Theatrical Event: Ship Brooklyn Entertains

We attended the dress rehearsal with Jeremy's and Charity's families.  Consequently there were many grand babies there.  "Ship Brooklyn: The Musical" presents the history of over 200 Mormons who traveled West aboard the Ship Brooklyn.  It tells of several families aboard the Brooklyn.  It talks about their struggles, including traveling through a hurricane which nearly blew them to Africa, going around Tierra del Fuego, stopping at Juan Fernandez Island and Sandwich Island (Hawaii).  The things that happened at Hawaii included meeting Commodore Stockton, whose intention was to travel to Yerba Buena (San Francisco) and claim it for the United States.  This was the same destination of the Ship Brooklyn.  Among the passengers were a few births, several deaths, and a marriage.  I enjoyed the history.  I felt they could have used more pails when the passengers were all sea sick.  The music was well done, and the small band did a very good job.  My only complaint is that sometimes the dialogue was contrived to introduce songs which effected the continuity of the presentation.  Jeremy designed and built the set with several helpers including myself. 

Mormon Book Review: My First Church History Stories

My First Church History Stories, retold by: Deanna Draper Buck, Illustrated by Jerry Harston and Leslie Harston, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1999.
The brief stories in this book are well told, and include many tidbits about church history.  Of course included are some of the major events such as Joseph Smith's first vision, the visit of the Angel Moroni, and the restoration of the church and the priesthood.  Lesser known stories that are also included are: the healing of a boys hip after he was shot by a member of a mob, two young women who gathered and saved many pages of the Book of Commandments.  They hid in a cornfield.  The martyrdom of the prophet, and exodus form Nauvoo are included.  The pioneers moving west, and the story of the seagulls eating the crickets are exciting stories.  The book also includes a look at the present-day church with temples and prophets.

The History of Mormonism (+playlist)

This is my history.  The Church of Jesus Christ was lost, and has been restored in these days.  The authority of the priesthood has been restored.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  This history is a true history as presented.  Of this I testify because the Holy Ghost has witnessed to me this is true.  Billy Wardle