EFG group in our basement.

Andrew and Mitchel at Lehi city park.

The Smith Grandsons

Ken with Andrew, Nathan, Peter, Finn, Emory, Trevor, and Mitchel

The Smith Granddaughters

Karen and I with our granddaughters Darby, Madeline, Kelli, Miranda, Samantha, and Nyla.

Granddaughters Jumping With Excitement

Miranda, Darby, and Samantha jumping in our front yard. Kelli is peeking through from behind the bench.

Smith Family Adults

What a fine looking group, if I do say so myself.

Smith Family Grandchildren

With our thirteen wonderful grandchildren. One is not happy

Smith Family - July 2009

We were all together for just a few hours but managed to take some excellent family photos.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

A picture of Karen and me with seven grandchildren after touring new temple in South Jordan, Utah.

EFG 2009

Picture of seven beautiful grandchildren taken during EFG 2009.

A Flag Retirement Ceremony

Karen and I recently attended a flag retirement ceremony sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 999 in Provo, Utah. A large number of old and tattered American flags were properly retired by burning.

These three U.S. Marines spoke at the ceremony.

A large crowd gathered to watch this impressive ceremony.

Scouts demonstrate the correct way to fold the American flag. Each fold has a specific meaning. This was explained by the Senior Patrol Leader as the flag was folded.

The pyre is ignited.

Scouts respectfully placed the old flags on the pyre.

The ceremony is about to conclude.

The Standard of Truth

In 1842, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote:

"The standard of truth has been erected: no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

(letter to John Wentworth dated 1 March 1842)

A Favorite Quote

Karl G. Maeser once made a statement about how chalk circles can be used to demonstrate the importance of keeping commitments. He said:

"I have been asked what I mean by my word of honor. I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls - ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground - there is a possibility that in some way or another I will escape; but stand me on a floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I would die first!" [In Alma P. Burton, Karl G. Maeser: Mormon Educator (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1953, p. 71]

More Photos from Beaverton

Andrew reciting the Gettysburg Address at a Court of Honor. He received a prize for reciting it correctly.

Pete drinking his blue milk

Nate and Grandpa

Memorial Day Weekend 2009 in Beaverton, Oregon

Tamra and Brian just before leaving for well deserved vacation

Madeline and Grandpa

Nate, Madeline, Andrew, and Pete taken right after church.

Madeline with huge guitar

Photos taken on Mothers Day - 2009

Rick helping Mitch down after hand-walking on the monkey bars

Mitch and Nyla on swings

Mitchel on deck table

Still Snow on Mount Timp

Mitchel with Mount Timpanogos in background

Mitch and Phyllis - BFF

Mock Disaster

I was assigned to provide radio communication at the decontamination station.

On April 20, I participated as an amateur radio operator in a mock disaster drill at the Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem. The disaster was a simulated earthquake. Here is a photo of some of the other radio operators.

A Gorgeous Setting

In October 2008, Steve came out from Illinois for a conference and brought Darby with him. On this day, the three of us took a hike up American Fork Canyon.

Darby on the hike

Hiking in the Uintah National Forest

Such beautiful scenery

Mitchel and Darby

Nyla, Grandpa, and Darby

BYU Football Game, October 2008

Andrew with a Cougar Tail (maple bar)

Christmas Skating Party

After several decades of not skating, I did pretty well.

In the Hot Tub in winter

Nyla, Laurie, Mitchel, and Rick in Grandma and Grandpa's hot tub

Christmas 2008

Laurie, Rick, and Nyla

Madeline, 5 1/2, (Oregon) and Samantha, 14, (Arizona)

Nathan, age 9, (Oregon)

Brian (Oregon) is excited about his Bluetooth head set.

Emory, 12 1/2, (Arizona) receives a digital camera.

Pete, 11 1/2, (Oregon) opens an exciting Christmas gift.

Andrew has a crush!

Andrew (Oregon) opens his favorite gift - a sweatshirt representing Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, where olympian gold medalist Shawn Johnson attends.

Jeff opens his special gift - George Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge.

A great photo of Miranda (Arizona) age 9 1/2.

Fun in the snow

Samantha builds three snowmen on Grandma and Grandpa's deck.

January 2009

Mitchel fingerpainting with Grandma.