BYU TELEVISION'S INFLUENCE ON CHINA

In church todaywe were talking about how technological advances have played a part in furthering the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in.  Megan Sykes shared with us the following about BYU tv.

She and her husband met a man from mainland China, who lived outside China for a while and found out about the LDS Church and was converted.  He served a mission in New York and ended up going to BYU for an advanced degree.  He said that because BYU television has such family oriented, wholesome programing, the communist government in China allows it to be aired there.  It is one of the top, most widely watched stations in all of China! This man recently went back to visit his cousins in China and his one cousin was sitting at the computer emailing a General Conference talk to some friends.  He said, "You aren't even LDS, why are you sending General Conference talks from our prophet and leaders to your friends?"  She said that EVERYONE watches BYU television and the talks they share are so uplifting that lots of people in China read and forward them to friends and family.

Gary's father, Ralph Silver, my father-in-law, started the original KBYU television in Provo.  He took a huge pay cut from KCRL, channel 4 in Salt Lake City, to accept the offer to start KBYU television.  To think of what that original station has turned into is amazing and I am so proud of Grandpa Ralph.  Our neighbor, and former bishop, who works as an attorney for the LDS church, says that BYU television has some of the most advanced technical capabilities of all the stations in the world.  He said that currently about 70 million people in the U.S. have ESPN and ESPN2 coming into their homes via dish and cable networks.  About 60 millions homes have access to BYU television now.  Such miracles.Facebook.com

THINKING ABOUT OLYMPIC COMPETITION AND LIFE'S COMPETITION

We have all been watching and following the Olympic games, the competitions, and the back stories on the athletes.  There have been many stories of overcoming difficulties in life and focusing on their training and competitions, etc.  They are all winners in one way or the other and can serve as examples for us.

Today I was reading an article in the LDS magazine, called The Ensign, and reading about President Thomas S. Monson. (He is the president of the LDS Church)  He has also grown up with many challenges and set for himself the goal of serving others from a very young age.  He has spent thousands upon thousands of hours helping individuals and families all over the world.  The article spoke of the duty he lovingly fulfilled when as the Bishop of a ward long ago  he wrote individual personal letters of encouragement to each of the 24 servicemen in his ward every single month.  That was never convenient for this busy, busy Bishop and father, but oh how it blessed the lives of those people to whom he faithfully wrote.  What if each and every one of us set the goal of doing all in our power to serve those around us?  Can you imagine what the world could be like?

The Olympic athletes are wonderful and inspire us every 4 years.  But what a difference we could make in our world if we focused even a portion of the hours they spend training each day to making our neighborhoods, families, and country a peaceful and positive place.  To me, Thomas S. Monson and those who serve with him have a gold metal around their necks in my minds eye.

Olympic efforts

This is the baby quilt I just made for Sarah Connors Peterson's newest baby boy, Joseph.  They are the greatest family.

When my sister, Jean, was visiting this summer we took Layla and the boys to Farmington Pond to feed the ducks and geese.  On the way as we were on the Lagoon Trail we found this downed tree trunk which had been carved into a throne.  Now each time Layla and I come by here we have to take a picture. Here she is in the kitchen sink, bathing with Rider, before they moved from our house to their new digs in south Farmington.

Vand and Finn were over at the house this summer and they are getting so big!!!