A Quiet Garden Scene

On this Easter Sunday, as we celebrated our Savior’s Resurrection, I recalled my mother’s account of an historic evening meeting at “The Garden Tomb,” as it was called, “owned and well maintained by the Dutch Reformed Church.  In September, 1972 they were still allowing some Latter-day Saint groups to hold meetings there … a beautiful setting, evocative of the Savior in whose name they met.”  The speakers were David Galbraith, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, President Harold B. Lee, and my father Ted.  “President Lee made the announcement in his talk and set apart David Galbraith to be the first president of the first Jerusalem Branch of the Church [of Jesus Christ] since the days of the early apostles.  Elder Hinckley set apart John Tvedtnes as first counselor, with the possibility of the second counselor being chosen from the BYU group” [40-50 students expected for a year-round Semester Abroad program.]  Special music included “I Am a Child of God” sung by the children, and “guitar-accompanied settings to several psalms in Hebrew, composed and sung by Abraham ben Abraham (the new Nazarite convert.)  President Lee said again that he felt impressed this was indeed the place where Christ was laid after his crucifixion and where he rose from the dead.  No one who was there at that meeting would ever forget the powerful witness of the Spirit that was also present.”
(Together – A Love Story, by Janath Russell Cannon & Ted Cannon, 1999, pages 133-34)

A Brief History of FH

Family Tree (two words), FamilySearch (one word), family history, genealogy; “Who Do You Think You Are?”  Going back thousands of years, the ancient Hebrews’ genealogies, such as I Chronicles chapters 1-14 in the Old Testament, comprise a ton of family history – evidently of vital importance to them.  In “History of Genealogy”, Donna Potter-Phillips “looks at the early development of genealogy.  Since earliest times, man has thought to leave a record of himself.”
– familychronicle.com

"The restoration of the sealing authority by Elijah in 1836 was necessary to prepare the world for the Savior’s Second Coming and initiated a greatly increased and worldwide interest in family history research."
– David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, October 2011 general conference, "The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn."

By 1920, the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU), started in 1894 in Salt Lake City, "had won a permanent and prominent place in the official programs of the [LDS] Church.  …  The Great Depression of the 1930s provided, in one respect, an unexpected stimulus to genealogical work; many who were out of work took the opportunity to do some long-neglected family research."  – James B. Allen, Jessie L. Embry, Kahlile B. Mehr, Hearts Turned to the Fathers: A History of the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1894-1994 (BYU Studies, 2012)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created the International Genealogical Index (IGI), a family history database which “was first published in 1973 and continued to grow through December 2008.  It contains several hundred million entries” ... from two sources: “personal family information submitted to the LDS Church, [and] vital and church records from the early 1500s to 1885.”  – FamilySearch.org

“May 1998: FamilySearch/GSU begins digital imaging of records.   About August 1998: Decision is made by LDS Church leaders to build a genealogical website.  May 1999: Website first opened to the public.  …  Oct. 1999: Surpassed 1.5 billion hits.  … Nov. 1999: 240 million names added, bringing the total number of entries to 640 million.  2001: Work began on a replacement website … (Later named New FamilySearch …)”  – Wikipedia.org

"FamilyTree: New FamilySearch Service Promotes Collaboration.  FamilyTree is the successor to New FamilySearch, which [has been operating] for the past few years ...  [FamilyTree] is live to the general public as of March 5."  – Church News, 11 March 2013
[It later changed to two words: Family Tree.]

“FamilySearch.org is a nonprofit family history organization dedicated to connecting families across generations.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the primary benefactor for FamilySearch services.  Our purpose is simple – help people connect with their ancestors through easy access to historical records.  FamilySearch believes that families bring joy and meaning to life.”  – FamilySearch.org/about

Global Economics Too

My previous post provided a glimpse of the intrigue and excitement to be found in the study of global economics.  Irresistible.  Right.  As already recommended, the youth library book, Economics (©2009 by World Book, Inc. – printed in China) is a fast read or a casual companion in a quiet corner, depending on how one handles intrigue. 

The introduction defines an economy as “a system in which people exchange goods and services with other people.”  This thin book leads the eager reader through histories of tax collection, coins, paper money, checks, banks, stock markets, and the gold standard (abandoned by the United States in 1971 –page 21.)  The bar code, credits cards and ATM’s also come into play.  The chapter on Electronic Commerce really gets down to business, “starting in the late 1990’s” enabled by the World Wide Web – global marketing and transactions over the Internet.  A local example is my friend Phil’s recent purchase of a flight-simulator program for $12 from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK); and it works OK by my graphics standards.  I think the $12 included shipping & handling, which was likely done electronically by enabling a one-minute download from the Internet.

After feudalism dominated the Middle Ages (p.34),” mercantilism emerged in Europe” and thrived during the 1500’s through the 1700’s (p.36) until the idea of a free-market system was argued by Scottish economist Adam Smith (… The Wealth of Nations, 1776.)  “Less government interference in the economy” – a key phrase I noticed jumps out as a cry for freedom that applies to global economics today.  And then the chapter we’ve waited for: Capitalism -- “an economic system in which individual households and businesses control the economy.”  It “is also called the free-market system, because individuals are free to make their own economic decisions.”  The historical chapter on Communism (p.40) is like a recurring nightmare.  Finally, the trend towards globalization “accelerated in the late 1900’s due in part to technological developments.”  The European Union (EU, created in 1992) has played a major role.  (Economics  p.42)  

Since the global recession began in 2008, China may be managing capitalism’s crisis better than the U.S. (Viewpoint byTony Karon, Jan. 20, 2011, Time.com.)  I don’t think so, and would never “Like” it on Facebook, though we seem to buy most everything from Asia.  We must work together to remain the greatest country on earth (my humble opinion.)

Now tell me you’re not excited!

Global Economics Appetizer

Written for school children, so even I can understand while trying to think less about food; (incomplete sentence just for practice.)  With help from the Layton librarian, I finally found a thin book on (titled) Economics, published in 2009 by an old friend, World Book, Inc.  At the Library of Congress it’s cataloged as “Economic history – Juvenile literature.”  Of all the econ books I’ve read since 1971, I consider it the “little darling” I’ve been waiting decades for.  You can devour it in five minutes.

My only disappointment: the glossary is missing “economics”, defined by my Merriam-Webster as “a social science dealing with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.”  As if to make amends, Economics defines globalization as “the trend toward increased economic, cultural, and social connectedness across international borders.” 

Like icing on a cake, the cover is a grand photo of a stock exchange in action (NYSE, it appears); you will recognize it next time you’re browsing the youth section at the library (like meat & potatoes at a buffet.)  Moving on to the adult econ area, as tempting as they may be, never mind Economic Literacy – What Everyone Needs to Know About Money & Markets ©1995 by Jacob DeRooy, and Secret Weapon ©2012 by Kevin Freeman (love the surname) about economic terrorism.  Get a taste of the little paperback: The 21st Century Economy – a Beginner’s Guide ©2009 by Randy Charles Epping; (the “beginner’s” part is what got my attention.)  Like a rich chicken pot pie at a favorite restaurant, it has “101 easy-to-understand tools for surviving and thriving in the new global marketplace.”  Not filling, and worth sampling; no $tip required.

For dessert, listen to the BBC news; for example, stock markets in the US and elsewhere fell sharply yesterday when Italy’s parliament was “hung” (no winner in the election = more uncertainty about the economic future of Europe.) 

Enough for now, to stimulate the appetite.  Until next time, “feed the pig” (add cash to savings for the next economic crisis.)

 

Quick! Call it a Month

A month of change and beginnings was January; (why did it go so fast? – with so much cold weather and snow?  Is that why they converted “global warming” to “global climate change”? – must be caused by too much human activity, whatever it is.  – jk) 

No, I’m not too old to change … or begin new things.  For example, try a new recipe I invented this week for a healthy fast-food snack anytime: Combine equal amounts of Ocean Spray Craisins (dried cranberries) and Nestle' Semi-Sweet Morsels (dark chocolate) for a handful of pure joy.  For a robust breakfast or brunch, add oatmeal with brown sugar, almonds cut in half, sunflower kernels (roasted unsalted) and raisins.  At Kay’s siblings’ annual planning meeting last Saturday (still in love and planning family activities after all these years) I heard that half-and-half cream is good on oatmeal.  For bedtime snacks next month, I want to try the Ocean Spray Craisins recipe for “oatmeal cranberry white chocolate chunk cookies” enhanced with a missing ingredient:  macadamia nuts (my idea assisted by Google, as it was also missing in my old M-W dictionary, between macadam and macaque – two words I will never use.)  With a chocolate milk shake, of course.

Another example of change in January: We canceled our Comcast TV and landline phone, at the same time we switched to Verizon Wireless with smart phones that can actually locate new eateries.  This followed twelve years of dependable easy-to-use T-Mobile dumb phones; (the last three years the signal struggled to reach us out here on the frontier.)  Now I wish we had video-taped those fabulous cooking shows we all love to sit and watch (jk) – not to mention the talking heads spinning food for thought about politics.

This month my goal-oriented friend Phil taught me how to organize my daily life for productive final years.  So a third example of change (and a goal) is this: In February I will stop obsessing with food, and think about global economics during lunch at Golden Corral.  RootsTech is in March this year (#3), so I will be musing more on family history then (including Grandmother Cannon’s rich chocolate cake made from scratch.)  Food, econ, roots – a delicious combination to start the New Year; (another incomplete sentence, MS Word reminded me.  See?  I broke out of that rut too!)

 

 

An End and a Beginning

Our business closed today, beginning a four-year hiatus (a lapse in continuity.)  Why only four years?  I am clearly optimistic about business-friendly changes coming in 2017.  The break will simplify capital preservation and provide time for patient preparation.  Better times lie years ahead; I feel positive.

This year was especially profitable, and rewarding in so many ways -- doing what we love, and getting paid for our service.  Everybody’s happy, we hope (about most things.)

The next part will be boring to some, and too familiar to others, so skip to the end (beginning.)  Our state charges a low annual fee for registration renewal.  Our fair city exacts a high annual fee for being honest and above board in doing business here, while it prohibits employees, signage/displays, and selling at our home office; we agreed and paid three times.  Our vibrant, growing county requires an annual report listing all business equipment, and payment of a tax if a low-$ threshold is crossed; this helped our short-term cash flow as it discouraged economy-boosting capital expenditure.  A fine website service put our business out there, never skipping a beat, but increased the low monthly fee by 45%; (what happened to low inflation?)  Kudos to Kinko’s (now FedEx Office) for inexpensive business cards which may return to action some day; (our company name is so unique and odd, it will be available in four, eight, or twelve years.) 

The list goes on, but not for Fast Food.  Treats (and Kay) are calling me, while sparkling cider waits for the Square ball to drop.

As we end the wonderful old year of 2012, let us begin a simpler, new year, with a focus on family.  Make it happy!

Christmas Choirs

This one’s for music lovers.  As Christmas music has blessed my life this season, an early-morning pause before choir practice brought to mind some great choirs I’ve enjoyed in the past, and a heavenly choir I’ve read about, which blessed the scene of our Savior’s birth.  On the first day of this special week, I decided to share a few, including some results of a survey I took among several friends at church. 

My question: What are two favorite choirs you sang in or listened to at Christmas time?

I first tested this on my wife Kay, the Primary song leader, as I interrupted her preparation of children’s songs.  Without hesitation, she agreed with my suggestion: East High School A Cappella Choir, which reminded me of Christmas performances I loved with my EHS choir directed by the legendary Lorraine Bowman.  With further thought, Kay would have mentioned the local high school choir our daughters sang in; recently we enjoyed their concert (with orchestra) which ended with a thrilling rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah (1742) by Handel (1685-1759).  The annual concert always brings joy to us ... and to the performers, I am certain.

One young brother at choir practice named the Weber State University LDS Institute Choir he was in years ago, which reminded me of my U of U Institute choir.  (We toured the Northwest while I was dating my future wife, Kay.)  Having recently returned from military duty in the Middle East, he recalled his men’s choir at church in Afghanistan, which also performed at a Christmas party.  A very young brother who leads the choir in our ward (congregation), named the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as his favorite (also one of mine, since Mother was a member of it when I was little.)  He also wrote for me (as the bishop was starting the meeting): “singing in ward choirs.”  Sweet!

The jacket of an LP (with a 50-cent DI price tag) found in our basement “archive” lists the members of the Brigham Young University A Cappella Choir 1980, including Brenda Boyer, Cherie Crosby (any relation to Kay’s Crosbys?) and Loralyn Tenney (must be related to my great grandmother Eliza.)  And in the men’s section: Dale Bowman (related to Lorraine?) and Clark Searle (reminds me of my sister’s jazz piano teacher.)  Among other sacred songs, they recorded “Come, O Thou King of Kings” (appropriate at Christmas time) with trumpets and organ.  I’d like to listen to the album this week for the first time!

One album I am sure must exist (not searched yet) is one to go along with Kay’s CD, "Angel Voices -- Libera in Concert" recorded May 30 & 31, 2007 in a Netherlands cathedral; (pronounced with accent like liberate.)  I haven't heard their Christmas music, but it’s on my wish list.  The boys’ choir provides a heavenly listening experience that would lift anyone’s spirit this season.

There’s more I could add here, but this will do for a fast one.  Suffice it to say, “I’m crazy about choirs!”  So … Merry Christmas, and have a happy choir experience!