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Back in Utah

Back in Utah

Last updated on: July 27, 2026 at 11:21 pm by Dan Peterson

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Back in Utah 2026-07-27T23:21:50-06:00 Dan Peterson

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“Zion’s Camp at Fishing River” (Judith Mehr; LDS.org). We here in Utah could definitely use some additional rain, but perhaps not quite as much or as suddenly as Zion’s Camp got it.

The engine that produces the Becoming Brigham series continues steadily to . . . well, produce. The twenty-seventh installment in the series went up earlier today: “They Found Apostles From Where?” — Becoming Brigham, Episode 27

And please note the opportunity that you have, for the next three weeks or so, to watch the 2021 Interpreter Foundation dramatic film, Witnesses, at no charge. (Of course, producing such things does require funding, so, if you feel so inclined, please do consider making a supportive donation. You can do so at the Interpreter Foundation’s website.)

Sunset at the Great Salt Lake (Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph)

As a number of you likely also did, I received the following from the Utah Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

Many of you are aware of the issues surrounding the Great Salt Lake, with its water levels in serious decline. While the decline in the Great Salt Lake can be attributed to many factors, such as changing weather patterns and drought, the primary cause líes in the fact that water use from tributaries into the lake has exceeded what is necessaiy to maintain sustainable water levels.

This is not a political issue, but a stewardship issue. We have a sacred responsibility to take care of what our Heavenly Father has given us. As Elder Gerald Causse has taught:

“As God’s children, we have received the charge to be stewards, caretakers, and guardians of His divine creations. The Lord said that He made “every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.”

With this divine principie of stewardship in mind, the church has been taking steps to install “smart” watering devices incorporated in the landscaping surrounding our buildings and to generally reduce water usage. As many are aware, we have also donated water rights from properties owned by the church. We ask all members in Utah, particularly those in communities surrounding the Great Salt Lake, to carefully consider personal ways to conserve valuable water resources.

We are grateful for the many stakes that have fasted and prayed for more rain and snow. We know that God is pleased when we ask him for help. We are confident that when we exercise our faith through fasting and prayer, while taking the necessaiy steps personally to conserve and sacrifice, our Heavenly Father will make up the difference and provide the blessings and miracles we need.

May God bless you in all your efforts.

With Love,

Utah Area Presidency

We need more rain. However, with Utah’s rising population we also need to better conserve our water resources as they stand. (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

I went to AI for some easy tips on saving water at home. Here are some initial ideas:

Turn off taps: Stop running water while shaving or brushing teeth.

Shorten showers: Limit shower times to five minutes instead of taking baths.

Repair leaks: Check toilets and faucets regularly for hidden drips or leaks.

Full loads only: Run washing machines and dishwashers solely with full loads.

Scrape, don’t rinse: Scrape food scraps off plates rather than pre-rinsing them under a running faucet.

Store cold water: Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge instead of letting the tap run until cold.

Sweep paths: Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.

Water early: Irrigate lawns and plants during the cool early morning hours to reduce evaporation.

There are several temples in Texas, including this one, which sits atop a hill in San Antonio, in which at least two of my nieces have been married. (LDS Media Library)

I went out to lunch today with my late brother’s daughter and her husband, who are visiting from Texas. Both my brother and his widow are now gone, and it’s really good to be able to touch bases with family.

When all is said and done — to coin an absolutely original phrase in order to express a completely original thought — it really is people and our human relationships that matter, and that endure. I’m happy to believe that

1 When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves.

2 And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy. (Doctrine and Covenants 130; items of instruction given by Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Ramus, Illinois, April 2, 1843)

The St. George Utah Temple is the oldest temple still in use by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the first built by the Saints in Utah after their exodus from the United States. It was dedicated by President Daniel H. Wells in 1877, with President Brigham Young presiding at the event. (LDS.org)

Here’s a clear example of the multi-generational blight that religious fanaticism can impose on a population. It was found, of course, in the Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File™: “Ancestral toils still benefitting Utahns, ranked one of most ‘independent’ states: Idaho, Utah top the list of most self-sufficient states in the country, an ode to their historic roots”

The key art for the current production at The Ruth (fair use, I hope)

Today was a busy day — lots of things have accumulated while we were traveling in Alaska and British Columbia, and some idiot managed to lose his prescription sunglasses up in Vancouver, which now must be replaced — and tomorrow is scheduled pretty solidly, as well. But the day was a pretty good one. We’re just back from our traditional dinner out with neighbors, followed by a play at one of the Hale theaters. Tonight’s play was the musical version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, in a production at the Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater in Pleasant Grove, and we enjoyed it. The Scarlet Pimpernel has long been one of my very favorite stories. I’ve read the novelization of the story by Baroness Orczy, of course; she and her husband wrote it originally as a play. My favorite adaptation of the story, thus far, remains the 1982 television film version starring Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, and the future Sir Ian McKellen.

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