Table Rock

There is a little mountain top called Table Rock, situated about 2,000 ft below and to the West of the Grand Teton. It looks like a table from everywhere in the valley, but once you are on it, it looks more like a bench. Yesterday a few friends and I hiked it. It is a great hike, six miles and about 5,000 ft. in elevation one way. The Grand Teton is a little over 13,000 ft. so we were about 11,000 ft. on the top of Table Rock. We had great weather, and even thought it looks a little cold in the pictures it wasn't, just windy.

I learned that Jackson Hole was formed by sinking down into the earth, and that this is partly what formed the Tetons. The earth underneath Jackson was displaced and turned into the Tetons. Although geologists say it is a lot more complicated, and they don't fully understand how it all happened. when you are on Table Rock you feel like you can reach out and touch the Tetons, the pictures don'e really do it justice. But I hope you enjoy them.

Some of you might recognize one of the girls in the picture as a sister missionary that served in our ward back home, Hillary Clemens.


This is hiking along the rim leading up to Table Rock. You can see Table Rock in the upper left corner of the picture. This is my friend Nikki Mendenhall leading the way.


This is a picture of all of us on the top. From me to the right it is Brynne, Hillary, and Nikki. The mountains behind us are (again from left to right) Mt. Owen, the Grand Teton, the Middle Teton, and the South Teton.



Another picture of all of us.


These next two are of Hillary teaching me some Yoga. I was trying to become one with the Tetons.



What do you think?

Graduation

I graduated from Brigham Young University Idaho on Friday with a BS Economics. I don't really know what to say, it was a great four years and I will be forever grateful for the experiences, the people, and the lessons that have come into my life because of this University. When I came home from my mission I was dead set on going to ASU to study architecture, but the Lord had a better plan for me. I had no idea back then how large of an impact the decision to come here would have on my life. As Elder Bednar put it, this University is a "Disciple Preparation Center, or a DPC"- similar to an MTC in many ways. I feel much more prepared to be both a disciple and a leader, two ideas that I have learned are inseparably connected.

There are pictures below, and I have also tried to identify some lessons I have learned here as well, if you are interested.






Lessons:

1) In today’s world, you can learn anything if you have four things:
• A question
• The faith to step into the dark; to ask, seek, and knock
• The companionship of the Spirit
• A humble heart and open mind

2) Going to bed early and getting up early really does keep your mind sharp.

3) Being involved and engaged is the only way to develop yourself. Don’t simply float through life.

4) Leadership has more to do with your private life than your public life.

5) Friends bring color and joy into life if you open your heart to them.

6) With God, nothing is impossible.

7) Everything worthwhile in life is going to require hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.

8) There is a difference between fun and happiness. Fun is going to a rope swing on a hot summer evening after studying all day. Happiness is knowing you put the study before the play.

9) Learning is not necessarily fun, but brings happiness.

10) Teaching others will almost always help you more than it helps those you teach.

11) Do your dishes.

12) You are responsible for your learning. Blaming it on the teacher, the textbook, or the material won’t get you anywhere. If the class is a failure, then you have failed.

I Love to See the Temple

I thought this was really cool. I am going to be in Salt Lake this week so maybe I will get the chance to stop by and see it. It doesn't look all that big in the video, but they say it is 88 inches tall! What an amazing blessing it is to have so many temples worldwide now. I really do love to see, and go to, the temple.