only should it have bandages, Neosporin, aspirin and all the essentials but also medications that your family needs on a regular basis. You will need to diligently rotate some medications, but during an emergency you’ll be glad you’re prepared.
3. Survival books. This is different from the emergency plan above. Survival books give detailed information that explain such things as what to do if an electrical line is down on the highway or how long water must boil before it is safe to drink. Of course, these books should have been read beforehand, but during an actual emergency they will become most helpful. And don’t forget scriptures.
4. Money. Cash in large and small bills, plus change, will be in high demand. During an emergency you should not rely on someone breaking a $20 bill, especially businesses that will be overwhelmed with customers. Keep in mind, vending machines are easier to use with exact change.
5. Duct tape. This all-purpose tape can come in handy is many ways: taping shut broke windows, repairing torn material, keeping a broken arm/leg taped to a board, etc.
6. Photos and family history. When my parents fled their home, they realized they’d left all their photos and family history books behind. In some disasters, you might have time to grab them. So in case you do, have those priceless books plainly marked (a red x works well) and in one place ready to grab in an instant. If your information is stored on a computer, download a copy to a thumb drive or external hard drive. Keep it updated and in your kit.

There are many other items that you can add to the list. These are but a few suggestions that hopefully will make you think outside of the standard 72-hour kit box. Disasters can happen anywhere, any time. If you’re prepared, you’ll get through the crisis a little more comfortably than others.

Quebec Floods

Floods come and the helping hands get busy. During the recent Quebec floods our Saints were there with their yellow jackets.

QUEBEC — More than 550 members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lent a helping hand in June to aid victims of the flooding along the Richelieu River in Quebec in the first ever Disaster Relief Mormon Helping Hands Project in Eastern Canada.
More than 2,650 homes and 330 cottages in Quebec were flooded, due to more than 90 inches of rain that fell in the region since mid-April. Close to 1,500 people had been evacuated from their homes, many for several weeks.
More than 500 volunteers helped clean up areas affected by flooding along the Richelieu River in Quebec on June 11.
From the archive
The Mormon Helping Hands program participated in conjunction with S.O.S. Richelieu, a local disaster relief group.
President Pierre-Paul Morin of the Longueuil Quebec Stake initially asked the 14 congregations under his direction to commit to helping with the clean up of the flooded homes. They were looking for 150 volunteers.
When news of the project spread throughout eastern Canada, members from congregations in Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces offered to participate.
Laurent M. Leclerc, director of public affairs for the Longueuil Quebec Stake and Omer Pirlet, a member of the stake high council, coordinated the Helping Hands efforts in partnership with local authorities. S.O.S Richelieu recruited several thousand volunteers to assist with clean-up efforts over two weekends in June.
The Premier of Quebec Jean Charest met with President Morin to inspect the cleaning and hygiene kits donated by the LDS Church to assist local residents. Stake leaders had an opportunity to teach municipal and provincial authorities about the church’s disaster relief program.
Several volunteers traveled from as far away as Toronto, which is a six-hour drive.
In Venise-en-Quebec, a Bishop’s Storehouse truck delivered the cleaning kits in the morning just before the volunteers arrived. One resident was overwhelmed when she realized that the help was not only material but human as well.
“Oh, you are not only providing the products, but the labor force that comes with it,” she said as she began to cry.
A few days after the project in Venise-en-Quebec local residents were still talking about “the angels who came Saturday.”
“They were talking of the members as angels," Brother Leclerc said. "When we understand what it really means to be an angel, they could not describe us better than that. Angels are servants of God. When we serve our neighbor we are only serving God.”
Catherine Jarvis is the public affairs director for the Montreal Quebec Mount Royal Stake.

Another Afghanistan death

This is so sad when one so young loses his life at the hands of the nasties. My heart goes out to his young wife, parents and friends. One can wonder at the futility of this loss, but bear in mind that these soldiers are doing everything in their power to help a beleagued nation learn and then practice democracy, giving them the freedom of choice to choose who will lead them. The Lord bless these lads, and bless and strengthen their families, and bring home these fighters. Please Lord, help them to bring about peace in this troubled nation and bring our boys home

Family mourns and remembers Sandy soldier killed in Afghanistan
Published: Thursday, July 7, 2011 3:39 p.m. MDT By Benjamin Wood, Deseret News

A soldier from Sandy was killed Tuesday in Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device, according to the Department of Defense.
Spc. Preston J. Suter, 22, had been serving as a military policeman in Afghanistan since April, his mother Patricia Middleton said. Suter graduated in 2007 from Alta High School — where he played on the varsity basketball team — and had been pursuing a degree in criminal investigation at Snow College when he joined the military to serve his country and help pay for his education.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Suter was killed on July 5 in Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
From the archive
•Logan Marine dies in Afghanistan on Sunday – July 12, 2011
"He was an awesome kid," said Middleton, who lives in West Valley City. "He was so loveable."
Also killed were Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Throckmorton, 28, of Battle Creek, Mich., and Spc. Jordan C. Schumann, 24, of Port Saint Lucie, Fla. The soldiers were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and were assigned to the 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Hohenfels, Germany.
The attack occurred in Paktia province, Afghanistan.
Middleton said her son loved the military, but he had also expressed anxiety about serving in Afghanistan. He did not tell her he had enlisted until two days before he was sent overseas, and she said she has worried about him every day since.
Prior to his tour in Afghanistan, Suter had been stationed in Germany, where he met and recently married his wife, Nicole, in April.
"It's the worst thing in the world to bury your child," Middleton said Thursday. "He was going to come home on leave with Nicole and instead he came home in a box."
Middleton met her daughter-in-law for the first time on Wednesday, when Suter's family met at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive Suter's remains. Middleton described her as a "sweetheart" and said Suter loved his wife very much.
The couple met while Nicole was working at a military store at the base where Suter was stationed.
"The story that we got told last night was that he kept going in and going in and going in until she finally went out with him," Middleton said. "That sounds like Preston — persistent."
Alta High School basketball coach Jim Barker said Suter had a good work ethic and was always liked by the other players. At 6 feet 3 inches tall, Suter was often undersized in his position, Barker said, and put in a lot of practice to raise his skill level.
Off the court, Suter was just as motivated. Barker remembers a time when members of the team helped him move homes and Suter, he said, consistently volunteered for the more difficult tasks.
"He was willing to do the extra little hard stuff and that's how he was on the basketball court," Barker said. "It was just his nature to be a hardworking kid."
Samantha Suter described her brother as a strong man and said his military service and his goal of becoming a police officer fit his personality. She said the two of them were very close, especially when they were children.
"He was really loving and he cared about everybody and everything," she said.
Samantha Suter is organizing a candlelight vigil in her brother's honor. It will be held today at 8 p.m. at Alta High School.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert issued condolences to the Suter family and said state flags will fly at half staff on the day of Suter's memorial services.
"The entire state of Utah mourns with the family of Specialist Suter," Herbert said. "Deeply grateful for the incomparable price he has paid while honorably defending our nation and freedom. Jeanette and I offer sincere condolences to his wife and parents, and heartfelt thanks on behalf of all the people of Utah for his service to the country and this state."

Anne Bradshaw and genealogy

Genealogy Quote of the Week – James E. Faust

I love James E. Faust for his dedication and service doing the Lords' work all his life. He is a truly wonderful example and his words regarding genealogy are a must, they need to be heeded for the salvtation and exaltation of ourselves and our families of the past and future.

July 8th, 2011 | Author: AnneBradshaw
This week’s genealogy quote comes from James E.Faust, (July 31, 1920 – August 10, 2007) an American religious leader, lawyer, author, and politician. He was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1995 until his death; an LDS Church apostle for 29 years; and a general authority of the church for 35 years.

James E. Faust
James E. Faust served d in the House of Representatives for the 28th Utah State Legislature (1949) as a Democrat for Utah’s eighth district. He also served as chairperson of the Utah State Democratic Party and helped manage a campaign for Senator Frank Moss. In 1996, he was awarded with the Minuteman Award by the Utah National Guard. James Faust was appointed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy to the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights. He was also an advisor to the American Bar Journal. He was made an honorary citizen of São Paulo, Brazil, and received a national Brazilian citizenship award.
Genealogy quote from James E. Faust
In the great vision in the Kirtland Temple, Elijah the prophet appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and committed the keys of temple work and the sealing power into Joseph Smith’s hands. This fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy that Elijah would be sent ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse’ (see Doctrine & Covenants 110:14–15).
So what does this mean? To turn our hearts to our fathers is to search out the names of our deceased ancestors and to perform the saving ordinances in the temple for them. This will forge a continuous chain between us and our forefathers eventually all the way back to Father Adam and Mother Eve. (From The Phenomenon That Is You by James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 2003, 55)

Susan Dayle and Democracy

This is a very thought-provoking review on democracy and republicism. i have long wondered about the way Americans saw the difference between the two. I have always felt that democracy was the freedom to speak out against all wrongs affecting a normal, religious society, which dictatorship does its best to destroy. Republicanism I have seen as the freedom to run a capitalist enterprise within the grounds of circumspect, caution, and without special favours given by the chosen government. Hmmm, there is a lot more to that also I should think
Thanks Susan

Faith of our Fathers
by susandayley on July 1, 2011
There are a number of misconceptions that worry me whenever I hear them espoused as facts. Such as the statement that America is a democracy. Unfortunately, that may be true today, but in its beginning it was established as a constitutional republic. In this nation’s founding, the fallacies and weaknesses of a democracy were not only understood, but rejected. However, this post is not about what a democracy is, it’s about another fallacy that I read far too often. The idea that our Founding Fathers were predominately deist.
What is a deist? Deism is the belief “that reason and observation of the natural world, without the need for organized religion, can determine that the universe is a creation and has a creator. Further the term often implies that this Supreme Being does not intervene in human affairs or suspend the natural laws of the universe. Deists typically reject supernatural events such as prophecy and miracles, tending to assert that God (as “the Supreme Architect”) has a plan for the universe that he does not alter by intervening in the affairs of human life. This idea is also known as the Clockwork universe theory, in which a god designs and builds the universe, but steps aside to let it run on its own. Deists believe in the existence of God without any reliance on revealed religion, religious authority or holy books.”
What is a “Founding Father?” David Barton, in Original Intent (WallBuilder Press, 1997, ch. 6), defines a founder as “one who exerted significant influence in, provided prominent leadership for, or had a substantial impact upon the birth, development, and establishment of America as an independent, self-governing nation.”
A common support for the assertion that the Founders were deist, agnostic or even atheist, is to take statements out of context. For example the quote: “This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it”—John Adams.
It comes from a letter he wrote to Thomas Jefferson on April 19, 1817. After describing a debate between Lemuel Bryant, his parish priest, and Joseph Cleverly, his Latin schoolmaster, Adams wrote:
"Twenty times in the course of my late reading have I been on the point of breaking out, ‘This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!!!’ But in this exclamation I would have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in polite company, I mean hell” (Barton, Original Intent).
While there was some anti-organized-religion sentiment among the Founders, such as from Thomas Paine and Ethan Allen, they were few. David Barton goes on to give a sampling (8 pages) of quotes such as this one: “The religion I have [is] to love and fear God, believe in Jesus Christ, do all the good to my neighbor, and myself that I can, do as little harm as I can help, and trust on God’s mercy for the rest”—Daniel Boon, revolutionary officer; legislator.
He also gives 55 examples of offices held by these heroic men, such as: John Brooks (Governor of Massachusetts; Revolutionary general): President of Middlesex County Bible Society; and Francis Scott Key (Attorney, author of “The Star-spangled Banner”): Manager and Vice-President of the American Sunday School Union.
What about Thomas Jefferson? In his own words: “I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus.”
How would these men respond to being called deist? Consider this objection from Patrick Henry: “The rising greatness of our country. . .is greatly tarnished by the general prevalence of deism which, with me, is but another name for vice and depravity. . . .I hear it is said by the deists that I am one of their number; and indeed that some good people think I am no Christian. This thought gives me much more pain than the appellation of Tory [being called a traitor], because I think religion of infinitely higher importance than politics. . . [B]eing a Christian. . . is a character which I prize far above all this world has or can boast” (Barton, Original Intent).
Final thoughts by David Barton: “Despite the abundance of evidence on the highly religious nature of the Founding Fathers, many groups have ignored the clear historical records. Instead, they have promoted their own view of the alleged anit- or non-religious beliefs of our Founders in attempts to bolster their arguments for the current separation [of church and state] doctrine. The result is that the nation’s policies concerning religion and government have been turned upside-down. In fact not only does much of the nation not realize that the current ‘separation of church and state’ is not constitutionally mandated, many are not even aware that ‘the free exercise’ of religion is. . .How did this reversal happen?” (Barton, Original Intent).

Non-fiction Aussie books

#1Book Review: The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles #1) →July 1, 2011 · 9:17 pm ↓ July Challenge- Non-Fiction
Our Aussie Readers group @ Goodreads have chosen non-fiction as the July 2011 reading challenge. I do enjoy a juicy memoir or travel narrative.

So here’s what I pledge to read this month:

Me of the Never, Never by Fiona O’Loughlin

Biting the Big Apple by Bella Vendramini

An Umbrian Love Story by Marlena De Blasi


Do you have any non-fiction titles on your TBR list for this month?
And here’s an update on the Goodreads Aussie Readers Group 2011 Winter Challenge. View the original post HERE. I pledged to read the following books:

1.The white earth by Andrew McGahan

2. Bite Me by Parker Blue READ- see my review

3. Starcrossed: Perigee by Tracey L Campbell

4.Vampires Rule by K.C Blake READ- see my review

5.The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

6.Winter’s Shadow by M.J. Hearle READ- see my review

7.Airmail by Naomi Bulger READ- see my review

8.Me of the Never Never by Fiona O’Loughlin

9. Fallen by Lauren Kate READ- see my review

10. According to Luke by Rosanne Dingli READ- see my review

I have read 6/10 of the books on my winter reading challenge!

I have the biography of Margaret Hawke and read Bob Hawke's and am considering searching th eshelves for what are listed here. There are an awful lot of Australian biographies to choose from and hopefully in the future Aussie bookreaders will get to read Dad's Story, his autobiography that I am currently writing.

Aussie Books

Book Blogger Hop #1
The Australian Bookshelf | July 1, 2011 at 6:37 pm | Categories: Friday blog hop | URL: http://wp.me/p1cyae-ci
This is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books
This week's question is:

"What keeps you reading beyond the first few pages of a book, and what makes you
want to stop reading a book and put it back on the shelf?"

I guess there's no set rule for keeping me engaged in a story. There's probably three main reading experiences that I encounter:
1) Love it from the very first page
2) It's a little slow to start and then becomes enjoyable
3) Slow to start and never really eventuates in rapid page turning


Sometimes a slow build is necessary for character development and to give a foundation to a story, but to get me past page 50 the author has to show me it is worth it. I suppose the characters are the main factor for me. I need to be drawn in and understand them for me to really enjoy a book and continue reading it. In saying that there are times when the characters aren't well developed but the plot has me hooked nevertheless.
It's rare that I have been unable to finish a book, I usually give it the benefit of the doubt that it will step up my interest at some stage. Overall, if the plot is mundane, the characters are superficial and I find myself skimming paragraphs in search of something interesting- then those are the things that will stop me from continuing with the read.
What keeps you reading a book?? Feel free to leave your answers in the comments section or to leave your link if you are signed up to the meme.

By the way, I have given my blog yet again another makeover. I am pretty happy with the design now, despite WordPress's limitations in customizing the page! I think the new look is simple and comforting- I know the autumn leaves are not really representative of the now Australian winter but it has a cosy feel to is anyway.

Let me know what you think

Have a great weekend!

Jayne

I left my comment. For a book to keep my butt on a seat the first few pages need to be interesting, the characters whetting my curiosity to what they are about and the plot looking as if it was heading for something perhaps adventurous, puzzling, mystifying, perplexing and lots of other 'ings' so that I want to continue on to see what happens next. If its good, I will return to reading it again and again and again....

Research On Schindler

Searching for Schindler by Thomas Keneally

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As is usual with Tom Kenneally, his writing skills are superb and I am on the hunt to find his book Schindler's List or Schindler's Ark. I want to read what he has researched for this book. Here he gave us a description of his meetings with the Schindler Jews, trials of those involved with Schindler during the war and how they felt about him, and one exceptional man Poldeck, who actually got Kenneally interested in writing the story. It would be nice if more writers could do that, that write biographies and autobiographies. Their words on their research would make the story more interesting - at least that's how I feel after reading this book.



View all my reviews

5 point Testimony

This is how we need to bear our Testimony whenever we feel we need to , remembering these 5 major poionts which are so important in our relationship to our Saviour and Heavenly Father, our belief in the one true Church on the face of the earth, and in a living Prophet in these latter-days since the days of joseph Smith and his role in restoring the truth on earth through the Angel Moroni as organised by our Saviour. A Testimony is wonderful

Sharing the 5 points of a testimony with 'The Testimony Glove'
Published: Thursday, June 30, 2011 4:00 a.m. MDT By Christine Rappleye,
It all seemed to start simply enough.
It was from a Worldwide Leadership Training broadcast when Sister Kristen M. Oaks heard Sister Sydney S. Reynolds, first counselor in the General Primary Presidency from 1999 to 2005, quoting a November 1998 general conference talk by Sister Susan L. Warner, point out the five points of a testimony that leaders should be teaching children. Sister Warner, then-second counselor in the Primary General Presidency, held up her hand and counted off the five foundations.
Provided by Sister Kristen M. Oaks
Primary children in Korea show their testimony gloves. The testimony gloves include the five foundation points of a testimony. Those five points are knowing that God is their Heavenly Father; Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer; Joseph Smith is a prophet of God; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's church on earth today; and the church is led by a living prophet.
"When we were teaching a mission presidents seminar, we decided to use those five points just using pictures," said Sister Oaks, who at the time was serving in the Philippines with her husband, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Then the idea of using a glove with a picture on each finger for each point was developed, and soon Sister Oaks was taking gloves with her as she and Elder Oaks traveled around the world.
"It took on a life of its own," Sister Oaks said of how thousands, if not tens of thousands, of the gloves have been made, distributed and used since 2003.
The glove represent the Holy Ghost.
"They are so clear and so simple, and you always have your hand," Sister Oaks said.
The book "The Testimony Glove," which tells the story of a little girl and her testimony, was published recently by Deseret Book.
testimonygloves.blogspot.com, these five fundamentals of a testimony are available in nearly two dozen languages along with links to ideas for sharing time and family home evening lessons. The Friend magazine also published an activity on the Testimony Glove in the October 2008 issue. Barb McKeown from Washington, D.C., wrote "My Testimony."
Creating the testimony gloves
JoAnn Phillips helped make the first testimony gloves. She and her husband, a physician, were serving in the Philippines area. Phillips worked in the area office, volunteered with Sister Oaks at a local charitable organization and also worked in the temple.
The first ones were made out of paper, and they used hand-drawn pictures. They put together kits with the glove, pictures and a handout explaining it.
At one point, Phillips decided she needed to see if the testimony gloves worked.
She shared it in Primary in a local ward where they made the kits and practiced testimonies.
Phillips and her husband were the sacrament meeting speakers, and she explained about the testimony gloves that the children had learned about in Primary.
She asked a 9-year-old boy named Dan to come up and bear his testimony.
"It just amazed me how well he did," said Phillips, of the Fruit Heights 8th Ward, Fruit Heights Utah Stake in Fruit Heights. "It changed the way people bore testimonies."
They started using cloth gloves and pictures from the LDS Church's Gospel Art Kit.
"Children need to see real pictures," Sister Oaks said. "If they are looking at a cartoon, they are seeing it as a cartoon. When you are teaching spiritual things, you need to have the referent or the real thing."
Provided by Sister Kristen M. Oaks
Primary children in Korea show their testimony gloves. The testimony gloves include the five foundation points of a testimony. When Phillips returned from serving in the Philippines, she continued to make the kits for Sister Oaks to pass out. Others heard about it and wanted to help put the kits together.
People from California to Hawaii to Canada contacted her, and just about every organization, including Young Women, Primary and Relief Society groups at both the stake and ward level, wanted to be involved, as did individuals.
Lillian O'Neil, of the Olympus 3rd Ward, Olympus Utah Stake in Holladay, Utah, heard of the gloves as ward members who served in the Philippines had heard about the gloves from Sister Oaks.
"I really enjoy finding service projects that people can do in their homes," O'Neil said. In addition to church groups that helped put together the testimony glove kits, her 89-year-old parents, Leonard and Mildred, helped, too, along with others who were homebound and one woman who was legally blind.
"This has been a lot of people helping and a lot of youth groups would want to do them for a service project," O'Neil said.
Sister Oaks and Phillips were at a fireside with about 800 Young Women at Christmas time.
"Their testimonies changed making them," Sister Oaks said. "There is story after story about people who are working on them.
"The people who make the gloves, it changes their lives," Sister Oaks said.
Teaching about testimony
As she travels, Sister Oaks takes the gloves with her, leaving only a little bit of room in her suitcases for her personal items.
Sharing the gloves is more than passing them out. Primary children put on the glove, which represents the Holy Ghost. Then, they put the pictures on the appropriate finger as they discuss each of the five points.
"You have to be a participant," Sister Oaks said of the glove and sharing a testimony, adding that the glove is not just something nice to look at.
She has passed out the gloves and kits in many countries — Japan, Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Romania and Samoa — as well as to mothers in places in Africa. Others have shared testimony gloves in their own wards across the United States. She has also used the concept when she has spoken at single adult conferences. The gloves have also been given to missionaries and mission presidents.
There is more to this, but I felt that this was all that is necessary for readers to get the picture of the 5 point Testimony

Tom Kruse

I did receive a shock with this. When I got home from the Temple today I thought it might be wise to see if this great bushman was still alive, as I have been writing an epic poem/lyric about him to submit in the lyric contest held by WAPoets Inc in mid July. So was absolutely stunned to find that he had passed away - today! Veil Tom Kruse, Australia will never see the likes of you again.

Outback legend Tom Kruse dead at 96
Audio: Tribute to life of Tom Kruse (ABC Adelaide) Related Link: Memories of the legendary Birdsville Mailman Related Link: Back of Beyond mail truck restored in recent years by volunteers One of Australia's best-known outback characters, Tom Kruse, has died in Adelaide, aged 96.
Known as the Birdsville Mailman, Mr Kruse delivered mail and other supplies to a wide region of the outback from 1936 until 1957.
The story of his two-week road trips was recorded in a 1954 documentary Back of Beyond, putting him on the national stage.
Esmond Gerald (Tom) Kruse was the 10th of Ida and Henry Kruse's 12 children and started life at Waterloo Corner, just north of Adelaide.
Mr Kruse was awarded an MBE in 1955 and was inducted into the National Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs in 2000 and recognised as an Outback Legend by Australian Geographic magazine in 2003.
The then-governor-general's wife Lady Slim flew to Birdsville in 1955 as part of an outback tour to present the MBE, but Mr Kruse could not make it to the ceremony because of outback flooding. He later got the medal in Adelaide.
Mr Kruse's best-known mail truck was a 1936 Leyland Badger, which finally broke down and was abandoned at Pandie Pandie station in 1957.
The Badger was rescued from the desert in 1986 and fully restored by a group of enthusiasts in Adelaide during the 1990s.
Repairs on the run
An ABC documentary outlined how mechanical innovation became a vital part of Mr Kruse's outback journeys: "The fuel pump let him down and he put a container of fuel up on the roof and knocked a hole through the bonnet and put a pipe to the carburettor."
Former governor-general Major-General Michael Jeffery unveiled one of several busts of Mr Kruse, at the National Motor Museum at Birdwood in the Adelaide Hills in 2008.
"I think we use the term hero far too frequently when it doesn't really apply, but I think in this case it does. He saved lives in many of his activities," he said.
The governor-general reminisced about his experiences as a soldier in Borneo and Vietnam and how important getting a letter was, imagining it would be the same for a remote station stockman, boundary rider or mother living at a remote homestead.
He said Mr Kruse carried lollies in his truck for children on the homesteads so they would rush to the gate to be first to let him in.
A funeral service will be held in Adelaide. Mr Kruse's wife Valma died last year.

After entering all that from ABC news, I will now have to check the papers for his funeral. Its bound to be packed out

false ideas of who we are

It is terrible that people should be so small-minded as to believe that we are non-Christ believers when our whole Church and its doctrine, including the name, is focused on our Saviour Jesus Christ. Satan gets in the hearts of men...

CNN accurately explains beliefs and misconceptions of LDS Church
Published: Monday, June 27, 2011 12:00 p.m. MDT By Joey Ferguson, Deseret News

Dan Gilgoff, CNN's religion editor, posted a video called "Explain it to me: Mormonism." The video covers basic Mormon beliefs, but mostly focuses on common misconceptions on topics like polygamy.
"Ever since 1890, the official Mormon Church has banned polygamy," Gilgoff said. "Polygamists in the church today are actually excommunicated from the church."
He goes on to explain the FLDS is a "breakaway sect that continues to practice polygamy to this day."
Gilgoff runs down a list of basic LDS beliefs, including its beginnings in 1830, the translation of The Book of Mormon, the physical characteristics of God, continuing revelation and the eternal perpetuation of the family.
He specifically focuses on the missionary work of the church. He points out that Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman Jr. have served missions.
"For Huntsman, he was assigned to Taiwan as a missionary, and it helped him acquire the Chinese language skills, which later helped him land the job as President Obama's ambassador to China," Gilgoff said.
He claims the LDS Church has a "tradition or an image of being seen as a very white-bread church," but the church is working hard to move away from that. He references Mormon.org, the church's missionary outreach website, which shows Mormons from different ethnic backgrounds.
A statement posted on the LDS Newsroom expressed the need for clarity for the LDS Church during a time when it's receiving increasing attention. It also states the video "accurately clarifies common misconceptions people have of the Church, while also explaining a few of the Church's core beliefs."
CNN later had a question and answer session with Anthea Butler, professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where she explained key points of the LDS Church. She said most would not believe Mormons are Christians, but they “fit within the rubric of what is Christianity, albeit they have some very different beliefs.”
She addressed questions about the Book of Mormon’s relationship to the Bible and clarifies the Mormon belief of a God and Christ as separate beings.
She highlighted the differences between the LDS faith and the rest of Christianity, including additional scripture, the idea of a pre-earth existence and the concept of the afterlife.

Living in Birdsville: And yet more flooding ....

Living in Birdsville: And yet more flooding ....

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Creative Connections

Michael Sinclair is not afraid to show what he can do
I wrote previously of having my work published as bush poetry, but also small poems for Creative Connections about disabled painters and their paintings. These four are what have been accomplished for 2011, and includes the artists and their paintings. Creative Connections is based in Western Australia and the work was obtained through WA Poets Inc. None of the artists were reserved in coming forth with their artwork. Magnificent people and so inspiring

Michael Sinclair is a resident at Charlesworth in Gosnells and loves his art. He has been working with Elizabeth, his assistant for over 18 months. In that time Michael has developed a very keen eye with regards to his decision with the use of colour, texture and creating various patterns.
This work Michael has selected a vibrant pallet of colour. To indicate which colour he wishes to use, Michael lifts his right arm slightly. Michael also selected the pallet knife rather than a brush for the main body of the painting. To make the selection he looks up to say no and looks down to say yes, when the right implement is produced. The dancing effect or movement with the horizontal lines to the lower half of the painting was achieved using a stick which we picked up from the outside bush area.
Michael enjoys his art sessions at the Kalamunda Community Learning Centre, following many earlier sessions done in his home environment. His art is always accompanied by his favourite music. Michael is a great decision maker, willing to take risks and enjoys the challenge of exploring new ideas. He was very clear that this work was the one that he wanted submitted for this exhibition and is happy with the final outcome.

Here is my arm - see the colour? A pretty hue.
My eye looks up; I paint it true.
Michael takes the risk and his work dances.
With his favourite disk, his work enhances.
He flourishes the brush in waving lines,
This artwork he loves and his face shines.
This for the exhibition he made very clear,
As he moved the brush in dots very near
the waving lines. Such dedication,
he paints away without hesitation.



This is Geoff Sykes and his work

Geoff Skyes – My name is Geoff I live on site at TCCP. I attend the ATE programme “Opportunities” 4 days a week. I love to be involved in all sorts of conversation with my family and friends. I enjoy going to the football and catching up with my family on the weekends. The Opportunities Staff gave me full assistance with my art work. They supported me to hold the paint brush and also moved the canvas around for me. I really enjoyed doing my artwork. I hope you enjoy it too.

A beautiful painting of sand and greenery
Is Geoff’s interpretation of scenery.
A helping hand is all he requires
To get the colours he desires.
A touch of blue between the green
Is the sky’s hue easily seen.
Roadways he did in shades of brown
With other colours portraying town.
There’s the footy field in a splodge of green.
Geoff paints of things where he has been


The beautiful Aboriginal Lana Davie and her painting

Lana Davie
Hi my name is Lana, I live in a group home with 4 others in Brentwood. I love to paint and draw, I like making friends and spending time with company, I like to visit the shops with friends, and love wearing my sunglasses. I am indigenous and like to look at my culture. I am loud, I love to be heard. I have painted a canvas using paints.

A delicate wild rose of soft green,
Surrounded by a pinkish sheen
Of gentle outback background
And pretty leafy scene.
Lana’s work, a dedication
To her people of this nation,
A land that is mostly brown,
Lana’s work is of its creation.


Portrait and artwork of Douglas hard

Douglas Hard
Hi my name Douglas Hard, I’m 55 years old,
One of my favourite things to do is go out for coffee and cake, I also like going to the gym, shopping, collecting photographs, painting and going flying on an airplane on holidays, I like visiting my mum down Mandurah and I like meeting new people, my painting is of Rascal my mum’s dog, I hope you like it.
Douglas

A smiling face holds a picture
Of a dancing dog carrying lettuce
And a carrot. Rascal in tincture,
With a blue hat to set us
On a journey of salad and carrot cake.
Douglas has painted joy in his picture
Of his Mum’s dog. Photos he’ll take,
And flying adds to his daily tincture.
Such a painting we enjoy,
Where Douglas applies his daily employ.

We have authors too

This is great and gives me more confidence in myself as a writer, though I haven't had anything Church-related published, just plenty of bush poetry and small poems for the disabled in Creative Connections.

Chris and Ted Stewart’s newly released book, “The Miracle of Freedom: Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World,” is a book after Glenn Beck’s own heart.
Beck, an international media personality, interviewed Chris Stewart on his radio show Thursday and told him so.
“This is one of the best history books I’ve ever read,” Beck said on his nationally syndicated radio program. “Every library in America should have this history book in it. Unbelievable. You’ll love it.”
Jason Olson, Deseret News
Chris Stewart co-authored "The Miracle of Freedom: Seven Tipping Points that Saved the World" with his brother Ted Stewart. As a result of Beck’s endorsement, book sales have gone through the roof. As of Thursday afternoon, “Seven Tipping Points” had climbed to No. 8 on Amazon’s best-selling books list.
In “The Miracle of Freedom,” the Utah brothers examine where freedom came from and how rare a gift it really is today. The co-authors contend that less than 5 percent of all people who have ever lived on the Earth have lived under conditions similar to the modern definition of freedom.
The book focuses on seven examples, including the defeat of the Assyrians in their quest to destroy the kingdom of Judah; the victory of the Greeks over the Persians at Thermopylae and Salamis; Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity; the defeat of the armies of Islam at Poitiers; the failure of the Mongols in their effort to conquer Europe; the discovery of the New World; and The Battle of Britain in World War II.
“These things don’t take place just passively. They take place because people stand together and don’t lose their faith,” Chris Stewart told Beck. “This book is a book of hope. It is a book of faith. It brings out the idea that we have great reason to hope in our future, but we have to be willing to stand together as others have done in the past, and we have to be willing to pay the price.”
Chris Stewart, a world-record-setting pilot and Air Force veteran, and Ted Stewart, a federal judge, live in Davis County, Utah. They also authored “Seven Miracles that Saved America.” Beck's interview has also increased sales of that book, moving it to No. 61 on the Amazon Top 100 list.
Beck sang the book’s praises throughout the eight-minute interview.
“It is a history book that you will read, as I am, in the middle of the night and not be able to put it down,” Beck said. “I’ve been waking up in the last few days with my glasses halfway off my face and lights still on at 2 a.m. in the morning, I’ve fallen asleep reading it every night, I can’t turn my light off. I love this book.”
"The Miracle of Freedom" is on sale now from Shadow Mountain. It can be found online and in select bookstores nationwide.