Mormon Thunder

I am really enjoying this book. I am amazed at the devotion Jedediah M. Grant had for his religion. He had strong desires to be a missionary and devote his life to his religion.

Starting the next book

As school starts to wind down, I know that you have a lot going on.  Please finish up your reading of Mormon Thunder, so that you will be on target to start the Emigrant's Guide.  Remember that posts will go to Dr. Sessions for verification of your participation and effort for credit.

A couple of my own personal observations from the text:  I am awed by Grant's commitment to missionary efforts.  He relies on the generosity of others for shelter, food, and, in many cases, transportation.  I am of the opinion that this would not happen today in America.  Some other countries, perhaps, but not in most of America.  I think what we see in his writings is a self-improved man.  I assume that he had very little formal education, but as he read and studied his skills grew with him.  As teachers this shows us the value of having our own students consistently read and write.  This practice certainly will bring about understanding and improvement.  Having just lost my own son, I can relate to Grant's pain and anguish in the death of his wife and daughter while crossing the plains.  It is sorrow like I have never known. I am grateful for the support system that I have with my church.  Likewise, I think Grant had a large support system to help him through those terribly difficult times.  I loved the statement on page 181 - "If I wished to find the best men in the world, I should go to Zion to find them; if I wished to find the biggest devil, I would look in Zion for him..." The passage of time doesn't erase some things.  I hope that you are all doing well with the assignments.  Happy reading.      

Finished the Book

I finished the book this past week. It has been very insightful. I was saddened by his early death about 40 years old. I found it very interesting the way that many close to grant claimed he went including himself. Brigham Young claimed he was a martyr. He himself said that he was the devils and that they were trying to take his life. I don't have the book in front of me, but there was another gentleman on a mission that had a dream about Grant fighting devils and holding them off at this exact same time. In this dream the devils finally overtook him. A few days later this gentleman recieved word that Grant had died and he took the news almost as bad as when the prophet Joseph died. I really liked his vision of the afterlife and coming and back from the dead. What an interesting account. This guy was as tough as they come. He was willing to stand up for what he believed in no mater who or what he was facing. He had a great mind and could have become very wealthy as a lawyer no doubt. His abilitly to speak and reason were amazing. My eyes have been opened by reading this book. I know want to read a biography about Brigham Young and Joseph Smith. There is so much more to learn and grapple with.

HELP!!

I'm planning on coming up from Cedar City for the meeting with David McCoullough. This is required, right? I haven't heard anything from the Foundation about this. Can someone please clue me in as to where, when, and what we're supposed to do?? Are we meeting in a specific place? I'm a little nervous...

Incomplete Post - Sorry

I realized that my previous post wasn't very complete. Sorry about that. Yes, the lecture is at the Tabernacle on Temple Square. It begins at 10 a.m., but the ticket says to be seated no later than 9:45 a.m. Tickets are at www.lds.org/events. There is probably a phone number to obtain tickets, also - perhaps it is the Conference Center ticket office. (They ticket all of the Temple Square events over there). Since time is getting short, I don't know if mailed tickets would arrive in time. Maybe they have Will Call (?)

re: David McCullough

I found out quite by accident that the event had been moved. I thought we were supposed to have tickets reserved for us, but since we haven't heard anything, I got my own ticket. Go to lds.org/events and order a ticket through the Temple Square ticket office.

I thought I read that the seminar we were to attend this weekend

With David Mcoullugh(sp sorry) had been moved to the tabernacle. Is that right? Also how do we get tickets does anyone know? Thanks Jan