Picto Diary - 01 to 04 June 2022 - Crystal Hot Springs

Scroll to Addendum for reactions to my book review of Joseph Smith - Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman.

Van Life Designs, Ogden, UT. File image from web site. 01 June 2021

We drove the Sprinter to Ogden for a preseason check-up at van outfitter Jason Sager's Van Life designs. We tweaked bugs out of the electrical system and repaired the gas-powered hot water system. I had left switches on that should have been in the off position resulting in the storage batteries' draining too early. Using a couple of floor jacks, Justin, Jason's assistant, bent the driver-side step back into place. I had bent the step in a snowbank outside Wasatch Bagel back in January.

We ordered a new step because though seemingly repaired, the driver-side step has metal fatigue which raises the chance of it snapping off when I am fully weighted on it. Jason attached a flexible pipe to the drain on the hot water tank to make emptying the tank easier. He also put an attachment on the cell booster aerial to enable flattening the aerial against the top of the van in case clearance were a problem.

Jason noted that the wait for a new Sprinter is over eighteen months. Mercedes had to slow production during coronavirus as they were sanctioned for misreporting emissions data. Production is back up now, but Amazon is a huge buyer of Sprinters and Sprinter RV wannabes have to wait up to 18 months just to get the van... not including the time taken for outfitting the van as an RV. As you can expect, costs are up. To do what we did 20 months ago, you'd have to pay a premium over our price of 30%.

Above: Tabernacle. Brigham City, UT. 01 June 2021.

TIMDT, Freddie and Mwah (walked for an hour and a half up and down Main Street). We stopped to sip an iced tea at a table on the street. I noted how clean and well landscaped were the streets and sidewalks. No bars on either side of the street... at least the main section where we were walking. There was an LDS temple on main street across from the Tabernacle. One assumes that the locals didn't want this spiritual street sullied up with bars. I reflected on the contrast between where I was and Missoula, MT where there are more bars per square mile than any city in America. TIMDT noted the unusual facade of both brick and stone on the Tabernacle. Kudos to the LDS Church and Brigham City for such a wonderful job of preservation.

Above: Crystal Hot Springs (CHS). Box Elder County, UT. 01 June 2022.

Pools at various temps. I sat for 15 minutes in a pool of 111 degrees. I had to walk in gingerly and slowly get used to the hot water. Once adjustment completed, the effect of the hot temps on my sensitive skin was therapeutic. I bought a two-year pass for weekdays for $50.00. A daily pass, any day, is $18.
In the small, 111-degree pool there was only another geezer. We started talking. He was a retired pilot, Richard S., formerly a Park City resident. He said he owned the Blue Roof convenience store for twenty years and another business on Main Street for almost as long. We had a common contact. MH. When he mentioned Mike's name, I started. "Hey, I know him," I said. He's about 5 inches taller than I am. He loads his own ammo." Richard was a hot springs junkie... he'd been to Thermopolis, Glenwood, Lava, and knew about the remote hot spring at Gandy, on a remote section of the UT/NV state line. I'm not a hot springs junkie... but, I seem to be trending in that direction. I loved CHS.

Above: Grrr. Ribbons. 1st Place Javelin. 02 June 2022.

Above: Bishop. Log Haven Restaurant. Salt Lake City, UT. 02 June 2022.

First visit in 15 years. Me: Halibut. TIMDT: Crab cakes. Very good, ambiance, food and service though service a bit stressed due to labor shortages seen everywhere.

Above: TIMDT with Mom and two brothers. Passport image found by Bishop rummaging through memorabilia. 02 June 2022.

Above: Freddie roughhousing. Rockport State Park. 03 June 2022.

Above: Pelican family. Rockport State Park. 03 June 2022.

It still seems funny to see this sea bird so far inland.

Above: Freddie and TIMDT. Rockport State Park. 03 June 2022.

Conditioning Freddie to swimming. He's still just wading around, but he'll get there!

Above: LSDM Walkers (Freddie, The Acturary, and TWO3). Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR). 04 June 2022.

Work on new lifts seems well underway though a citizen's group is holding things up due to their claim that Vail, PCMR's owner, is in violation of rules that tie lift traffic to parking availability.

Addendum:
(Scroll for reactions to my book review of Joseph Smith - Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman).

Looks like fun! And keeps you busy staying up with him. Let us know when he's in southern Utah performing.
Survival,
Hatch, UT

Fun!
Mr. Z3
La Quinta, CA

Great tour; many are favorites of mine also.
Survival,
Hatch, UT

I had never heard that about his toes!

Inspiring.

I consider him a veteran, too!

Gordon,
Salt Lake City, UT

So good to see you and Mark having fun, exploring interesting places and enjoying your motorcycles. My best to you both.

LaPsy
Los Angeles, CA

No picture of you in your Speedo?🤓
Academy Theater. Salt Lake City, UT

Is Freddie on a leash due to ordinances, or would he otherwise run away?

Nathans,
Massapequa, NY

Listen to most recent Jordan Peterson visit on Joe Rogan, most logical arguments I have heard against believing “man-made” cause of so-called global warming nonsense. Basically he refers to “everything”, using only a handful of variables for their flawed models, and the bozos pushing these worthless models to have the government control our lives.

Great pictures, family fun in Ivins.

Mezzanine,
Miami, FL

Steve,

Great words about this country. One of the greatest sins in my book is ingratitude- and unfortunately a large percentage of Americans now are not at all grateful to live in this great country which you describe so well.

All the best,

Rob Bradley,
Boston, MA

Great!
'Cake,
Park City, UT

Beautifully written, Steve. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Gordon,
Salt Lake City, UT

A beautiful piece of prose.
Peterbilt,
Bountiful, UT

Reactions to my book review, "Joseph Smith - Rough Stone Rolling, by Richard Bushman:

Steve:
Your report of reading Bushman's book reminds me of an experience I had with your father, my Uncle Weldon, while staying overnight with them one time. I don't remember the occasion, but I was a guest in their home sometime in the 80's. As always, the coffee table was covered with hardcover new books on a wide variety of subjects, as your parents were avid readers and thinkers. I noticed a new one called "Emma Smith: Mormon Enigma". This intrigued me and I asked him about it. A short discussion took place in which I determined it would be well worth my time to read it myself. It was a controversial book at the time, as it was one of the first ever published that painted Emma in a sympathetic light---the beginning of a change in attitude within the church toward Emma (and toward talking openly about our history)--who was always respected, but not revered because of her rejection of polygamy and her decision not to follow the saints to the west (and perhaps for not stopping her sons to lead the re-organized church).

Anyway, your dad handed me the book in the hallway (so I could start to peruse it myself while there) and he said with some emotion words to this affect: " Even if he was a polygamist or even a womanizer, it doesn't change what he accomplished! He still experienced the first vision, he translated the Book of Mormon, and started a religious movement without parallel in modern times!" I felt the conflict that he was feeling after reading the book, and I also felt his deep conviction that his life-time of experiences within the church and living his faith still told him it was all true--Joseph really was a prophet of God called too bring forth a mighty work and wonder in these last days.

I have reflected on that moment from time to time in my life when I have faced similar conflicts in my faith. Your father, who I respected so much, was willing to live with mystery, unresolved unknowns, imperfect leaders, and still keep the faith. After all, that is the essence of faith---waiting on all the answers to be revealed in some future day while still stepping forward and living with the reality of what you do know and have experienced. I loved him for that and it has remained a key moment in my spiritual progression throughout my adult life. Asking uncomfortable questions and seeking for answers can fortify faith and is a sign of a truth seeker.

On another note: Paul and I took our returned missionary daughter, Rachel, on a church history tour (on our own vs. a group guided one) in the spring of 2010. He brought Bushman's book along with him and would read excerpts to us as we traveled. We found the book inspiring. We started in Palmyra, then to Kirtland, then to Nauvoo. It is a pilgrimage experience, not unlike a Jew at the Western Wall or a Muslim in Mecca, or a Catholic at the Vatican. The restored historical sites of the church are really not for investigators, but for the church members who know and love their history. We have a few ancestors who came through some of those sites! We loved the tour and would do it again anytime.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Sara,
Provo, UT

Sara, thank you for this important reminiscence.

Thanks Steve.
I learned so much.
So many of our ill-informed notions actually end up becoming prejudices.
Your essay is an eye-opener.
Thank you.

Jerry,
Bangalore, Karnataka

Steve,

Well written, outstanding summary. I served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am a firm believer that Joseph Smith was and is a true prophet of God. I personally feel that no one suffered more than the prophet Joseph Smith, to bring forth the restoration and the fullness of the gospel, save Jesus Christ, alone. I have not read Rough Stone Rolling. I will need to read it. I have personally been the recipient of numerous miracles in my life. I recognize that the Prophet Joseph Smith was not a perfect man, I know he was inspired by God.

Again, thanks for sharing,

Bull Rider,
Park City, UT

One point I took from the Bushman book was that Joseph spread the mantel of authority around. He didn’t want to be solely in charge. He spread out the power. The organization is such that on the death of the President, the Priesthood keys and authority were already in the hands of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. No crisis of a broken line of authority from Christ.

I’m glad you’ve read this book after Fawn Brodie’s. Hugh Nibley, the foremost scholar of our Church in his day, summed his review of Fawn’s book with these few words “No Mam, That’s Not History”
Sherlock Holmes in conversation with Dr. Watson stated that when all other explanations have been ruled out, the remaining explanation, no matter how implausible was the correct answer. Scholars have explained away the Restoration of the Gospel as the work of an incredible genius. He came not from academia but in the Lord’s wisdom, he picked an unschooled farm boy without guile. The world never saw it coming. Sherlock would say the only remaining explanation is that he was a tool in the hands of God. May all of us look within ourselves to see how we can help further His purposes.

Peterbilt,
Bountiful, UT

Knowing well of the point you make, I alluded, albeit briefly, to Joseph as a master organizer in my review: "Joseph's audacity wasn't the only critical factor in Joseph Smith's success. Smith was a master organizer for one." Joseph's priesthood organizational structure was, of course, critical to the success of the LDS movement. I could have written the review on this organizational point alone.

Your conclusions are spot on. Bushman lied and used anti Mormon sources for his smear on Joseph disguised as a biography. He's subtle about it but it's there. The sources he used were denounced by Joseph himself.

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FyMV_CDKp2BM%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2SEVCneitiaU2lxLj91vjHp8KV-ayrIR3oy8gz2oPisbM9j8_euNIJDMk&h=AT3510G6BH5H_Oyxe-NGZG9jaJ5gbTQnjLqvtErGUDa9gxB76MiyluzZqzslF-lDclgVJWXFqnByxko5VdkXAMbO91N1GWaccUMhYPbyQN2cjbW7LXWW7qu4Lj1Sa-HlMA&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT2dHpYVDWSDmskQhe-BRcJGVqg49JcY5SrwjF95eIAHTUYTXmbtvldLsPJ6VLjiKrh3PN6ihvKoNzqFFX2iAUcNDgZhH9NLwkN7BNwLDcKmUvxtDNxQ8KYt013kDG7XZGaJLtgRRRYXvWsD0_t-riSccKpRJVEiNeTb1Pj0mpPDy7sgaCmnNA

Dave,
Park City, UT

I could have written a review that highlighted Bushman's accounts of Joseph Smith's myriad of detractors. There were many. They spoke loudly then. They speak loudly now. A serious biographer cannot ignore them. Smith's success, notwithstanding his enemies, speaks for itself. Bushman presented a balanced and fair narrative which leaves the door open for the reader to make up his/her own mind and does not prejudice the conclusion one might be inclined to reach.

Thanks for your review and historical perspective. I continue to learn form your missives.
The Colonel,
Park City, UT

Thanks!
Nathan's
Massapequa, NY

Why did your ancestors leave Scandinavia?
I think about motivating myself to travel from Nauvoo to Salt Lake often.

Freightliner
Bountiful, UT

Not answering this question was definitely a flaw in the review. I can't let this one dangle, though I'm not going to address it here. The immigration of sixty or seventy thousand immigrants from the UK and Scandinavia over a twenty-year period from circa 1835 to 1855 is definitely a story to be told.

Very interesting. Thanks!
Herb,
Cape Town, South Africa

Okay. I’m hooked. Got to get my own copy.
Richard,
Joplin, MO

Great book.
Gordon,
Salt Lake City, UT