Vacation to Vagas and Disneyland

We went on vacation a week and a half ago and am finally blogging about it. We started our vacation in Las Vegas. We stayed two nights at circus circus. We watched some of the free acts they have there like trapeze, acrobats, and a guy who danced in air wrapped in fabric hanging from the ceiling(not sure what is called, but was very cool).

We went to Hoover Dam which was amazing. We decided that large projects like that would never happen now days with the way people are. It would be stopped if it had even gotten far enough in the approval process to even get started. many people died to get that dam complete and that would not be aloud now days. It would put it to a stop. It just makes it more amazing when you think about it.


We stopped at a small train museum. we saw the signs for it on our way to the Dam and decided to check it out on our was back. Dean is a big fan of Trains! It was really neat, It was basically a large pavilion with engines and special train cars in it. Saw one of the largest engines I had ever seen, we also saw a mail car and a caboose.

We did walk the strip a little bit and saw some of the free things available in Vegas. We went to M&M world, saw the lion exhibit at the MGM Grand, and on our way out of town we stopped at the famous Las Vegas sign!

When we got to California We decided to go to the beach first. We originally planned to get into swim suits and stay awhile but it was a little cold that day so we decided to just go wadding in our clothes. We go soaked and should have just changed. LOL! We bundled up the boys in there towels and went for a walk. We found it interesting that out of the about 7 cars at the beach 5 were from Utah. Can we say UEA?


We left the beach and headed to our Hotel. This is where we got spoiled. Rob's Brother's family has a time share and got a two room villa at Disney's Californian Grand Hotel and Spa. Wow it was amazing. We had the best view out our balconies. (picture below of California Adventure at night was taken right off the balcony. You may have to click on it to enlarge). There was a private entrance for Hotel residents to California Adventure, sense the Hotel is basically in the park, and a short cut to Disneyland.


The last time I went to Disneyland was nine years ago and it had been seven for Rob. I did not go on the large roller coaster then, I chickened out, but this time I went and basically i can say I can say I went. will I do it again maybe, but it may take some convincing. (Oh my earing busted on the ride too, from my head jerking around, good thing they were cheap!)

Dean and Brig had a blast (so did Mom and Dad). Dean tells everyone when they asked what he liked best? that he liked all of it. Brig just looked wide eyed the whole time trying to take it all in. We all loved the Pixar Parade. We could see it from our balcony the first Day and the caricatures would wave to us. The next day we had front row seating it was even better. Another big hit was the playhouse Disney show and we saw Hanny Mandy, Winnie the pooh and all the people from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Over all we had a blast and are excited to do it again in a few years!

My Testimony

I believe a prophet is a person called by god to speak in his name. I believe apostles are special witnesses for the lord Jesus Christ. I believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely apostles, prophets, etc. I believe in the gift of prophecy and revelation. I claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of my own conscience and try to allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may without my judgment. I believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances there of. I believe that a prophets purpose is to tell us what we need to know from God, in addition to our own person revelation.

I believe that no man that has, is or will ever be on this earth, save it Christ himself, is perfect. I do believe Pres. Wilford Woodruff's words when he said:

“The Lord will never promit me or any other man who stands as president of this church to lead you astray. It is not in the program, It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that , the lord would remove me out of my place and so he would any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God, from their duty.”

I know, because the spirit has testified it to me, that President Thomas S. Monson and the 12 apostles, and anyone else that has been called of God by them, through prophecy,(because they have the authority) are called of God, are men of God, and are prophets and apostles of Christ.

I believe in Pres. Ezra T. Benson's 14 fundamentals in following the prophet, that was shared twice with us this past Saturday, by Elder Costa and Elder Duncan.

1. the prophet is the only man who speaks for the lord in everything.

2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

3. The living prophet is more important to us than the dead prophets.

4. The Prophet will never lead the church astray.

5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

6. The prophet does not have to say “thus saith the lord” to give us scripture.

7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

8. The prophet is not limited to mans reasoning.

9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter temporal or spiritual.

10. The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

11. The two groups that will have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud that are learned and the proud that are rich.

12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

13. The prophet and his counselors make up the first presidency, the highest corm in the church.

14. Follow the living prophet and the first presidency and be blessed, reject them and suffer.

I am guilty this conference as I have been probably every conference before now, that I have listened too. When listening to a talk, thinking “this talk is do good for so-and-so, I hope they are listening” I listened to the women session Monday morning after conference, because I was unable to attend the night it was broadcast. Pres. Monson's talk stood out to me on so many levels. I would like to share bits and pieces of that talk, because I don't think I could say it better.

“None of us is perfect. I know of no one who would profess to be so. And yet for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions or in-actions.”

I do believe the words and teachings that were given this recent conference. I don't however believe they were given as an “okay” to judge or make judgments of others. I believe they were ment for us to evaluate our standing with God. I believe that if you don't have an understanding of what has been said it is not only okay, but expected in my opinion to pray to come to an understanding. Following blindly will only get you so far. As Elder Packer said, “it is time to wake up!”

Pres. Monson:

“There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize.”

“...Charity...impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.”

“ Charity is...It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are...It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.”

“Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”⁵ The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”⁶ I ask: can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa: no, we cannot.”

I believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. I know and believe that through repentance Christ can and will heal all scares and pain, that is why he suffered for us. And because he did he has the power to take away all that we struggle and hurt with. He never said it would be easy and it will take work, I believe it is possible because through Christ all things are possible.

As I strive to live charitable, to love as Christ loves, I will try to remember one more thing Pres. Monson shared:

“Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life.”

I say this in the name of my savior and friend, Jesus Christ, Amen.