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Showing posts from February, 2016

Long Ago, within a Garden

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Just two weeks before Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles died, he gave a classic talk on three gardens of God , which inspired me to write the lyrics to "Long Ago, within a Garden," gorgeously set to music by fellow Caldwell native and composer Daniel Carter .  The first three verses discuss the three gardens of God, moving from the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane to the Garden of the Empty Tomb. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve became subject to death when they partook of the forbidden fruit. 1. Long ago, within a garden,  Adam tasted of a tree, Death would be our awful burden; o nly One could set us free. Adam and Eve Leaving the Garden of Eden , by Joseph Brickey. I n Gethsemane and Calvary our Savior paid the penalty for their transgression (and ours). 2. Jesus came to win a pardon f or us in Gethsemane, Humbly suff'ring in a garden, c rucified on Calvary. On the third day, Christ rose from the tomb in anoth

Solar Panels: A Bright Idea!

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Solar panels are a bright idea ! They can save money on electricity, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and help collect energy from this big ball of nuclear fusion that I like to call "the sun." The sun produces ridiculous amounts of free energy. And buying made sense because both the federal government and state of Utah offered significant tax credits for installing them. Because of tax incentives, lots of companies are competing for your solar bucks, so how do you decide which to go with? Here are some factors we considered before we made our decision. Durability. Over time, all solar cells lose their power to collect and transmit power, but some last significantly longer than others. I was impressed with the 30-year record of SunPower cells (see photo above). These are sturdy, efficient, well-engineered chips with a solid copper backing, which transmit even if they get bent. I saw how lesser-made solar cells can shatter with only minimal impact. If one section fai

Christian Hans Monson: Norwegian Mormon Convert, Handcart Pioneer, Temple Builder

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Christian Hans Monson Compiled by Devan Jensen Born: June 16, 1837; Fredrikstad, Norway Died: September 23, 1896; Richmond, Cache, Utah Immigration Date: 1857, Christian Christiansen Handcart Company A Narrative of the Life of Christian Hans Monson Source: History by Hazel Kofoed, a granddaughter of Christian Hans Monson. Christian Hansen (son of Hans) was born June 16, 1837, in Fredrikstad, Norway. He was the son of Hans Monsen and Berthe Nilsdatter (or Bertha Nielson), whose family consisted of two sons, Niels and Christian, and three daughters, Ann, Elizabeth, and Maren. Hans Monsen was at one time warden of the old state prison at Frederikstad. During his term of office in the year of 1851, the