Whether we see our world as big or small depends on the context. For sure we are all interconnected and the small details of each of our lives affect others nearby and across the globe.

"The Sound of Music" transports me back to my study abroad days in Germany where I fell in love with the Alps, Bratwurst, polkas, Goethe, folk songs, especially "Edelweiss." When I served a mission in Madrid, I was amazed at how much the Spanish people loved the show, even though all the songs were in Spanish, which sounded very strange to me. Beloved classics united people of all ages as we sat on

blankets at Sundance amphitheater with Mt. Timpanogos as a backdrop. Below, my daughter-in-law Rebecca waiting for the show.

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Wherever I go I reconnect with old friends. I knew Lyssa Jensen when her son Tommy was a baby in Palo Alto. He now has a beautiful bride, Anne.

Kylee Hunt was an 11 year old when I knew her in Primary in Palo Alto. Now she is a HS junior and a big sister to the 3 beautiful foster children her family adopted. The oldest, Steven (8), and Kylee sang today at his baptism in my stake in Provo. In the Provo Temple (and in all temples) we perform ceremonies to unite living families and ancestral families. We are all part of Heavenly Father's huge family.

Mount Timpanogos is impressively high and rugged, but unifies Utah Valley and all of us who gaze daily at its beauty. We are dwarfed in its shadow as we enjoy the balmy summer evenings after hot days, as we play kickball and Banana-grams.

Meanwhile, this colorful grasshopper (a universal pest) is chomping away on my rhubarb plant. And Kelly is standing in an Iowa cornfield

Sister Taylor (Kelly) in the Iowa cornfields!

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I was touched by this quote I received

IT DEPENDS WHOSE HANDS IT’S IN

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19 or $20.00. But in

Michael Jordan’s hands it is worth about $33 million. It depends whose hands it’s in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses’

hands will part the mighty sea. It depends whose hands it’s in.

A slingshot in my hands is a kid’s toy. A slingshot in David’s hand is a

mighty weapon. It depends whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands are a couple of Fish

sandwiches. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God’s hands will feed

thousands. It depends whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ’s

hands will produce salvation for the entire world. It depends whose hands it’s in.

As you can see now it depends whose hands it’s in. So put your

concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God’s hands because, you see, it depends whose hands it’s in.

“We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate

to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of

us.”—President Thomas S. Monson

“What Have I Done for Someone Today?”                  

BYU's beautiful campus

Evening performance "The Redeemer" with violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and local choir and symphony
I spent this past week at the annual BYU Education Week, immersed in a wide range of wonderful classes on such topics as Church and American history, the Constitution, democracy, foreign policy, lessons learned from serving in leper colonies in India, anger and conflict management, working with youth, art, communication skills, and more. I wish you could have heard and learned along with me. I'm especially grateful for excellent presenters and "students" from all over. I'll just share one quote from our current Church president, Russell M Nelson, so vigorous at age 98 that his friends call him "Hustle M. Nelson."