OCTOBER 2025 - Changing Seasons, Spiritual learning, Grandkids, Bison and Halloween

BYU VS UTAH GAME DAY

 

We started the month on October 1 going on a day road trip to Mount Nebo to see the Fall foliage.  We had such a fun day of adventure.

Mount Nebo, rising to 11,928 feet, marks the highest point in the Wasatch Mountain Range.  Mount Nebo named by early Mormon pioneers meaning, "Sentinel of God."

Mount Nebo is a unique mountain geologically.  Normally, the oldest rocks are found at the highest elevations and the youngest rocks are found at the lowest elevations.  As Mount Nebo formed, it was inverted by a huge thrust fault, reversing the process of rock layering and exposing the youngest rocks at the top.  

The forces of nature that created Mount Nebo continue to change the face of the mountain even today.  

Mount Nebo

The favorite stop is at Rowley's Red Barn in Santaquin.  

Fresh apple cider slush with caramel swirl ice cream - lasted the whole drive through the mountains and foliage.  

We bought big pumpkins to put on our front porches - time to decorate for Fall.  

We began our drive stopping in Historic Payson UT to walk through their downtown.  It was small and mostly filled with Barber and Beauty shops, 2 restaurants, an ice cream shop and an amazing public library.  

Just 3 days later THE SNOW arrived.  We have not had snow at our home but the Mountains around us have had several days this month with snow.  It is so beautiful to have the mountain peaks with snow and the Fall foliage below.  

EMILY'S HEALING

Emily continues to heal from her Hip and Clavicle surgeries.  We went to her follow up appointment and she is healing as expected.  She had been in a large brace that send around her hips and down her right leg to the knee.  It was very constricting but was helping her heal with it connected to an ice pump.  

It was a happy day as they removed the brace and said she could be off the crutches in the next few days.  

She continues weekly Physical Therapy and has made a lot of progress.  They helped her to not walk with a limp and she continues to have greater range of motion in her shoulder and with her hip.  It has been a long journey and we are encouraged by the healing and improvement in her body.  

She was able to go to the BYU vs Utah Football game with the use of a motorized scooter - she loved sitting in the wheelchair section and the special treatment she received.  We dropped her off at the front gate, got her situated on the scooter and off she went.  It was good for her to get out. She could hardly move the next day from sitting so long at the game!  

So grateful she is more mobile now and getting back into her routines.  Her happy place is the gym and she has been able to go back this month and do a few machines.  The Doctor says slow and steady - take time to heal.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

October is a special month as we have the opportunity to listen and participate in General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  As you know, we look forward to this time to hear from the Prophet and other General Authorities of the Church.  This year was a little different as our beloved Prophet, Russell M. Nelson passed away just days before the conference at age 101.  The Conference went forward and we were filled with inspiration, faith, hope and words to help us in the coming days.  

The following week the official announcement was made of the Sustaining of a new Prophet, Dallin H. Oaks.  

I am so grateful for the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the pattern that is in place for the order in sustaining a new Prophet and the work of the Church moving forward.  Dallin H. Oaks has been prepared by the Lord to be His Prophet at this day and time.  

GRANDKIDS

Fall Concert and Silks Recital

Preslee is in the top left.  She is growing into a beautiful young woman and loves singing in her school choir.  She is very animated and gives her best to the performances

Silks is Aerial Aerobatics.  She thrives in this form of gymnastics.  It is so beautiful to watch as they wrap themselves in the silks and do so many moves and stunts.  

Preslee 

After her performance we stopped for her favorite treat - A Caramel Apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate.  The Traverse Mall was decorated so fun for Halloween.  It was an adventure just walking through the outdoor Mall.

fun animals

Beautiful night to get in the Halloween Spirit. Love all the Fall colors and lights.

WICHITA FAMILY

Nora had a soccer Tournament so we got to see her play in between all of the other activities that fill their days.  She made the first goal - that one was for me - and then she had two called back for different penalties.  She felt cheated and said the second one was for Grandpa even if they called it back.  They still won the game and won 2 our of the 3 games.  It was a beautiful evening in Wichita.

Nora had a school assignment to decorate a pumpkin after a character in a book you had read.  Then she had to write a Book Report.  She chose Buster by Caleb Zane Huett.  I helped her with the fabric ears and she painted the face.  It turned out so cute.  It is always fun working with her on school projects.  

Our main reason for going to Wichita Kansas was to see William in ALICE IN WONDERLAND.  He was the 4 of Hearts - an up and coming star!

He has practiced with Theatre Wichita 5 days a week for the past month.   This is his third show for this Company and he really enjoys it.  He is looking forward to doing The Little Mermaid in January.  

William before the show

4 of Hearts

My Boys have both found working with Leather a favorite hobby and both have honed the skill to a professional level.  

Brian started with soccer balls a few years ago, took on moccasins last year and he just finished his first pair of moccasin boots.  They are constructed from a beautiful tanned leather with Vibram soles.  

Joshua and Brian have different style preferences but each one a great craftsman in their own way.  

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

My niece, Meridith was married this month.  It was very special for their family to all be together.  My brother who turned 80 last month (last month's Blog) has been going through Chemotherapy and Radiation for Cancer and it was so good for their family to have pictures and a good time together.  

I am so grateful to have this picture of George and Irene.  It shows their Joy even during trying times.  

We had a Ward Adult Dinner Group Evening and we were one of the houses to Host a Dinner.  We had 5 couples and Emily and it was such a fun night.  We began the night with each couple writing down a fun fact about how they met, dated, or something about their life together.  We then started our dinner with Butternut Pumpkin Soup, Fall Salad with orange sections, beets, pistachio and mixed salad greens.  It was delicious.  While we were eating Emily read the papers and we had to figure out what couple it matched.  It made for the best Table Talk and we got to know everyone better.  

One couple who had only been married for 3 months (Doug and Laural McKay) shared their amazing love story.  Both had lost spouses to death and they found each other at age 60.  They were born in the same hospital in California and the rest is history.    Fritz and Mary Hasler spend summers in Wisconsin and Winters in Utah.  Fritz still skies in his 80's and his family immigrated from Germany when he was a young child - he hit it off with Russ immediately.  It was fun to make new friends.  Jed and Janilyn Anderson (our Bishop) and John and Deborah McCurdy rounded out the guests.  

We had a dinner of meatloaf, potatoes, rolls and a delicious apple caramel cobbler with homemade ice cream.  Each couple contributed a dish and it made for a delightful evening.  

BOOK OF MORMOM CULTURE CONFERENCE 2025

Flight to Egypt

Russ and I had the opportunity to attend this conference on the BYU Campus.  On Wednesday night it was held at the Museum of Art to see the original artwork of Gary E. Smith and also hearing him speak.  He is in his 90's and still painting.  He had on display works that have never been shown before that are part of his private collection.  He talked about his career as an artist and especially his work for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the process of getting a picture approved for use by the Church.  The picture at the left is the flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt.  

This composite picture was featured on the cover of the Ensign magazine September 1977 showing depiction’s of 4 stories in The Book of Mormon.  

The picture on the left is of Palmyra New York in the 1820's of the First Vision with Joseph Smith.  The picture shows the Smith homestead in the background.  The Church said it was too Folk Art to be used.  He said, that time period was Folk Art!  

Below is Joseph Smith digging on a farm.  

Joseph Smith translating the ancient record.  

This picture was never published - private collection

Below is another in the private collection showing The Angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith in his bedroom.  He shared a really nice story about his time painting this picture and getting the light just right after many attempts.  

We really enjoyed the evening and learned so much.  He has painted several murals in Temples around the world including the Nauvoo Temple.  

The Opening Key Note:  Dr. Jared Halverson

"Resurrecting Scripture:  Breathing Life into Voices from the Dust."

WOW!  He blew our minds with his presentation on the Breath of Life.  

He said a picture of nostrils would be a better representation of this concept instead of how Michael Angelo shows life by two fingers touching.  

Mosiah 2:21 "...preserving you from day to day, by lending  you breath..."

Genesis 2:7 - "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul"

Job 27:3-4 -"All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit."

He was teaching that it is through the breath of God that gives us our soul.  Without our soul our body is nothing.  

This slide shows Hebrew, Greek and other languages and what breath means in each.  Most of them were spirit, life force or breath of life, wind or air, life force or vital energy

The next speaker - Mark Z. Christensen, History Department BYU spoke on Quetzalcoatl, Nahuatl Annals, and The Book of Mormon

Who was Quetzalcoatl?

What we think:

*Ancient Mesoamerican god representing Christ (like Moses and the serpent)

*Ancient lord who advocated against human sacrifice and forced to leave his city but promised to return one day

* White, bearded god

What we know:

* Olmec (1500-400 BC). 

* Teotihuacan (100 BC -650 AD)

    Temple of the Feathered Serpent (150-200 AD). 200 sacrificial burials (warriors)

*Toltecs (900 -1180 AD)

   Legendary ruler of Tula named Topilzin Quetzalcoatl (895-947)

   Likely a title for various rulers

   Fled Tula in disgrace after being tricked by Tetzcatlipoca.  Became drunk, slept with his sister

He was a nexus of gods including rain and fertility deities, and a wind god.

So this ancient White God spoken of anciently was a composite of many mythical gods and not what had been taught or thought for many years.  

One of my favorite presentations was from Bill DeVaney - Buoyed by Faith:  The Jaredite Migration

He is a boat designer and boat builder living in Alaska.  His life has been on the ocean and he gave such an interesting presentation on the boats built by the Jaredites to sail to the New World.  The map to the left shows the route from Asia South following the West Wind Drift then back North to the Americas.  He told how it was Spring during the whole voyage following this route and the winds as described in the records.  We loved hearing his stories about ship building and answering questions I have always had about the boats built by the Jaredites.  

Julie Frederick - Before they were Mothers:  Understanding the Context and Significance of the mothers of the Stripling Soldiers.  

We heard an insightful account of these mothers lives as they were raising their sons in the years leading up to 26th year of the reign of the judges.  

The sons are described in the scriptures as:  young men, stripling soldiers, very young, stripling Ammonites, my little sons, young men and young.  

In Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary (time of Joseph Smith)

Stripling:  "a youth in the state of adolescence, or just passing form boyhood to manhood"

Strip: "primarily a tall, slender youth, one that shoots up suddenly"

These young men were called to defend their people as their parents had given an oath that they would not fight.  Not one of these young men were killed in battles they were outnumbered in and less skilled.  They were protected by the Lord in defending their righteous families.  

The mothers taught their sons that:

*There is a God who is just

*They should keep the commandments and doubt not

*God would preserve those who doubt not

Their sons learned to:

*Be men of truth and soberness

*Be firm and undaunted, obey every command with exactness

*Not fear death, but think more on the liberty of their fathers

*Have faith and trust God continually

 Dr. Paul Anderson, son of Steve and Betty Anderson (former Boss of Russ at American Airlines) presented on the Psalms found in The Book of Mormon.  It was nice to see Steve and Betty again and enjoy the conference together.  

This is just a sampling of the presentations we were able to hear.

The Promise of Joseph gives shares why this record was written for our day and came forth as The Book of Mormon in these Latter Days.

"Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand" (2 Nephi 25:21)

Elder David A Bednar, April 2022 General Conference said: 

"As we act in accordance with the truths of His gospel, we are blessed with the spiritual capacity to press forward through the challenges of mortality while focusing on the joys the Savior offers to us.  Truly, if we do what's right we have no need to fear, for the Lord, our helper, will ever be near.

I witness that the connections with Him and Heavenly Father are real and are the ultimate sources of assurance, peace, joy, and the spiritual strength that enable us to fear not, though the enemy deride. As covenant-making and covenant-keeping disciples of Jesus Christ, we can be blessed to take courage, for the Lord is on our side and pay no attention to evil influences and secular scoffing."

ANTELOPE ISLAND, GREAT SALT LAKE BISON ROUND-UP

From the time I was a little girl driving from Idaho to Utah to visit grandparents I have wanted to see Antelope Island.  For the past 45 years we have flown over it every time we came to Salt Lake and have watched the water recede and the island not being so isolated from the mainland.  I read about the annual Bison round up and we decided to go.  It did not disappoint and was a really fun day together.  

There are currently about 800 Bison on the island and they bring them into the corrals once a year to check on them, number the herd, medical check and then return them to the range.

They allow about 200 cowboys and girls join the round-up with their horses and make it a public event.  After the main round-up it takes about 3 days to find all of the strays and bring them in.  

We saw lots of strays as we drove in.  

cowboys at the end of the drive

Bison in the corrals

Corrals looking out to the water

We drove the 11 miles around the island to the Historic Ranch.  It was so worth the drive and to see the history of the area and more of the island.

The Ranch was established in 1848 and continued for 133 years umtil 1981 when the State of Utah purchased the island with its 600 buffalo and are making the park into a wildlife preserve adding bighorn sheep, eld and antelope.  

1848 - Island Ranching Company

In the fall of 1848, Lot Smith, Heber P. Kimball, and Fielding Garr explored Antelope Island and found conditions suitable for ranching.  Livestock were placed on the island by the LDS Church's Perpetual Emigration Fund Company.  Also valuable stallions and brood mares were brought to the island.  The herd grew to thousands.  7,000 sheep were added to the island in 1871 to 1876l.  By 1894 most of the horses had been removed or shot.

1884 - Island Improvement Company

The John Dooly Family

Purebred white-faced Hereford and Galloway cattle were imported.  In 1893 twelve buffalo were brought to the island and some successful cross breeding occurred.  From 1950 to 1970, new sheep shearing sheds, corrals, fences and a silo were built.  Improvements were made to the ranch house, blacksmith shop and bunk house.  A causeway was constructed to the south end of the island.  

1972 - Island Ranching Company

The Anschutz Family

Fencng was extended, building were maintained, and the south-end causeway was raised.   2,000 head of cattle were added and the buffalo had grown to 400 head.  Pheasants and mountain sheep were brought to the island.

1982 - Antelope Island State Park

When we arrived at the Ranch we walked over to the Historical marker and there was a man reading the information.  He moved aside when we came up and I told him to keep reading and that we could wait.  He pointed to the marker and said, That is my great great grandmother Garr - the first inhabitants of the island as the caretakers.  He said, my Dad brought me here every summer when I was a young boy and then he told us some stories of those visits.  That was really fun.  

We then walked over to the Ranch House and took the pictures shown above.  As I was taking pictures there was a single lady also taking pictures.  She showed me how to get a better picture and then said, I grew up on a dairy farm in the North East US and this is very interesting to me.  She said she would like to know the history - we showed her where the Historical marker was telling all about the history.  I could tell she needed to talk to someone so Russ found a nice bench and I spent some time with her.  She had moved to Utah two weeks before from Tulsa Oklahoma.  She was really struggling with the move.  She did not like the apartment she rented from on-line pictures and her job was not what they had presented it to be.  She works with a company that contracts with the DOJ and she felt like she did not fit in to the culture of Utah.  She said, " I am a single woman, no children and I am not a Mormon". She was just really homesick and came out to the island to just get away from the city and hike and get grounded.  I asked her if she had found a Church to attend.  She said she was Catholic and in Layton there was just a really small congregation and it was not what she was looking for.  I asked her if she knew about Cathedral of St. Madeleine in Salt Lake?  She said "No".  I told her it might be too far for her to drive every week but it would be a really good place to go and feel peace  and to find a connection.  I also told her about Saint Olaf in Bountiful - a little closer to her.  She looked it up on her phone and got really emotional as she saw the beautiful Cathedral and said, "This is what I am looking for.  I did not know there would be one in Salt Lake City."  She asked if they had a Bell Choir.  I knew they had a choir but not if they had a bell choir.  She said she played in the Bell Choir in Tulsa.  I gave her some hope and something to look forward to for Sunday.  We talked about other sites in the area she could visit to get to know the area better.  We hugged and parted ways.  I thought I went to see the running of the Bison and while it was fun to see, I know I was there to help someone in their time of need.  I love talking and meeting new people - they change my life for the better.  

TRUNK OR TREAT

We had a fun night at our neighborhood Trunk or Treat in our Church parking lot.  The hay ride was a favorite for everyone.  Lots of candy, donuts and drinks flowed through the crowd.  

Julie Palmer with "Y" Spirit

Costco Samples

HALLOWEEN

A lot of work last week just for a photo opportunity.  He would not wear the head out Trick or Treating - but he was Happy!

Logan as a gaming Character

Emily's Halloween Dinner

scary bodies in a row

Jack Sparrow with his cannon and Ship

Russ and I took a driving tour of 8 houses that have amazing decorations and it was fun to see - pictures don't really show the reality of the houses.  It was so festive and fun.  Logan and Emily worked all week on his costume - he took off most of it before I could get a picture.  He had a great night with friends that came over.  This was a really good year for everyone.  I helped Emily with her meal by grilling the ribs and making the mashed potatoes for the brain mold.  Her dinner turned out great - she always makes it so fun.  

We are still riding our bikes on the Murdock Trail.  We have had such a beautiful Fall that we are still able to ride - just a little later in the morning to let it warm up a bit.  We have had some 40* mornings but this week it has been 60*.  It is so picturesque - we love our half-way rest stop.  

The crazy thing is we are still getting tomatoes and raspberries.  I am getting bigger and better raspberries now than I did all summer!  They seem to like the cooler weather over the hot summer.  We got lots of zucchini, 1 butternut squash, 2 Hubbard squash and lots of tomatoes and peppers.  The little orange cherry tomatoes roasted make the best pasta sauce.  

GLUTEN FREE FRENCH TOAST STICKS

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbl. butter, melted

2 Tbl. heavy cream

1 egg

2 Tbl. FiberWise All-Purpose

1/2 tsp. baking powder

COATING

1 egg

1 Tbl. heavy cream

1/4 tsp. cinnamon poder

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1.  Whisk together all ingredients for the sticks in a glass bread pan or similar microwave-safe dish.  Microwave for 90 seconds.  Allow to cool for a few minutes, then cut into sticks.

2.  Whisk together all ingredients for the coating.  Dip bread sticks in the mixture.

3.  Pan-fry in butter for 2-3 minutes per side.  

These are so quick and easy and really delicious!

Looking forward to the coming Holiday Season.  

The Grimmett's