Conference Recap (and Disney)

We heard the Sunday Afternoon session on the radio as we had made it to Mesquite, Nevada. There was nothing in the deadly desert of California to pick up on the radio. Conference sessions and talks are all uploaded on the Church's website already. Transcripts will soon follow. There are also highlight clips of talks that I particularly liked. Click on the pics to see video and read the excepts:

President Uchtdorf, Sunday Morning

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Twelve

Late-Blogging Priesthood Session

It was fun to go with my youngest and oldest boys in a Stake Center here in southern California. As it is a civilized, progressive place, we noted two things. First, they kept the lights on so I could take notes. Second, and it was my 16-year-old who noticed this, but as President Monson wrapped it up, my son looked around and said, "Nobody's leaving!" Yep. They all waited for the closing song and prayer.

I texted a friend in my ward at home to ask if they had the lights on in our chapel. He texted back that they turned them off for the second hour. He then asked why I was asking about the lights. I tried to explain that it's been a life-long annoyance with me. No idea whether people started leaving early or not at home. Sorry for the digressions. Here we go:

Elder Robert D. Hales, Quorum of the Twelve
Living in the last days - perilous times
Shield of Faith against the fiery darts of the adversary in defense of homes & families

Live-Blogging LDS General Conference (from California) Saturday PM

President Eyring conducting.

Don't ask me to follow the sustainings. But Pres. Uchtdorf with his international experience, does well with the various names from different countries and languages. New General Young Women's Presidency.

 Audit report - all good.

Stats report. 14,782,473 membership. 280K convert baptisms. [check the Ensign next month]

Elder Richard G. Scott, Quorum of the Twelve
Many voices tell us to live with frantic pace
We need a place where peace and serenity prevail
The ideal place is within the walls of our own home - Jesus Christ the centerpiece

Live-Blogging Conference (from California) Saturday AM

So, forgetting that we were now on the West Coast not the East Coast where my son & family used to live, I  got the times all mixed up and slept in. But here we are. [Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle were up late babysitting the Princess who isn't used to being without her Mom]

President Thomas S. Monson announces two new Temples! Rio de Janeiro!! and Cedar City, Utah! Both places I like.

More on the Disney-Mormon Connection

My Granddaughter as Princess Snow White.
She has a few other costumes her mom made made for her.

There are worse things than being a Disney Princess - Malibu Barbie, for instance. While my granddaughter lives closer to Malibu than to Disneyland as her dad works at the Disney Studios in beautiful downtown Burbank, her destiny as a Disney Princess is pretty sure. And I think that's just fine.

My Boy Works for the Big Mouse

My daughter-in-law, wife, son A-2, granddaughter, & son A-6 at the Magic Kingdom

There are a lot of criticisms one could make of the Walt Disney Co. from the ruthlessness of its lawyers in protecting trademark to the personality quirks of ol' Walt himself. The best parodies are to be found on the Simpsons, or maybe the Rocky & Bullwinkle Fractured Fairy Tales version of the man with the dream of making money off of Sleeping Beauty. And sure, it's just entertainment - sometimes expensive. But no one can doubt the influence Walt and his successors-in-interest have had globally at least trying to make people happy. And most of the time, it works.

California Radicals

Janis Joplin of Port Arthur, Texas (1943-1970)

Spending a wonderful week in the LA Area with my son, daughter-in-law and my little granddaughter, we of course went to Disneyland as my son works for the Big Mouse at corporate (he is a statistician and sadly does not play a character at the Park. More about that later.) I've been thinking about my first trip to California in 1970. Memories grind to dust or take on odd contortions in the mind. Sometimes there is a piece of a record to latch on.