Bear Lake

Monday, November 02, 2009

Bear Lake

Pictures taken August 8, 2009

About three years ago, my family started been doing an annual trip to Bear Lake. We planned it well in advance and were all looking forward to it until it got to be that week. We started looking at the weather reports and realized that we were going to be camping in wet, cool temperatures! Suddenly our trip didn't sound as fun, and one by one, various family members started to back out. Andrew would not give it up, though. He had never been able to come with us and had never even been to Bear Lake before. He was looking forward to it, and he was determined to make it happen. In the end, we were worried about taking the boys for an overnighter in the cool weather because they had been a little sick. So we comprimised on a day trip. We met up with my parents and my sister Rebecca who had all braved the rain and camped as they had originally planned. With the weather being so cold, we never even made it down to the Lake. We hung out at the camping spot my parents had set up at, and enjoyed the playgrounds, grilling and just spending time together.

Another traditional activity for us is to head up to Minetonka Cave. It is just over the state border in Idaho. Rebecca stayed at camp with Peter, but Ammon and I were excited to introduce Andrew to the cave (we had both been there before). My parents were with us too and we all had a good time together. Andrew and my dad made their trip to the cave a little more interesting by biking down the mountain. They had a blast and I think they would have ridden more if it hadn't started to rain. (There are a couple of pictures of them on bikes in the first collage.)

We finished up the trip by bike riding 3 miles from camp into town for the famous Raspberry MilkShakes. We started eating them outside, but the weather was cooling fast as the sun set, and we ended up inside trying to get warm. I was so proud of Ammon who rode his bike the entire way! He had never biked that far before. Unfortunately (or maybe not so unfortunately) we had a flat tire on one of our bikes, so Andrew rode back to camp, got the truck and came to pick us all up.

Once we were back to camp, it was just time to load up the truck and head home. Andrew took charge of getting all the bikes loaded - we had a bunch! The boys and I loaded up our stuff and then waited in the car. We occupied ourselves by making funny faces and taking pitures. Within moments of driving away from camp, the boys were asleep! It was a wonderful day - I can't wait to go again next year!

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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.