Shelley Beatty

Living Life and Loving It

BYU Women’s Conference 2015

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Landing at the Salt Lake Airport and gazing at the mountains in Utah I feel such a sense of homecoming.  Living in Kansas I miss the mountains, oh how I how miss the mountains.

My favorite mountain is perhaps Mount Timpanogos…the backdrop for the BYU campus.

Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Mountain range, Utah

Mount Timpanogos, Wasatch Mountain range, Utah

Mount Timpanogos not only is beautiful but has its own legend. There are multiple versions of the legend.  If you look hard at Mount Timpanogos you can imagine a young Indian Maiden Princess lying on her back with her hair flowing down.  And just as most legends go, the legend of Mount Timpanogos involves two young lovers.  (You can read the legend of the beautiful Indian Princess here.)

Women’s Conference is held on the BYU campus between BYU’S graduation (after Winter semester) and the beginning of spring term.  The annual two-day event attracts an estimated 15,000 women who come to hear leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attend classes featuring more than 200 presenters on topics such as marriage, family and gospel principles.

Women’s Conference gives me a chance to catch up with two close friends, Ellen Riley and Linda Esplin.  Ellen lives outside of Boston and Linda lives in Phoenix.  Linda and I became friends when I was in graduate school and she was an undergraduate.  We met in the student ward but we bonded over running.   I married Bob and moved to Boston for Bob’s internship and residency.  Linda married Cordell, (attended law school), moved to Hawaii for Cordell’s internship.  Then they moved to Boston for Cordell’s residency.  Here we met Ellen.  We all became fast friends.  Thankfully, we get to meet once a year in Utah for Women’s Conference.  It is a time to renew friendship, catch up on news and bask in the learning opportunities afforded at Women’s Conference.

BYU campus is a beautiful campus.

BYU campus

BYU campus

 

The theme for BYU Women’s Conference this year was: “My soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord.” 2 Nephi 11:5

BYU Women's Conference Theme

BYU Women’s Conference Theme

BYU Women’s Conference is the largest two-day gathering of LDS women anywhere in the world. Over 200 presenters share their perspectives and insights on a variety of topics including womanhood and sisterhood, gospel principles, marriage, family, and practical and timely topics of interest and concern to women of all ages.

One of the memorable classes for me was “A Time for a Woman’s Voice” given by Ally Isom and Michael R. Otterson.  Michael Otterson is head of  public affairs for the church and he talked about the church and social media today.  It really opened my eyes to the need that we need to make a presence on the internet.

I also enjoyed Elder Ballard’s presentation.

Elder M. Russuell Ballard and Sister Barbara Ballard at the Marriott Center.

Elder M. Russuell Ballard and Sister Barbara Ballard at the Marriott Center.

BYU Women's Conference

BYU Women’s Conference

General session speakers in the Marriott Center included Sister Wendy Watson Nelson, wife of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, Young Women general president; Kevin J. Worthen, BYU president, and his wife, Peggy; and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

I also enjoyed a special presentation at the Fine Arts Museum on the BYU campus.  Artist Brian Krishisnek

spoke on “Nativity and Other Paintings of Women”.

Nativity by Kershisnek

Nativity by Kershisnek

 

also on view through 2016 is a breathtaking display of color:

Gabriel Dawe’s stunning Plexus no. 29 at BYU Museum of art

Gabriel Dawe’s stunning Plexus no. 29 at BYU Museum of art

The two translucent structures filtering through the Museum’s skylight appear to be luminous rays of light refracted through a giant prism. Gabriel Dawe’s stunning Plexus no. 29 is a corporeal installation of colored filament meticulously threaded between the Museum’s mezzanine walls and oculus.

I also got to spend time with my daughter Jen and my grandchildren Becca, Henry, Caroline and Emily!

Eating at the Lion House Pantry

Eating at the Lion House Pantry

Enjoying yogurt

Enjoying yogurt

Henry and Becca checking out the fish at City Creek

Henry and Becca checking out the fish at City Creek

And the beautiful flowers at temple square…

Flowers at temple square

Flowers at temple square

Education Week at Brigham Young University 2013

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As we have done every year for about 30 years now, Bob and I attended BYU Education Week.  The BYU campus, with Mt. Timpanogos as its backdrop, is breathtakingly beautiful.BYU Campus with Mt. Timpanogos as its backdrop

Campus Education Week began in 1922 and is believed to be the largest continuing education program of its type. For one week each August, the program utilizes the campus of Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) to present more than 1,000 classes on education, religion, marriage, family relations, health, history, genealogy, science, youth interests, and many other areas. The program is designed primarily for adults, although anyone age 14 and over may attend.

BYU Campus Education Week 2013

BYU Campus Education Week 2013

 

The theme this year was “A People of Profound Learning.”

“But gaining knowledge is one thing, and applying it [is] quite another. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge, and true education—the education for which the Church stands—is the application of knowledge to the development of a noble and Godlike character.”

— David O. McKay

General Authority Russell M. Ballard devotional speaker

General Authority Russell M. Ballard devotional speaker

General Authority Russell M. Ballard devotional speaker

General Authority Russell M. Ballard devotional speaker

 

Crowd at devotional BYU Education Week 2013

Crowd at devotional BYU Education Week 2013

As always the flowers around BYU campus were beautiful and in full bloom!

Flowers on BYU Campus

Flowers on BYU Campus

Flowers BYU campus

Flowers BYU campus

Flowers in bloom, BYU campus.

Flowers in bloom, BYU campus.

View of Mt Timpanogos covered in clouds

View of Mt Timpanogos covered in clouds

 The Legend of Mt Timpanogos

 

 

Women’s Conference at Brigham Young University

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I attended BYU Women’s Conference again this year with my good friend Ellen Riley from  Boston.

2013 BYU Women's Conference

2013 BYU Women’s Conference

We joined about 17,000 other women for two days of guest speakers, great entertainment, service projects, and great companionship.

Session in Marriott Center

Session in Marriott Center

Thousands of Women in the Marriott Center for Women’s Conference.

Session in Marriott Center

Women’s Conference is a happening and this car seemed to say it all:

Car in parking lot of Women's Conference.

Car in parking lot of Women’s Conference.

Women's Conference is a yearly happening for many women.

Women’s Conference is a yearly happening for many women.

Program from Women’s Conference:

It seemed this year I connected with lots of people; i.e. a general session speaker Kevin Worthen (friend of my brother growing up) from Price, Utah- we grabbed good seats for this session and went up after to say “hello”;

Best Seats in the house for this session.

Best Seats in the house for this session.

Or a presenter in one class Carol Mikita, mother of my daughter Becca’s good friend Jen Bennion:

Class: “It Is for You . . . to Lead the World and toLead Especially the Women of the World”(President Joseph F. Smith)

President Joseph F. Smith encouraged sisters in Relief Society to lead the “women of the world, in everything thatis praise-worthy, everything that is God-like, everythingthat is uplifting and that is purifying to the children of men.” As women of God, we can lead by lifting in our spheres of infuence in our homes, the Church, ourcommunities, and work. What qualities and attributeshelp us to be effective leaders? How can we maintain ourdivinely given female natures, be distinct and different inhappy ways, and also be infuential and effective?

  • Carole Mikita —Wife, mother; senior reporter for religionand the arts, KSL-TV; writes and produces documentariesthat air between general conference sessions

The weather was beautiful this year and the campus was beautiful as usual and of course the mountains-the glorious mountains.

Spring blooms.

Spring blooms.

Trees in bloom on BYU campus.

Trees in bloom on BYU campus.

A later spring this year created beautiful color on the BYU campus.

A later spring this year created beautiful color on the BYU campus.

The clean beautiful BYU campus.

The clean beautiful BYU campus.

Scenic view of BYU campus.

Scenic view of BYU campus.

 

A view of my favorite mountain, Mount Timpanogos.

A view of my favorite mountain, Mount Timpanogos.

The mountains, the glorious mountains of Utah.

The mountains, the glorious mountains of Utah.

This year we stayed late to catch the evening entertainment:

Evening entertainment in the Marriott Center.

Evening entertainment in the Marriott Center.

 

This year in addition to Women’s Conference we also visited

This is the Place Heritage Park

This is the Place Heritage Park

This is the Place Heritage Park

Step back in time and see the West as it was in the early settlement of Utah. Ride one of three trains, the Jupiter, Blackhawk or the 119, as they tour around the Park. Or enjoy a ride around the pond on the mini train. City kids will love riding ponies, meeting and petting farm animals and don’t forget to try your skill at milking Clara Bell the Cow.

Guests love panning for gold. There is no excitement quite like finding a shiny nugget hiding amongst the silt and sand. “Set sail” on the Ship Brooklyn, a one-sixth replica of the original that tells the story of the expedition of pioneers who sailed from New York Harbor over 24,000 miles in search of a new home in the West.

Visit the Native American Village, which celebrates Utah’s heritage before the arrival of the settlers. Authentic Navajo Hogan’s and Shoshone teepees stand in a quiet circle on the hillside. Grind corn and make arrowhead necklaces.

Interact with a blacksmith, tinsmith, and saddle maker and don’t forget to purchase some snake oil from Dr. Quackenbush! Try your hand at some old-fashioned pioneer chores, or at spinning and carding wool. And there’s endless old-fashioned fun from the bucket brigade to the Candy Cannon that shoots salt-water taffy during special events. The streets are alive with a variety of musical performers, and be on the lookout for a train robbery!

Brand new Summer 2013 is Irrigation Station splash pad! Cool off and learn why the Salt Lake Valley “blossomed as a rose!”

The Gift Shop at the Visitor Center is one of the premier destination shopping experiences in Salt Lake City. And theZCMI Mercantile is filled with sweets from yesteryear and loads of goodies. Huntsman Hotel is home to Hires Big H products, there’s an old fashioned ice cream shop with soft serve and flavor burst cones, and Brigham’s Donuts are cooked fresh everyday! A little bit of sugary heaven!

Visit the Mormon Battalion Museum, The Stoddard Gallery and see the iconic Monument that was erected under the supervision of a committee composed of Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and Latter-day Saint representatives. Visit the Walk of Pioneer Faiths honoring early religious groups and leaders who contributed to the religious diversity of our great community.

I think we visited just about every building in the park:

 

Education Week at Brigham Young University…

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We attended Education Week at Brigham Young University. We love it and have attended for years. This year was the 90th year of Education Week.
It was held August 13 to 17 in Provo, Utah, and featured more than 1,000 classes presented by BYU faculty members, seminary and institute instructors, and other professionals. Class subjects included education, family relations, genealogy, health, history, marriage, religion, and science

This year’s theme, taken from Proverbs 29:18, is, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

As we drove toward Provo, we could see smoke from all the wildfires that have burned this year.

I have always loved the Brigham Young University Campus because it is so beautiful, the grounds are impeccable and the flowers incredible. But the backdrop of the mountains is something beyond description.

Flowers on the campus of BYU.

Beautiful flowers on BYU campus.

BYU campus.

BYU campus sits at the base of beautiful mountains, making it one of the most scenic college campus’ around!

BYU Campus at the base of the mountains.