Family history has a lot of meaning for me. We are taught by the prophets that we need to help our ancestors receive the saving ordinances such as baptism.  Also we learn who we are when we find out where our family has been.

Yesterday I got to meet lots of people who want to help me learn about my precious long-lost ancestors. I talked with fellow programmers like the lady at Magi Census. We shared a few GEDCOM parsing war stories. (Where else could I do that?)

I met a lot of people who want to help bring to life the stories of my ancestors.    So along that theme,  I now present a few moments that I saved from yesterday, against the backdrop of my favorite poem,  The Family Genealogy, by Donald Lines Jacobus:

Compendium of Dullness, in your pages
Name crowds on name; the humble and the great
Each in few lines receives his equal wages,
And headstrong passions crumble to a date.
Here are the founders of a mighty nation;
Here are the pioneers who won the soil,
As generation followed generation,
With axe and plough and with back-breaking toil.
Here are the women of a hardy people,
weakness and doubt yielding to faith held fast;
The pulled-up stakes; eyes lifted to the steeple;
Farewells to home; the new homes gained at last.
Here are the hints of buried old romances;
The broken families, and the too young dead;
The autumn frolics and the village dances;
Roll of recruiting drums, the soldier’s tread.
And here are darker things, now long forgotten;
The unwed mothers; the deserted wives;
Misdeeds of rogues far better unbegotten;
Heartbreak and self-destruction; ruined lives.
All this and far, far more is in these pages
If we might clothe with flesh the lifeless names,
Parade the knaves, the saints, the fools, the sages,
And resurrect their obloquies and fames.
Their names, their dates, are entered in a column,
The unjust here embalmed beside the just;
And in the pages of this dusty volumn
A second time they moulder into dust.

Here is to the RootsTech people who are helping my family history from mouldering a second time into dust.

– Larry Maddocks

Christ has said that his Kingdom will not come by the sword. Daniel saw God’s kingdom in the last days, and it comes as a stone rolling down a mountain, “Without hands,” which means without the sword, without coercion.

Misguided people like bin Laden believe they are God’s self-appointed enforcers of their sick brand of religion. They think they are God’s pure people, and the rest of us “infidels” need to be given a few chances to convert to Islaam before they blow us up.

I know a few Muslims. They seem to be amazing, good, peaceful people. I hope they do their part in stopping the hi-jacking of their religion. I hope Muslims everywhere are applauding the death of Osama.

BYU's Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies

My daughter has a friend who is a student at BYU. She recently returned from visiting Israel, and told me that the people there would ask her questions about where she was from or what she was doing in Israel.  She said she could not answer them because of the gag rule that the government of Israel puts on all BYU students.  Here is the agreement that she had to sign:

Brigham Young University, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and BYU’s Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies, have given assurances and made commitments to the State of Israel to the effect that no member of the Church, nor anyone affiliated with the University or participating in a University-sponsored program will engage in proselytizing of any kind within Israel and Palestine (the West Bank and Gaza). It Is very important that these assurances and commitments be honored and that those who travel to the Holy Land or have reason to correspond or work with individuals living there be informed of these assurances and commitments and agree to abide by them. Any activities that could be construed as aimed at Including, encouraging or leading people in Israel to Investigate any religion for possible conversion are strictly contrary to the desires of the government and people of Israel and to the commitments made by BYU, The Jerusalem Center, and The Church. By signing below, you agree to not distribute, either directly or by mail, any materials pertaining to the Church or its doctrines within Israel or Palestine. You will not discuss the Church or its doctrines or answer any questions regarding the Church or its doctrines with individuals who reside in the Holy Land or who may be visiting there. You will not Invite guests who are not LDS to attend Church services held in the Holy Land. You understand the assurances and commitment of the Church, University and the Jerusalem Center not to proselyte within Israel or Palestine and agree to abide by them. (BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies)

Our loving Heavenly Father has given us the free agency to accept his truths. We are all on a journey from light to brighter light. Christ prayed that “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) When his kingdom was originally introduced to the Gentiles, they merged it with a lot of their philosophies. For example, Aristotle taught that God did not have a body, and had no emotions. Aristotle’s teachings were a huge influence on the Romans and hence the Christian church that became their state religion. The apostle Paul taught that there would be a falling away before Christ came again. (Thessalonians 2:1-3) Now God has restored his Church – his Kingdom on earth — and is teaching us again through his appointed prophets. We are learning who we are, where we came from, why we are here and where we are going. We are children of our Father in Heaven, a loving Father who wants us to grow to be like Him. He has asked us to lovingly invite all people to unite themselves with His restored Church, but whether or not we choose to do so, He still loves us.

God has sent apostles from his original Church to restore lost priesthood authority, and the keys to the gathering of Israel.  He has given us an ancient book of scripture, written by scattered tribes of Israel, by their prophets, one of whom was named Mormon.

I know this all sounds fantastic, but so was the life of Christ and the miracles that he performed.  One modern miracle is that there is a promise that if you read the Book of Mormon and ask God if it is true or not, He will answer you.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a great organization for families.  None of our leaders are paid.  We all have the chance to use our talents to help each other.

Some people confuse the Mormons with other people who dress weird or are outside of the mainstream of society.  We are just normal, happy people who are involved with society.  We believe that husbands and wives are equal, and should walk side by side.  We believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and that he was resurrected, and that we can repent and become clean again through the atonement of Christ.  Those who join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nick-named the Mormons) are happy and wish they had joined many years earlier.  Of course there are those who leave the Church for whatever reasons.  We believe everyone should have the freedom to worship the way they wish.  This is an active Church where we learn to work with other people and expand our talents if we want.  We learn how to be patient, not to judge others, to forgive people, to sacrifice our time in teaching others. It is great!  It’s hard but it’s rewarding!  I thank God for my ancestors who made a leap of faith and joined this Church.  In doing so they joined the Kingdom of God here on earth, became part of Zion, and made it possible for me and my family to have all the blessings of Abraham, including the Priesthood and more of the light of Christ in our homes.

12" x 16" Signed, Limited Addition

Young Girl in the Garden. I am making 50 signed prints available, size 12″ x 16″. Click here for more information.

At times I did wonder if I was wasting my time reading these books. There are five books. It was too interesting, these magic tools that were introduced. But the books did me good because it was a way to force those old neurons in my brain to think outside of the box. Also there were a few real life tips that helped me.

The story is about two siblings, 13-year-old Kendra and 11-year-old Seth Sorenson, who visit their grandparents’ huge estate. They find out that their grandparents are caretakers of preserve. The preserve contains about every kind of mystical character you have ever read while growing up: fairies, witches, demons, goblins, etc. These creatures are not nice, most of them. Seth keeps breaking rules or getting suckered into some scheme by these creatures and causes huge huge HUGE problems! But then sometimes he does some risky things that end up saving the day. I’ve done that. I mean I’ve trusted in the wrong people and have ended up causing huge problems.

“Shake it off,” the friends of Seth say. Don’t beat yourself up. It was not all your fault. So Seth would formulate a plan and go on living his normally happy boy life, a little wiser and more respected by the demons in his life.

The coolest magic tool came in the last book, Keys to the Demon Prison.

Cover of book, Keys to the Demon Prison

Seth got a sword that, when he wielded it, infused him with invincible courage and strength to cut through any demon that stood in his way so that he could reach the really big bad guy and destroy him. I thought, hmmmm, I’m going to imagine I have a sword like that and lose my fear and just do what I need to do and get past the demons that are holding me back and start getting things done.

Fablehaven was written by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes known as Mormon, after an ancient Prophet in about 500 A.D. somewhere in the America’s.

Because many of the truths taught by Christ were lost during the dark ages, and because people are taught line upon line until they are ready for more knowledge, God has again called prophets. He has organized his kingdom. He has revealed wonderful truths that are like that sword mentioned above. We are taught that we are children of God, created in his image. Before we were born we were spirit children of God, and walked and talked with God, and he walked and talked with us. We saw that he had a body of flesh and bones, and we desired to be like him and took the risk to be born and lose our memory of our past life so that we could learn to grow through faith.

Because we are children of God, we have our agency to progress and learn to live in harmony with others and to become like him.

God has restored the power of the priesthood. Everyone is called to serve if they wish to. It is a way to help us to learn as we serve others. It all is a great way to raise a happy family in these troubled times, while making a positive difference in the world.

Vernal Temple. Original Watercolor By Larry Maddocks

I painted this in honor of my great-grandfather, William Smart. As the Stake President, the construction of the Vernal Tabernacle was under his charge. Years later, when it was remade as a Latter-day Saint Temple, our family sang for the visitors as they waited in line for the Vernal Temple open house.

After enjoying this for many years above my mantel, I am going to give someone else a chance to enjoy this beautiful painting.

Wedding Portrait Painting

I have decided to include my portrait business on this blog. I have painted many portraits and every one of my patrons are very pleased. Please click here or on the picture to get more information.