TOPOTC Gordon B. Hinckley: Ch. 15 The Holy Priesthood

I currently teach my ward's Relief Society the second Sunday of every month. That usually lands me on the odd number chapters for Teaching of Presidents of the Church - that is, until the new curriculum starts in 2018, which I'm super excited for! Last month the chapter I taught was titled "The Holy Priesthood." The title alone sent me into a fit of nerves. I did not feel qualified to teach this topic at all: 1. because my personal knowledge of the priesthood is minimal, and I have had to be corrected in the past when talking about it. 2. the topic of the priesthood is a sensitive topic among women, and you simply don't know who might be struggling.

The week leading up to my lesson I prayed every day for help with it, and I expressed my anxiety to Gerson, who helped me feel better.  This ended up being one of the most spiritual lesson preps that I have experienced, and I would like to share some of the things that I learned about the priesthood.

When I teach, I don't always go in order of the sections in the chapter. For this lesson I started in section 2, "The priesthood is the power and authority by which God accomplishes His work," which defines the priesthood. I used the Gospel Topics on LDS.org for help and liked this definition found in the Priesthood topic:

“The word priesthood has two meanings. First, priesthood is the power and authority of God. It has always existed and will continue to exist without end (see Alma 13:7-8; D&c 84:17-18). Through the priesthood, God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power, He exalts His obedient children, bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39, see also D&C 84:35-38). 

Second, in mortality, priesthood is the power and authority that God gives to man to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children. The blessings of the priesthood are available to all who receive the gospel.”

Section 1 briefly covered the restoration of the priesthood. I used the Doctrine & Covenants and the Student Manuel to the Doctrine & Covenants for help, and I learned some really great things. The priesthood was restored by ancient prophets bestowing their specific keys to Joseph Smith.

John the Baptist - John the Baptist conferred the Priesthood of Aaron to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The account can be found in Section 13 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It's only one verse long and explains that power of the Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of "the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins."

Peter, James, and John - Peter, James, and John conferred the Melchizedek priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. According to Doctrine and Covenants Church History: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 8, an official account of the restoration of the restoration of the Melchizedek was not recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. References to the event are found in the heading to D&C 13, D&C 27:12-13, and D&C 128:20.

The heading to Section 13 states that John the Baptist was acting under the orders of Peter, James, and John, and that they would confer the Melchizedek priesthood at a later date. Both of the verses in sections 27 and 128 indicate that in receiving the Melchizedek priesthood, Joseph Smith was given the keys of the kingdom, a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times.

Moses - Moses committed the keys of the gathering of Israel to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The account can be found in D&C 110:11. According to the section heading Moses appeared to Joseph and Oliver on April 3, 1836 in the Kirtland Temple after Sabbath meetings.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said explained what these keys mean:

"...with increasing power and in great glory, we have gathered, from their Egyptian bondage as it were, the dispersed of Ephraim and a few others, initially to the mountains of America, but now into the stakes of Zion in the various nations of the earth. The gathering of Israel is a reality. When the ten tribes return they will come at the direction of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for he now holds and will then hold the keys of presidency and direction for this mighty work.”

Elias -Elias committed the keys of the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham. He came at the same time and place as Moses. Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains what the gospel of Abraham is:

“The man Elias brings back ‘the gospel of Abraham,’ the great Abrahamic covenant whereby the faithful receive promises of eternal increase, promises that through celestial marriage their eternal posterity shall be as numerous as the sands upon the seashore or as the stars in heaven for mulititude. Elias gives the promise - received of old by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - that in modern men and in their seed all generations shall be blessed. And we are now offering the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to all who will receive them.”

Elijah - Elijah committed the sealing keys, and appeared to Joseph Smith right after Elias. This is the well known " turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers." Joseph later explained the turning of the hearts this way:

“Now the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? Or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion.

But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah.”

Section 3 was what I wanted to focus my lesson on. The section is titled, "The blessings of the

priesthood are to be enjoyed by all." In this section President Hinckley explains how the priesthood can bless each and every one of us. I felt like this was the most applicable section to women, which is why I chose to focus on it.

President Hinckley discussed six priesthood duties/ordinances and explained how they bless us:

1. Administer the Sacrament. When we accept the administration of the sacrament and partake of it, we renew the covenants that we have made with Heavenly Father. We also keep the Holy Ghost as our companion.

2. Bestow the Holy Ghost. I'm going to let D&C 121:46 explain this one: “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”

3. Bless the sick. Priesthood power can bless any and all people to be healed from their ailments. I imagine the majority of us have received such blessings several times throughout our lives. President Hinckley - who was Elder Hinckley at the time - shared such an experience. He was in Japan presiding over the formation of a new stake, and he asked the mission president to give him a blessing because he wasn't feeling well. The mission president was nervous and said that he could not give the blessing in English, Elder Hinckley said that Japanese would be fine. After the blessing Elder Hinckley thanked him and looked strong and healthy the next day. The mission president later received a note from Elder Hinckley that said, "I so much appreciate the blessing which you gave me. I immediately began to feel better after that. My recovery was quick and total. Sister Hinckley and I are deeply grateful for the privilege of staying in your mission home."

That story resonated with me because it teaches that all worthy men have access to use the priesthood regardless of their status or ethnicity. President Hinckley was an apostle at the time, and the other man probably felt like "just" a mission president next to him. But it didn't matter. He was a worthy son of God who held the priesthood and could use it. It reminds me of the account in the New Testament of Jesus Christ asking John the Baptist to baptize him. John didn't feel that he was worthy to baptize Jesus, but he was and did.

4. “Bless with prophecy, to comfort, to sustain, to direct.” When I read those words from President Hinckley I took that mean father's blessings, setting apart blessings when we get a calling, etc. I remember feeling incredible support and revelation when I was set apart as a Relief Society teacher.

5. Patriarchal blessings. These blessings are given to us through a stake patriarch, and they come from God. They tell us what our lineage is and gives us advice and blessings that we can receive should we follow a path of righteousness. This is a very sacred blessing, and should not be read by just anyone. My parents were present for mine, and Gerson and I have read each other's. It is a blessing that I recommend you review frequently, when I read mine I feel so peaceful and inspired.

6. Authority to seal. Of this power President Hinckley said:

“In its ultimate expression the holy priesthood carries with it the authority to seal on the earth and have that sealing effective in the heavens. It is unique and wonderful. It is the authority exercised in the temples of God. It concerns both the living and the dead. It is of the very essence of eternity. It is divine power bestowed by the Almighty as a part of His great plan for the immortality and eternal life of man.”

This is where my lesson ended, but I would like to share a few things that stood out to me from sections 4, 5, and 6.

Section 4 talked about personal righteousness of priesthood holders. In the Priesthood section of Gospel Topics I learned about the difference between the authority of the priesthood and the power of the priesthood:

“There is a difference between the authority of the priesthood and the power of the priesthood. Priesthood authority comes from ordination. Power comes from personal righteousness.”

The areas of personal righteousness that President Hinckley discusses have been placed into bullet points below:

• D&C 121:41-42
• “Flee the evils of the world.”
• “Be faithful and true to the covenants that are associated with the priesthood of God.”
• “To every officer, to every teacher in this Church who acts in a priesthood office, there comes the sacred responsibility of magnifying that priesthood calling. Each of us is responsible for the welfare and the growth and development of others.” (Does this hold true for R.S., Primary, and Y.W. callings as well?)
• Have no attitude of dominion or compulsion over wives and children.
• Be good husbands and fathers (be good wives and mothers).
• When transgressions do happen, repent.

In Section 5 President Hinckley explains how Priesthood quorums and the Relief Society are similar

and compliment each other. He said:

"… The priesthood quorum is the Lord’s organization for men of the Church, just as the Relief Society is the Lord’s organization for women of the Church. Each has among its responsibilities, basic to its reason for being, the assisting of those in need. 

When the Relief Society was organized the Prophet Joseph said of the women of the Society: “They will fly to the relief of the stranger; they will pour in the wine and oil to the wounded heart of the distressed; they will dry up the tears of the orphan and make the widow’s heart to rejoice” [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 452]. I would hope that the same might be said of the men of the priesthood."

Section 6  briefly discusses women and the priesthood. President Hinckley said:

"The men hold the priesthood, yes. But my wife is my companion. In this Church the man neither walks ahead of his wife nor behind his wife but at her side. They are co-equals in this life in a great enterprise. 

There is strength and great capacity in the women of this Church. There is leadership and direction, a certain spirit of independence, and yet great satisfaction in being a part of this, the Lord’s kingdom, and of working hand in hand with [holders of] the priesthood to move it forward."

There is also a great quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard:

“In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and women have different but equally valued roles. Just as a woman cannot conceive a child without a man, so a man cannot fully exercise the power of the priesthood to establish an eternal family without a woman. In other words, in the eternal perspective, both the procreative power and the priesthood power are shared by husband and wife” 

I have a testimony that the priesthood is the power of God. I have many wonderful and sacred experiences with it blessing my life. If you want to further study the priesthood I would recommend:

Priesthood in Gospel Topics
Aaronic Priesthood in the Bible Dictionary
Melchizedek Priesthood in the Bible Dictionary

Five Meal Planning Tips

Every once in a while I notice facebook posts asking for dinner ideas. Not new recipes for a future date, but ideas for dinner that night. So I thought that I would share how I meal plan each week and hopefully help a few friends out. 😊

1. Recipe Organization

I'm not very good at just picking and choosing what to make for dinner. So my recipe book is organized in a way to choose for me.

When I got married my mom gave me a copy of her personal cookbook. It's printed pages in page protectors in a three ring binder. (That burn mark was not planned, but it sure looks cool!) Her recipes come from Betty Crocker, Kraft, and friends and family members. I have taken away and added to it over the years as well. It's divided into sections according to food type. The two sections I use weekly are: Meats and Main Dishes and Salads. Each dinner I choose a Main Dish and a Salad (fruit or vegetable, sometimes both). The Main Dishes are organized by Beef, Meatless, Chicken, and Pork (there was a fish section originally, but Gerson doesn't like fish).  The recipes in each section started out alphabetical, but as I've taken away and added, they are now just in the order in which they were received.

When I plan meals, I go in the order that they are printed in my cookbook. I have about double the number of beef and chicken recipes than I do meatless and pork, so my order pattern is: beef, meatless, chicken, beef, chicken, pork... Depending on how many servings a recipe makes, I generally make 2-4 dinners a week.

2. Visible Menu

Being able to see my planned menu out in the open makes it easier to plan for it and keep to it.

I used to write 5-7 meals on a lined peace of paper and stick it to my fridge, and as I would make one I would cross it off. Then as I memorized how many meals a dish would feed us for, and better scheduled our evenings, I started planning specific meals for specific days on my lined piece of paper. I would cross each day/meal off as we completed it.

I eventually got tired of using up lined paper. So, with the help of Pinterest, I made a weekly menu board in which I can write my meal plans with dry/erase marker. All it took was a picture frame,
decorative stationary and stickers. It sits on my kitchen table. Gerson likes having a visible menu as well because it helps him better plan his lunches and snacks at work.

3. Grocery Shopping

Having a set time to go grocery shopping and a written list has been very helpful for me.

I go grocery shopping at the end of each week for the next week - or do Walmart Pickup depending on how busy my week has been. I use my recipe book to plan my meals, then I write my shopping list. For fresh items, I buy them for that week. For canned and boxed items, I buy for my food storage rotation. And it's all based on the ingredients in my planned meals, that way I don't buy anything that won't get eaten. Of course, things get missed and I have to go back to the store, but that's why I start to prepare my meals the night before.

4. Prep up to 24 hours before

Looking at the menu and double checking the ingredients and instructions the night before helps make meal prep the next day easier.

Almost every night after I clean up from dinner, I look at the menu for the next night. If anything is frozen that needs to be thawed, I put in the fridge the night before. Also, if anything needs to be prepared earlier in the day - like a crockpot meal or a jello salad - then I write it down on my daily to-do list so that I don't forget and leave it too late. I also try to make sure I have all of the ingredients needed, and if not I have time to make a quick run to the store.



5. Set rules for new recipes 

If you are like me, you are constantly collecting new recipes. Setting rules as a family about new recipes will benefit everyone who eats at your dinner table every night.

I used to make a new meal once a week, but that became too much for Gerson. So now I only make a new meal every other week to once a month. I also avoid making new meals while I'm pregnant (of course I'll break that rule if something looks really good!). I also have what I call the three strikes rule. When I make a new meal and we don't love it, but it has potential, I'll make it again and change what I didn't like. I'll change it one more time if needed before I scrap it. Off the top of my mind, my baked Ziti recipe has benefited from this rule.

Obviously I don't perfectly keep to my menu 100% of the time. Stuff pops up in our schedule, the kids or pregnancy does something to inhibit me making dinner, etc. But having it all prepared does make it easier, and I just move all our meals over a day if something does happen. I hope this post was helpful! Following these tips has really helped my meal planning and prep be less stressful.

Lamb, Nutella, and other firsts Down Under

Family Search's question for August 26th was: What are the most memorable meals or exotic food you've tried on any of your travels?

When I was 14 years old, I went on a two week study abroad to New Zealand and Australia. I took the trip through Edventures Down Under. There were two options: travel with the group for fun, or do added school work and get credit. The added school work was different for each student because it depended on what our school accepted and allowed. At first I wanted to get school credit, but when I learned that Provo High would only give me .5 of an elective credit, I decided to just enjoy myself.

On that trip I tried lamb, Nutella, coffee, and meat pies for the first time. It was also my first time outside of the the American continent. (I had been to Canada before, but does Niagra falls actually count as travelling outside of the country?) It was also my first time travelling without any family members to take care of me - I still had an adult who was over me.

One other student from Utah went on the trip. His name was Ryan, and he was three years older than me. We were the only Mormons on the trip. No romance happened between us. Our teacher couldn't go at the last minute, so we were placed with the California students. My best friend from the trip was a girl named Zuri who was from New York, and she is the only one I'm still in contact with.

I had lamb stuffed ravioli for my dinner on the plane, it was delicious! (For airplane food.) We flew to New Zealand first. We landed at 5:00 in the morning. We spent the day touring. We visited the Blue Mountains, and went to a Maori village where we got to learn about their culture and watch some performances.

The next day we were taken to our "farm stays" where we would spend two nights with New Zealand farmers. Me and three other girls went to stay with a family who were dairy farmers. They had three kids and their son's friend was also living with them. Our guide had told us that it was customary to serve wine to guests at dinner. I remember freaking out on the inside. How do I tell them I can't drink wine without offending them?! Luckily I didn't have to worry, the parents drank wine at dinner, but all the kids drank soda. They served us lamb with vegetables. It was really good. I have to admit that I don't think I could have ever eaten lamb willingly. I mean, they are such cute and sweet animals. But I'm glad I tried it. I haven't had it since because it's expensive in the restaurants. The family really piled their plates with food, and they asked me and the other girls if we were anorexic. We assured them that the amount of food on our plates was normal.

That morning at breakfast I tried Nutella on my toast. I know that Nutella exists here, but I had never tried it until then. Now I'm a Nutella addict! I always put it on my crepes, and have found different bread and muffin recipes.

They took us around their farm. We had to wear these socks and boots that went up past our knees. They had us help move the cows from one field to another. They didn't mention that when you open the gate that the cows start running! I almost got run over, and one of my boots came off (they were the son's boots so they were huge), so I had to go look for it when the cows were done running. Oh my gosh, that was an experience. They also showed us their sheep and their horse.

That night after the parents went to bed, the kids brought out beer. It was my first time being around alcohol and watching people drink. I was really grateful when the other American girls refused the beers offered to them. All their kids drank, even the 12 year old! I was really uncomfortable and scared the whole night.

We were reunited with our group the next day and had a relaxing day in Auckland. During some down time, I got permission to get picked up by my friend Lindsey and spend a few hours with her and her family. Lindsey's family took me out to dinner and they had me pick. I said, "I think a taco sounds good." They started laughing and said, "Mexican food doesn't exist here. There are a few restaurants, but they are expensive." That was definitely new for me since Mexican restaurants are abundant here.

We went to Australia after that, where we spent the next week and a half first in Sydney then the

Gold Coast. We toured the Sydney Opera House, went to the top of the tallest building in Sydney, visited an Aboriginal cultural center, a wildlife preserve, snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, swimming at the beach, and a day at an amusement park.

Three aboriginal men taught us about their culture and performed. There were no women to be seen, supposedly because aboriginal women don't cover their chests. At the wildlife preserve we saw crocodiles, koalas, dingos, and kangaroos. We could actually go into the kangaroo habitat and pet and feed them. We had lunch there and that's where I tried coffee and a meat pie. I though both were disgusting. Lol.

Snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef was amazing! It wasn't my first time in the ocean, but it was my first time being on a boat and swimming in an area where I couldn't see any land, just water surrounded me. There was a ladder and platform that went about one or two feet into the water so that you didn't have to jump off the boat. On the platform I stuck my head in the water, and a school of blue fish swam right past my face! I jumped out and screamed, "I am not going in there!" My friend Zuri said, "Oh yes your are!" and she pushed me into the water! It was so beautiful. The guide said that there had been a recent storm, so the reef was kind of broken and brown. It would heal and get it's color back. I would love to visit again one day and see all the brilliant color that I had missed.

Swimming at the beach was fun and relaxing. The water was warm, which was great, because I have only been in the Ocean in California, and those beaches are cold. At the amusement park I conquered my fear of "scary" rides, and I took a picture with a Koala bear.

This was an experience that I am so grateful that I got to do. It took me four years to save for it, and even though I came home and basically had to start my savings over from scratch, I don't regret it. I saved money from both countries, and I have pictures and memories that will last a lifetime.

Four Months on the City Bus

Family Search's question for August 19th was: What are all the different modes of transport you've used?

I've been on practically everything: cars, trucks, boats, planes, buses, trains. So I'm going to use this post to talk about a brief amount of time when I had to take the public transit bus to school and to work.

Gerson and I shared a car for the first two years of our marriage. It was my VW Passat from high school. For the most part I drove the car to school and to work, and Gerson rode his bike to school and to work. (We had different schedules.) During Gerson's last semester at BYU, he had an internship that started around noon or 1:00. For the first half of that same semester I had class at 8:00, and the second half my classes didn't start until 1:00. So Gerson and I would drive together in the morning, he would take the car to his internship in the afternoon, I would take the bus to work in the evening, and Gerson would pick me up. Halfway through the semester, when my 8:00 classes ended, Gerson would take the car to school, and I would sleep in and take the bus to my afternoon classes.

Some universities have deals with public transit where students can get free passes, BYU is not one of those. Students can get a discounted pass, but the price is only worth it if you ride the bus everyday. At the beginning of the semester, I was only riding twice a day, so it wasn't worth it. But I was able to get a discount price if I bought 20 tokens at a time.

Riding the bus wasn't awful, but I really hope that I don't have ride it that consistently again. I was pretty scared the first couple of weeks, but then I got used to it and for the most part, was pretty comfortable. One bad part that stands out in my memory was a particular driver.

On the UTA website it was really hard for me to read the bus schedule and understand exactly where the stops were and what time the bus came by each stop. I eventually figured it out, kind of. But for the first week or so of riding the bus from my apartment to school, I walked to the second closest stop from my apartment. The closest stop I hadn't ever noticed, and had never seen a bus stop at. Well, one day while walking to the other stop I saw the bus just parked there. I looked at the sign, and noticed it was indeed a bus stop! I walked up to the sign and stood there for about a minute, but the door didn't open. So I knocked on the door, the driver opened the door, I asked if I could come in and she said yes. As soon as I sat down she started lecturing me about how this is her break and it's her only 15 minutes to be alone and eat and not have to deal with passengers. I was so stunned I didn't even mumble an embarrassed apology.

That encounter made me realize that I had seen other drivers take their breaks, but they always parked the bus in between two stops, not right in front of one, so as not to confuse the passengers. I guessed that that stop was probably an exit stop, but not an entrance stop. I also noticed the the same drivers drove the same route at the same time. So I memorized the time that she had picked up at that stop, and started going to school 30 minutes earlier so that I could avoid taking the bus when she was the driver.

No more incidents happened until one day I had to take the bus home, which was rare. She was the driver for my ride home. I was a little nervous to see her again, but since I was sure I knew where her break was I figured I would get off at that stop. So two or three stops before, I was the last passenger on the bus. At the stop before the one I thought was the right one, she angrily asks, "So, where are you planning on getting off?" I told her which stop and she says, "Well, I take my break right before that one." Oh my gosh, that woman had switched break locations on me! I told her that I could get off right there - right there wasn't even a stop - and I ran off the bus. So apparently passengers have to read her mind and magically know when to get on and off at the correct time?

Oh my gosh. That is one of the funniest experiences I have had with someone in that field of work. I felt angry and embarrassed at the time, but now it just makes me roll my eyes and giggle.

Las Vegas Ortega Style

Family Search's question for August 12th was: Do you have one special vacation spot that you return to again and again? What do you love about it?

Gerson and I love to spend a weekend in Las Vegas. Before we had kids we used to go once a year. Each time we go we usually stay in a Hotel we haven't before and see a show or two that we haven't before. We like to try different restaurants, and shop and tour the fun shops and museums.

I had been to Las Vegas a few times before Gerson and I got married, but our honeymoon was the first time that Gerson had spent a significant amount of time there. Las Vegas wasn't the final destination of our honeymoon, Disneyland was. We staid the night in Vegas on our way to Anaheim and again on the way home.

We first stayed in my favorite hotel, The Luxor. We walked the entire strip because I wanted to see the pirate show that used to be at Treasure Island. Before we left for Anaheim, we took a magic carpet ride on a green screen. We didn't purchase the video, but we did buy the photos. On the way back we stayed in Excalibur where I attended the Tournament of Kings dinner and show. I had already been to Medieval Times in Annaheim, so I thought the food and show would be the same. It wasn't. The Tournament of Kings serves larger portions of food, and the show is quite different, but still great.

In 2011 we did an impromptu stay at Circus Circus on our way home from visiting Gerson's family in Palmdale, Ca. We saw the free shows in the arcade, and also played games in the arcade. We also went to the Adventure Dome, rode the rides, played miniature golf, and laser tag. (I got second place overall in our group!)

In 2012 We went for a full weekend to celebrate Gerson's graduation from BYU. We stayed two nights in The Flamingo. While we were on that side of the strip we saw The Blue Man Group. That show was amazing! It's one we definitely want to see again, and I highly recommend it. We also visited the dolphin and big cat exhibit in The Bellagio. We moved over to The Luxor for two nights (because The Flamingo weekend prices are through the roof). On that side of the strip we saw Cris Angel. That show was really disappointing. We felt that it was a complete waste of money. We also went to the shark exhibit at Mandalay Bay, walked through the Bodies and Titanic exhibit at The Luxor, and went to The Tournament of Kings show again in Excalibur. (I think the next time we go to Vegas it's time to see Tournament of Kings again because it's been five years.)

Benjamin was born in 2013 so that put a short pause on our Vegas trips. In 2016, shortly after Luna turned one, the timing was good, and we took a much needed couple's trip. We stayed at Treasure Island. We saw Britney Spears one night and Penn &Teller the next night. Britney Spears was more of a nostalgia thing for me. I don't need to see her again, but I'm so glad I got to! Penn & Teller were a breath of fresh air after the Cris Angel fiasco. They are amazing!

This year we went back sooner than expected because my best friend got married in the Chapel at the Luxor. We went down two days early to see a show and tour. We saw Terry Fator at The Mirage. He is a ventriloquist. I didn't know anything about him, Gerson chose the show. I was really impressed and enjoyed his show very much. We visited the Chocolate store, the M&M store, the Houdini shop, and Madam Tussaud's Wax museum.

My friend's wedding was beautiful. It was such an honor to be invited. It was really small. Only

family and a couple friends were invited. We spent the afternoon and evening with her and her family. We went to see the fountains at The Bellagio, and spent the evening with her at The Luxor. We learned how to play roulette and black jack via observation, and had fun with that.

I know Las Vegas may not seem like the best vacation destination, but we love going there. It will always be a place we continue to return to. It's possible for Mormons to have fun there, and we even remember our entire trip. ;)

Farewell to Coulee Dam (?)

Family Search's question for August 5 was: What were your most common childhood vacations like - road trips, visits to grandma's house, camping trips, weekends at the lake or the beach?

I'm going to use this question to talk about my family's most recent trip to Coulee Dam, Washington for my mom's family reunion; because it most likely was our last. My mom grew up there, and my grandparents still live there. I spent almost every summer there as a little girl. This trip was special because not only was it most likely my last time there (my grandparents are getting ready to sell their house), but also it was my first time taking Gerson and my kids there.

We stopped at my great-grandmother's house in Idaho like we always do. Gerson and Benjamin have been there before, but it was Luna's first time at her great-great-grandma's house. Since our family has grown over the years, we all couldn't fit in my grandparents' house. So half of us stayed at my grandparents' house, and half rented a vacation home at Banks Lake resort, which is nearby. My family slept at my grandparents' house, but all of us spent each day in the vacation house.

On the first day we kind of toured the Grand Coulee Dam. I use the words kind of because it's different from when I was a little girl. When I was little we used to be able to go inside and walk around with a guide. We also used to be able to drive across the top, stop, and get out and look over. Security has increased and what the general public can see has decreased over the years due to the influx of terrorism in the country and around the world.

The new tour puts us on a bus and drives us around the perimeter of the towns while we learn about the building of the dam and the affect on the environment and the local Native American tribes. We got to go in one part of the dam, go down the elevator to look at the giant pumps. Then they took us to a picture spot, and then the tour was over. We then ate dinner at our favorite restaurant The Siam Palace. My cousin Trisia was there. We haven't seen each other since my wedding! 7 years! It was so fun to spend time wit her again. After dinner we went to Crown Point to take a picture with the dam on top of the mountain, then we went to the visitor's center to watch a laser light show on the dam. It was a different show from when I was little, and I miss the old show.

The second day we rented a boat and spent the day at Banks Lake. The beach are was really small. Benjamin liked playing in the sand, and Luna liked floating in the water. On the boat ride Benjamin did great sitting on my dad's lap, but Luna wanted to run around and look over the side (don't worry, both were in life jackets); so by the end of the ride Luna was cranky from being restrained. During Luna's nap (my aunt who was tired stayed at the house with her), we went back on the boat to go tubing. It was Gerson's first time tubing, and he stayed on! They went slow for me since I was 19 weeks pregnant. My mom was going to take Benjamin with her for a slow ride, but he didn't want to. So then my mom tried skiing.

On the third and last day we went shopping for souvenirs for the first half, and swimming at Spring Canyon for the second half. Benjamin picked a toy ambulance and Luna picked a pink Hot Wheels car. I got a book about Chief Joseph and some earrings. We went to the tribal museum and looked through it and met a local artist.

Spring Canyon is a beach at Lake Roosevelt. Lake Roosevelt is actually apart of the Columbia River. It's the part behind the dam so it's deep and wide - which is why it's called a lake. The beach and the swimming are is much bigger than the one at Banks Lake, so we had a lot more fun. Benjamin and Luna were more comfortable going into deeper water and floated on their backs.

I'm not sure if I'll get to go back there, it could take my grandparents a while to get their house ready to sell, and even longer to sell it. It's not exactly a town people are dying to move to. But I'm glad I got to take my family this one time.

Dinner and Ice Cream Celebrations

Family Search's question for July 29th was: How does your family celebrate significant milestones?

My family loves to go out to dinner or ice cream to celebrate something great, or console something sad. We have gone out to celebrate graduations, making it onto a dance team or a play. If we were celebrating or consoling me and we went to get ice cream, I always chose Baskin Robins. If we went out to dinner, I picked what ever my favorite place was at the time.

We went out for my elementary school, middle school, and high school graduation. We went out to console me when I didn't make the Varsity ballroom team, then we went out to celebrate when I got moved up a few months later! We went out after dance performances, and after my brother's play and musical performances. When I got married, we continued these kind of celebrations. We went out after I went through the temple for the first time. We went out for Gerson's college graduation, and mine. My dad also took us all out when Gerson got transferred instead of laid off. Every time we learned the gender of our kids, we would go out.

When it comes to religious celebrations, we have bigger dinners at home with our extended family.

We have family parties after baby blessings, baptisms, priesthood ordinations, and mission farewells/homecomings. At the family party after my baptism, my parents gave me my cat Tiger. At the family party after Benjamin's blessing, we got our first 5 generation picture. Luna's baby blessing was coupled with Christmas celebrations because she was blessed two days after Christmas.

We have lots of celebrations in our future, and I can't imagine the way we celebrate changing. 😉