Here is my tweet, just in case it doesn't get published or gets redacted by Twitter:
Broadway to Hollywood: A presentation of the Fort Walton Beach, (Florida), Community Chorus.
On this date, the Director was Jean Hodgins, the Accompanist Joel Lane, etc. At one point, these productions were occasions that I enjoyed attending; there were some special friends whose lives were wrapped up in the event, from start to finish. They reached out to my husband, a well known singer at Church and to his family. Ed Harris, my mate fit right in with the group; his beautiful tenor was appreciated, I'm sure!
This particular presentation was probably performed during the Concert Season of 1997-1998, according to the back of the program.
In 1998, I also attended the little, but thriving, church service at the "Olive Branch" in northern Okaloosa County. I believe that my son and his stepfather, Ed Harris were both speaking in the meeting. I loved going to Olive! They were in the habit of having "dinner on the grounds" after the church service, which was a big potluck event! Over the years, since I was about age 10 or more, I had the opportunity to visit with the members in this location at various events. Some names from those times were Carlos O. Jones, Jr., Sister Nita Sneddon, Sister Annie Youngblood, etc.
Memories! I've been a few places, I've attended a few events. As soon as saw a little program for Quinten Cole M.'s baptism, I had to wonder who he was. Most probably he and his family moved on; I live in the vicinity of the largest Air Force Base in the world. People come and go constantly; some of them return to retire, here!
If for a bit, you would "hide" yourself from worldly worries, drama, and schedules of all kinds...you might find the peace you so desire. Steal a moment from "should have", "need to", "should do" trains of thought (and noisy trains at that!)
Seek a quiet place, a place where the television news is muted, children are napping, everyone else has gone to bed, or where, just for a little while, you can spare a few moments for some of these activities:
The recent occurrence of the October Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has weighed heavily on my mind and stirred me to consider gospel principles.
I go to the scriptures for greater light and knowledge. I can review and listen and/or watch the talks that have just been given. I had initially "skipped" the Women's Conference on Saturday evening, but began yesterday to review those talks and themes, also. I have been drawn to look at related messages from other church sources at the Church website. For example, an article, [The Book of Mormon is] "A Book about God's Love.".
In this article the author, Lenet Read, writes"The gift of grace is that our sins may be covered, figuratively speaking, with “beautiful garments,” and we may become sanctified, without spot, if we come unto Christ and return his love with our love"...(January 1988) struck a chord with me.
I had been thinking, after President Nelson's address, that almost no one is beyond the reach of the Atonement.
God loves all His children but will not force them to Heaven. We came to earth so we could make choices, so that our agency, our free will offering to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, might count for something precious!
When you think about it, that is all we really have to offer the Savior, and the most precious gift we can give. Even similar to (but much more magnified), the gift our Savior chose to make for our eternal salvation: the gift of His life (both while walking the plains of Judea, teaching the Gospel of love), but also in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross). The Gift of Himself. His agency.
Here is an article that says all this much clearer that I can express.
Article from https://latterdaysaintmag.com/why-latter-day-saints-should-be-concerned-about-the-social-justice-ideology/
I believe that critical social justice ideology—which often operates more like a religious theology—is contrary to Latter-day Saint beliefs in profound ways and therefore should be of particular concern to Latter-day Saints. Some reasons include the following:
It views immutable characteristics such as whiteness as shameful—a type of original sin. In her best-selling book White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo exhorts her white readers to follow her example in striving “to be less white.” She stated in a 2015 radio interview, “Racism comes out of our pores as white people. It’s the way that we are.” In addition to whiteness, characteristics such as being male, heterosexual, cisgender, able-bodied, and so on may render one an oppressor, regardless of his or her actions. By contrast, Latter-day Saint theology explicitly disavows the concept of original sin. As the 2nd Article of Faith states, “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.” Similarly, Ezekiel 18:20 declares, “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
[See the complete article at the link for the LDS Mag, above]; do you agree with the author? Do you feel she did a good job covering the topic and expressing our ideals as church members?
https://www.heritage.org/:The Heritage Foundation invites readers to explore the issues. One page highlights the top issues, plus there are categories that list other other issues.
The "front page", however, features a "leading issue". For example, the current front page,or maybe it is just a guest column? Anyway, it is a quick read on this date, written by James Jay Carafano, staff writer. What if there had never been a 9/11?
It is Mr. Carafano's belief that funding from Russia was key in promoting the terrorist attack that for the most part, unexpected by the general populace. The first World Trade Center bombing was so ineffectual that very few red flags were raised. To read the rest of the article, please click on the link above. What you will get from me, now, are some of my reactions to J.J.C.'s article:
This is concerning to me because President Trump has just ordered a further withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. However, this same author (Carafano) is expressing his belief that we have gotten the upper hand there? See https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/iraq-afghanistan-withdrawal-trump
From my dad, a letter to his mother: I wonder if he ever mailed this letter, because I shouldn't be able to read it, unless it is a copy. So is this a draft for the letter he sent? Or, was it so personal, heartfelt and sincere that he decided not to send it?
26 February, 1964:
Dearest Mom: At long last I have been able to get pen in hand to answer your letter received some few days back. Just haven't felt up to it. After my trip back from Mississippi (had a spell of car trouble which not only cost me plenty but delayed me no end).
Went by and spent a nite at Rudy's and had him accompany me on one of my short safari's for souls. Went up by way of Collins, then back thru Seminary where I felt sure we would run into some sign of the Hill's and Basses'. But we didn't find anything in either place; (it was Sunday), consequently all stores and courthouse at Collins was closed. So didn't accomplish anything! I even believe "Rud" got the fever (genealogy fever); he said a couple of times how disappointed he was that we didn't find anything.
Well, you know me! Next morning Rud had to help Rachel with various things, so I lit out for Collins by myself. I decided that I would not venture up to Decater this trip; it would have been far out of the way, and I had two places in mind for Monday: Collins and Monticello...both county seats for Covington and Lawrence counties, respectively. Monticello is where Mariann Hill applied for the Pension in 1884; Mary Ann Bass was witness on her application. They both, at that time, lived at Hooker, which has now become a small place.
Covington County was where I believe Isaac Hill lived with Mary Ann Bass. That place is where he supposedly died. Well, my search in the records at Collins produced a Nancy Hill as having bought, or applied and received a piece of land from the government in Covington County; this was 1885. I just suspect that her and William Bass separated and she went by her maiden name, again. William Bass's name appears several times. I neglected to look, my error, in marriage licenses for a clear indication of just who was who!
Guess my efforts this time produced a lot of preliminary findings which shall be fruitful later on. I want to go back as soon as time, money, and Opal's health permits.
Suppose you know that Aunt Annie is over in Pensacola for a short visit. Will drop her a few lines, tonight.
Yes I found where Grandma Hill (Lydia King) is buried. Okahola Cemetery! Went by and had a real fine visit with Joel, his wife, his boys by his first wife and we talked about all of our kin folks.
Joel mentioned that his dad mentioned Silver Creek, Mississippi, many times and said that is where the Hill's came from. That is in Lawrence County, where Mariann applied for the pension in 1884. [Dad repeating himself, here]. Mom, do you recall Papa ever telling about that part of the country? Well, I found out where Grandpa John M. Hill lived, and where he is buried, too. He married...[document ends here; there may be another page somewhere]...
Note from moi: "Rud" (or Rudy) is my dad's brother.
From FamilySearch.org, I'm reminded that his full name is Earl Rudolph Hill. •
"Rachel is Rudolph's wife, mother of my cousin, Laman". [Will try to find a photo]
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| Becoming Grandparents Brings Smiles! |
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| We learn through seeking, asking, and experiencing life's challenges. |
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| Honorable Discharge for Wiley Benjamin Hill, Jr. AKA "Bennie" |
