Valley Green, Mountain Snow

Looks like the Alps

See the snowfields remaining on Cascade Peak

HIgh water in the Provo River in Heber Valley

While at the cabin this morning, Wendy and I went for a walk along the Provo River.  There must have been 4 or 5 times the usual flow.  Here some pictures:

Some Insights about Hope from Ether 12

3 ...by faith all things are fulfilled—

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
        Believeth–a verb form of the work “faith,” meaning in this context “acquires or exercises faith.” 
        Faith is following a course of action led by the Spirit.  Hope is having an assurance or witness
        from the Spirit that one is on the path to eternal life.
        Here is chiastic form that shows the connection of faith and hope.  Hope follows faith:
          A   ...whoso believeth in God
               B   might with surety hope for a better
                     world, yea, even a place at the right
                     hand of God,
               B   which hope
          A  cometh of faith

5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not.

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
        Here is a similar chiasm, which equates hope with having a witness of the validity of your faith:
          A   I would show unto the world that faith is
                B   things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not,
                B   for ye receive no witness
          A   until after the trial of your faith.

7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.   
        Faith is a necessary foundation, and when exercised results in the heavenly gift of hope through
        Christ.  Such hope:
               – Is an anchor to the souls of men
               – Makes persons sure and steadfast
               – Is a witness to the validity of acts of faith
               – Is a heavenly gift.

Heliotropic Leadership–Compassion, Forgiveness, and Gratitude

I was curious about some ideas presented in the recent Saturday morning General Conference session by Elder Mark A. Bragg of the Seventy.  He said:

“I heard this eternal truth taught beautifully in an unexpected place. While I was working for a large bank, I was invited to attend an executive program at the University of Michigan. During the program, Professor Kim Cameron taught the concept of positive leadership and its heliotropic effect. He explained: “This refers to the tendency in all living systems toward positive energy [light] and away from negative energy [darkness]. From single-cell organisms to complex human systems, everything alive has an inherent inclination toward the positive and away from the negative.””  (Kim Cameron, Positive Leadership: Strategies for Extraordinary Performance, 2nd ed. (2012), xii; see also Kim S. Cameron, “Leading with Energy,” Wheatley Institution Fellow Notes, Feb. 17, 2017, wheatley.byu.edu)

“Supported by a wealth of studies, he also focused on three critical components of a successful workplace culture: compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude.   It makes perfect sense that as people turn towards the positive (light), the attributes perfectly exemplified by the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, are present!”
(“Brighter and Brighter until the Perfect Day” by Elder Mark A. Bragg of the Seventy, April 2017 General Conference))

Here are a few more notes from the web, for this intriguing metaphor:

Heliotropism, (=sun-turning) is the diurnal motion or seasonal motion of plant parts (flowers or leaves) in response to the direction of the sun.

All forms of life, from the tiniest bacteria to mammals, including humans possess an inclination toward the positive. According to Kim Cameron, Professor of Management and Organizations at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, "Strategies that capitalize on the positive tend to produce life-giving, flourishing outcomes in individuals and organizations."

What leadership roles do you have, both formal and informal in the workplace, your family and other social communities? How can you apply the concept of positive leadership to these roles? What is positive leadership anyway? According to the literature, positive leadership has three connotations:
1) The facilitation of extraordinarily positive performance--that is, performance that is dramatically better than typical or expected. For instance, Cameron studied organizations that went through extensive downsizing, yet were "positively deviant" by performing exceptionally well throughout and after the process.
2) Focuses on strengths and capabilities and affirming human potential, (an "affirmative bias") the emphasis is on enabling growing and thriving rather than fixing problems.
3) Fostering the best in people and systems-that which is "good." While there are some cultural differences, all societies and cultures possess a catalog of traits which they consider virtuous or good.

By the way, Dr. Cameron is also LDS and the Stake President in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Formerly he was on the BYU MBA faculty.  I wonder if Greg is acquainted with him?

Good Family History Research is Good Research

I was trained in research methodologies in the social sciences.  I conducted formal studies and published at least 25 articles in professional research journals and book chapters.  I have recently taught classes in family history research around this theme--"Good Family History Research is Good Research."  Here is a summary of this class.  The steps of good research, as they might apply to family history work, as I would understand them, are:

1) Define the research question
Generally a researcher needs to narrow his/her focus in order to give clarity to the research effort and make it manageable, doable, and relevant.  This usually requires some initial study to determine what research has already been performed in the potential area of concern, what holes may be present in the existing body of knowledge (what hasn’t been yet worked on successfully), and then further refining, narrowing, and focusing of the question so that it becomes both significant and possible.  As an overall genealogical research strategy, one might choose to focus on direct line ancestors and families, on a particular line of descendants of early direct ancestors, or possibly on persons with an ancestral surname living in a time and locale where direct ancestors were known to live.  From that strategic base, the ultimate research focus would generally then become one person or family at a time in succession according to the following.

2) Patiently gather all relevant information before drawing conclusions.  The standard is: a “reasonably exhaustive search” for vital information, facts, and proofs regarding each person and family identified.  Be disciplined to document this information carefully and conscientiously (see #4 below).

3) After all the information has been gathered, carefully and analytically derive meaning and conclusions.

4) Leave a full written trail of your findings, so that those who come after you will know exactly what your sources were and the nature of your conclusions and how they were derived.  Preferably these conclusions would be contained in a personal home genealogical computer data base and/or other personal files.  

5) Create and carry out a plan for dissemination (sharing) of your findings, including adding or updating records in Family Tree, probably to include source references and analysis behind your conclusions (#2 and 3 above).