In July 2022, drought, heat, fires (physical, political, social), war, gun violence, inflation, and refugees throughout the world continue to mar and challenge our beautiful world. We pray for relief and resolution.

When I wake up to my happy sunflowers, I am also reminded of my good fortune, while others in Ukraine and elsewhere are faced with unbelievable suffering.

Humanitarian assistance for more than 4 million Syrians living in opposition-held areas appeared in jeopardy Friday, after Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have extended the mission for another year.

When I was teaching, the mother of a student of mine threatened to send her back to Syria if she didn't stop misbehaving. I'm glad the mom didn't carry out her threat!

May we can find peace within our hearts and with family and friends

I enjoyed hosting some of my young interpreter friends from the Missionary Training Center. They interpret lessons and talks from church leaders here and that are broadcast to other training centers and to individual missionaries throughout the world.

         The Provo hills and mountains are peaceful in the evening

              With the heat and lots of water my flowers grow fast

My roommate from my mission in Ecuador, Susy Molina, came to Provo for her grand-daughter Daniella's wedding reception. We hadn't seen each other for 7 years.

I was so happy to have a short visit with my dear friend Susan Johnson in Richmond (2 1/2 hours north of Provo). She is peaceful as she looks forward to the next phase of her life and her reunion with her husband Curtis who passed away a few years ago. On our mission, we spent much time together serving in the Santo Domingo Temple and exploring the beautiful Dominican Republic.

Cache County in northern Utah is beautiful I felt peace as I drove through this rural area

A few days ago we had a thunderstorm and rain that cleared the air and washed my windows!

My daughter Emily and Darcy, her new friend Natalie from Guatemala, and I took a nice walk when it cooled off a bit last evening. Natalie works for a non-profit organization that partners with Emily's husband's company.

Twice a year our temples are closed for two weeks for maintenance, so I attended the Provo City Center Temple (above) and the Mount Timpanogos Temple (below) to perform sacred ordinances for our ancestors.

It was a thrill to see our wonderful friend Marguerite Gong Hancock, Silicon Valley executive, vp of the Computer Museum, featured in the bi-monthly LDS Living magazine. She and her family have been champions in education, international technology, and in the church, and have espoused many humanitarian programs and activities that promote peace. If you would like to read the article, here is the link:

https://www.ldsliving.com/chinese-roots-to-silicon-valley-branches-how-this-executive-is-sharing-her-faith-and-shaping-the-future-of-tech/s/10829

(My daughter Emily de Schweinitz Taylor also has an article in this issue "Confronting Conflict,"promoting peaceful hearts and homes).

The pattern of confronting conflict was taught by our Savior.

This year our Sunday School course of study has been the Old Testament. If you live in or are visiting the Provo area, I highly recommend you visit the BYU art museum.  Until December 31, there is a wonderful exhibit of more than 125 of the 400 small watercolor paintings by James Jacques Tissot (1836-1902), published after his death as an illustrated Bible. This beautiful exhibit is entitled "Prophets, Priests and Queens." The artwork in this exhibition is on loan from the Jewish Museum in New York. Before dedicating himself to biblical illustrations Tissot had a successful career painting society images and portraits. Here is a small sample of OT pictures..

Bible stories help us understand despair, but also redemption 

                               Solomon dedicates the temple

        The saving angel restores Jerusalem after the Assyrian attack

                                                          Job and his 3 friends

     Carrying the Ark of the Covenant to safety across the Jordan River

Prophetess Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron, leads women in dance

The young Joseph's brothers are jealous and plotting against him.

After Joseph's rise to power in Egypt, brothers come for help during the famine and beg for mercy. Joseph forgives them and finally reveals himself to them.

Esau,whose birthright was given to Jacob, forgives and reconciles himself to Jacob

Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but her father tricked her, gave her first to her sister Leah after Jacob spent many years in the service of their father. The 2 sisters and their handmaids gave birth to the 12 tribes of Israel. Life is very often unfair, but I believe God knows what's best.

In addition the the Tissot exhibition, the museum currently has two other special exhibits, secular and religious: 

"European Splendors ) old masters, until 7/31/22 

"Of Souls and Sacraments"

The black dove implied perils facing purity and innocence (usually represented by a white dove) of a young woman in the world.

Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, Jesus with Elizabeth,John the Baptist)

     I love the new cubist art of Argentinian Jorge Cocco Santangelo. So simple compared to the very ornate Renaissance depiction of the Last Supper! I'm sure it wasn't quite like this!

And for Latter Day Saints, we commemorate July 24th, as the vanguard company's trek into the Salt Lake Valley 175 years ago paved the way for Brigham Young, Porter Rockwell, and Heber C. Kimball and the some 70,000 thousand pioneers who would settle in Utah and spread quickly to other areas. I am grateful for their legacy of hard work and faith in continuing the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the 1000's of missionaries who go throughout the world today and for those who quietly closer to home gather (the lost tribes of) Israel. God loves all his children, wants to see them (all of us) safely home.

                                                   (a 1997 re-enactment)