A Huge Nibblet

Hugh Nibley died a few years ago. He was probably the most notable Mormon scholar of all times. I've found though, that many people are intimidated by his books. Maybe it is that they average 1200 pages. Maybe it is that most of them have about 26,000 footnotes. Or maybe people just get scared away by his deep titles. Whatever it is, I think there is tons that can be learned from him. So, for my next few posts, I am going to to cover a few topics that he covers--just not in as much detail, and presented in a little more friendly manner. Hopefully someone can still learn from the old scholar.

What About the Last Days? What Does Zion Have To Do With It?

One of the most common questions LDS scholars are asked is what is the order of events in the Last Days. What is going to happen first? Then what? Will this happen before that? Many people don’t realize it, but Joseph Smith gave us an easy outline of major events in the Last Days. “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.” That’s it! That is how things are going to play out in the last days. That is the exact order, of things defined by The Prophet.

The midpoint and focus of the whole operation is Zion. Zion is the great moment of transition, the bridge between the world as it is and the world as God designed it and meant it to be.

What is this ideal Zion like? In the last days, we are told, it will be a place of refuge in a doomed world. "It shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God; . . . and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, . . . and it shall be called Zion" (D&C 45:66-67). At that time, "every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety" (D&C 45:68).

The wicked shall say that Zion is terrible. Terrible because it is indestructible. Her invulnerability makes her an object of awe and terror. As Enoch said, "Surely Zion shall dwell in safety forever. But the Lord said unto Enoch: Zion have I blessed, but the residue of the people have I cursed" (Moses 7:20). So Zion was taken away and the rest destroyed. Zion itself is never in danger; on the contrary, it alone offers safety to the world, "that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth" (D&C 115:6).

It would seem that Zion enjoys the complete security of a bit of the celestial world and that nothing can touch it as long as it retains the character. But celestial order it must be. Zion cannot be built up "Unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom" (D&C 105:5). It must at all times be holy enough to receive the Lord himself in person. "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation" (Psalm 132:13); "Behold mine abode forever" (Moses 7:21). Zion is heaven. It is where God lives.

To find a hobby...

Last Monday Moss came in when I was watching "Friends" and said Christie we need to find you a hobby. I said I have one and I am doing it right now. He said no a real hobby that I don't get sick of. I said ok I guess you are right, what should it be? He then asked what I used to do before I met him. I said watch TV and sleep. He said you must of done more, I said well I went to High School that took up a lot of time but I don't think they will let me back there. He said well lets find you one. So for about an hour Moss kept coming up with ideas and I kept shooting them down. I love my current hobby and I don't like change. He came up with everything thing from doing the dishes to crawling around on the floor (he came up with that one when I was just so frustrated from thinking I gave up and laid on the floor, I know I am weird but I am the baby of the family what else would you expect?) He finally decided that we would go buy me a sander so that I could finish some wood project I had been working on. So we headed to Home Depot. When I got there we found me a sander and some paint brushes Moss was pretty much about to buy me every wood shop tool just so he could have some time to himself to do his hobbies...poor kid! We then headed to Wal-mart to get some sprite and I said I wanted to buy some flowers to plant in the front yard. So we headed over to the garden department. It started out with some green gardening gloves then slowly turned into us buying lots of stuff so I could keep busy! The coolest part but I touched a flower and when I look down at my hand there was a little tiny slug on it. I wanted to take it with us but Moss said that was stealing so I left it there. (He really didn't say that but it would of been funny right?) I planted them right when we got home and dang they look good! My watering can sure came in handy.
I wore a sweet outfit too.
I started to cut some of the palm trees and before I knew it the yard look freaking awesome! My dad even came over and showed me what I needed to do to start a gardening. I am so excited!!! Hopefully this hobby will keep me busy for at least a little while... we will see...

Our Adventure!

Yesterday Moss and I were driving home from the store and Moss said I want to go on an adventure got any good idea of where. I said I have no idea he said ok I have wanted to go to this river out by Zion want to go? I said sure, I am always up for some fun. We packed out swim suits and some snacks and headed out. It took us awhile to find it since it had been several years since Moss had been there last but when we found it it was pretty sweet.
But the bad thing it there were other people there that were drinking so they were a little loud and acting stupid. Seriously why ever time you go to any kind of lake there are idiots there drinking. I don't understand it. We decided not to go swimming with the weirdos so we just took some picture and walked through the water a little bit. It was pretty warm water so that was nice.

I even found some Moss I was so excited!!! Can you tell?!?!?!Moss was so nice to make sure I was doing ok maneuvering the rocks. I have a history of falling down a lot and I was not about to dive head first into the water, although that would of been a funny story to tell. Maybe later...

Afterwards we drove around for awhile and then went into Springdale and ate at the Pizza Noodle. Thats not the correct name but thats what we call it. It was good food, but let me tell you there were some weird people out and about but what else would you expect out there with the nature people.

Climbing with the Smith!

A few weeks ago on memorial day we decided to have a picnic and invited the Smiths along. Moss got to choose the park so he chose the one with the climbing rocks. He was really excited to go. We picked up some subway sandwiches and headed over. We ate our lunch, Moss took a nap.
Then we headed over to the rock to have some fun. Madison didn't wait a second to start climbing around. She was doing way good too and wasn't really scared at all.
Of course Porter could not be outdone by his sister so he followed her everywhere she went and loved it as well.
Ryan struggled a little but because he legs are like less than two feet long but he tried his best.

Brayden spent most of his time in the wood chips but made it up the rock a few times with Uncle Moss' help.

Moss even took the time to climb around a bit too and show the kids how its done.

Aaron even made it up the rock we were so proud.

Bonnie tanned on the rock for awhile and just enjoyed us making fools of ourselves.


It was hallirious though we were sitting there talking and I look over at Brayden and he had wood chips all over him and was not happy about it before I knew it Ryan was over there brushing him off the best he could. It was really funny. He is a great older brother!

Near the end Madison got really brave and headed up the rock and got really really high!

All the kids loved to pose for pictures!