This book is an enjoyable read, and I must admit it kept me interested enough that I was through is in only three days. I found the book amongst Sheri's collection of books. I am sure it is not available in any library close to Manteca. It was published in 1984.
The adventure and excitement is there, and keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next. And the theme is one I had heard about many times before, the lost gold mines in the Uintah Mountains known either as the Rhoades Mine, or the Brigham Mine or the lost Spanish mines. Many are the legends with regards to this mine, and Thomas Rhoades (who had found plenty of gold in California before turning his back on California and settling with the Saints in Utah, who had special permission to extract gold by the Indians provided he not let anyone know where the mine was located. Later this privilege was extended to his son, Caleb Rhoades. For a sample of the legends you can check this website http://www.angelfire.com/trek/forthetruth/uintatreasure.html
Part of the Matt Warner includes his shooting and killing people who were following his partner up Dry Creek Canyon, outside of Vernal, as they were looking for this very mine. The mine seems to be surrounded by death and hardship. You can read this story here:
http://www.prospector-utah.com/matt.htm
The story of the lost gold mines has intrigued me, not that I would want
to go looking for gold in those mountains. But I have been through
them several times, and have seen evidence of old mines. It is a
fascinating story that just doesn't go away.
As for the book, it combines the persecution of polygamous families at this time, with the legend of the mines. It has a young man who found some gold while herding sheep at its center. The gold is used to bail his father, in jail as a result of being a polygamous. However word of the find attracts a group of outlaws who are intent on forcing the young man to lead them to the gold. The book also adds a love story, and somehow the girl gets to the mine as well (that is the part of the story that went a bit too far.)
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday School:I am not Ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: Romans
Romans 8: 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IARerNmOShk&feature=related [Osmonds "I am a Child of God]
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
38 For
I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I think this means nothing can take us from God's love, not even our own selves. His love is always extended to us. We just have to take his outstretched hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xquqy4cLPcU&feature=related [Instrumental, I Feel My Savior's Love]
[lyrics]
Book Review: "To Whom it may Concern" William O. Ashton
This book I borrowed from the Stevens Creek Ward Library, and I decided to read it before taking it back. Marvin O. Ashton was the father of Marvin J. Ashton. H married a Jeremy making him my grandmother's cousin-in-law, and Marvin J. Ashton my mom's second cousin. Marvin O. Ashton was presiding bishop of the church for many years. My mother tells the story of his spending time with the family in Idaho Falls when he was there for a dedication. He later mailed two-person piano music to my mom and her twin as they had played for him on the piano while he was there. He may have also helped my grandparents on their way to reactivation and going through the temple.
The book is a collection of stories, ninety of them, and then other stories and lessons to tell the story. A couple of them stood out. One story is entitled python eggs. He tells how in India, the native country of the pythons it is important to seek out python eggs and smash them with your heel before they hatch. In this way they could prevent the dead venomous snake from being born. He explained this further telling about a young man who absolutely refused a drink with his friends, even when they tried to force them. This young man told a story about someone who had given in to that first drink, eventually became an alcoholic, and in a drunken stupor had forced his wife and baby out on a cold winter night. When he realized what he had done the next morning he came to his senses, and found his wife dead, her body wrapped around the baby to keep him warm. The young man said he had been that baby. It is best o smash the python eggs before they hatch.
He referred to "Stop, Look and Listen several times. I like this statement as I use to sing this song to the kids growing up. He has another chapter called "Constant Aim" about a man new to farming. He was trying to plow a field, and someone told him to keep his aim towards a mark, like a stone, at the other end of the field. However he pigged a pig rather than a stone, and the pig kept moving. As a result his plowing job was all over the place.
Many chapters are time sensitive and geared to bishops. It was written right after WWII. By today's sensitivities we might refer to his attitude as being racist in light of comments about "Israelitish" people and "colored" people. It was a different time then.
He also told the story "I can sleep when the Wind Blows." This story is about the man hired after saying this sentence, and then when the big storm came he slept through it. The farmer was disappointed, but then discovered the hand could actually sleep because he had already prepared everything for the storm.
This book was an enjoyable read. Now I just have to get the book back to Cupertino.
The book is a collection of stories, ninety of them, and then other stories and lessons to tell the story. A couple of them stood out. One story is entitled python eggs. He tells how in India, the native country of the pythons it is important to seek out python eggs and smash them with your heel before they hatch. In this way they could prevent the dead venomous snake from being born. He explained this further telling about a young man who absolutely refused a drink with his friends, even when they tried to force them. This young man told a story about someone who had given in to that first drink, eventually became an alcoholic, and in a drunken stupor had forced his wife and baby out on a cold winter night. When he realized what he had done the next morning he came to his senses, and found his wife dead, her body wrapped around the baby to keep him warm. The young man said he had been that baby. It is best o smash the python eggs before they hatch.
He referred to "Stop, Look and Listen several times. I like this statement as I use to sing this song to the kids growing up. He has another chapter called "Constant Aim" about a man new to farming. He was trying to plow a field, and someone told him to keep his aim towards a mark, like a stone, at the other end of the field. However he pigged a pig rather than a stone, and the pig kept moving. As a result his plowing job was all over the place.
Many chapters are time sensitive and geared to bishops. It was written right after WWII. By today's sensitivities we might refer to his attitude as being racist in light of comments about "Israelitish" people and "colored" people. It was a different time then.
He also told the story "I can sleep when the Wind Blows." This story is about the man hired after saying this sentence, and then when the big storm came he slept through it. The farmer was disappointed, but then discovered the hand could actually sleep because he had already prepared everything for the storm.
This book was an enjoyable read. Now I just have to get the book back to Cupertino.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Life in Manteca:Park Review and Rachelle Visit
My weekend started right on Thursday my niece was at our home when I made it home off the train. She was here to ran a race with a team from San Francisco to Napa. This is a link to her blog. http://runningfortrevor.blogspot.com/2011/09/top-10.html?showComment=1316405419341#c5665894226652593318
Friday Sheri and I visited the Jazz night the stake put on. The music was great. Brother Hammerstrom and his students from Sierra High School. The food was New Orleans style and spicy hot. For dessert I dipped strawberries in fondu. It would have been funner had we known more people. Sheri did run into a cousin, Haws, we really hadn't met before. We left early as Charity was at our house and we wanted to chat with she and Anthony.
Miranda has been practicing driving, so I had her take me through New Hope, or Stanislaus City, which is no longer there, but thanks to Linda Hicken from the Ripon Ward, I now have a better idea where it was--the and of Manteca road. We got a couple pictures, then a couple of llamas and alpacas on the road, disappointed in Durham Ferry State Recreation area--it must be closed as it said "no trespassing."
We then made it to the library, the new part to the library park is still closed, but you could get through the fence and kids were trying out and I let Tony try for a couple minutes. It is going to be fun.
We then checked out a park we had never been to. It is called Union West Park, close to Sierra High School. It has a metal (all the others have been plastic for the most part) play structure with a slide and climb and then also a big person swing. Lots of trees, basketball court etc. Lots of shade. Miranda, Tiago, I and Tony were there. Tony is starting to swing. For the first time really he was actually pumping and doing some good.
Another first for Tony. We were at Diana's house today. Tony made his first basket on their hoop. I knew he was close as I had him playing a few weeks ago, and he almost got some in then.
Friday Sheri and I visited the Jazz night the stake put on. The music was great. Brother Hammerstrom and his students from Sierra High School. The food was New Orleans style and spicy hot. For dessert I dipped strawberries in fondu. It would have been funner had we known more people. Sheri did run into a cousin, Haws, we really hadn't met before. We left early as Charity was at our house and we wanted to chat with she and Anthony.
Miranda has been practicing driving, so I had her take me through New Hope, or Stanislaus City, which is no longer there, but thanks to Linda Hicken from the Ripon Ward, I now have a better idea where it was--the and of Manteca road. We got a couple pictures, then a couple of llamas and alpacas on the road, disappointed in Durham Ferry State Recreation area--it must be closed as it said "no trespassing."
We then made it to the library, the new part to the library park is still closed, but you could get through the fence and kids were trying out and I let Tony try for a couple minutes. It is going to be fun.
We then checked out a park we had never been to. It is called Union West Park, close to Sierra High School. It has a metal (all the others have been plastic for the most part) play structure with a slide and climb and then also a big person swing. Lots of trees, basketball court etc. Lots of shade. Miranda, Tiago, I and Tony were there. Tony is starting to swing. For the first time really he was actually pumping and doing some good.
Another first for Tony. We were at Diana's house today. Tony made his first basket on their hoop. I knew he was close as I had him playing a few weeks ago, and he almost got some in then.
Godly Sorrow
This is the movie for Sunday school lesson today. We didn't get through the entire movie, and the song is very nice. It is important to remember that God's grace is sufficient for us all, but we need to repent in the right way, and this movie talks about this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X5lp4a8_vM
We also talked about trials ad tribulations. I shared the Francis Webster story, which is in my history blog. What an interesting man.
http://bwardlehistory.blogspot.com/2011/09/francis-wester-california-gold-minor.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X5lp4a8_vM
We also talked about trials ad tribulations. I shared the Francis Webster story, which is in my history blog. What an interesting man.
http://bwardlehistory.blogspot.com/2011/09/francis-wester-california-gold-minor.html
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