FOUR SEASONS IN THE SACRED GROVE: Summer

The Sacred Grove in the summer is serene, peaceful, and beautiful!  The trees have all their leaves and there is beautiful foliage on the forest floor.  When I make a post, especially one that is mostly pictures, I like to post a message with the pictures. My cousin, Ken, who lives in China brought my attention to a beautiful hymn.  So, I will intersperse my pictures with the words to the hymn.  If you want to hear the hymn go to the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fwfdij6HGo

These pictures were taken in June, July and August 2010 and are posted in that order.

THIS IS MY FATHER'S WORLD

Verse 1:
This is my Father's world,  and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought.

Verse 2:
This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white, declare their maker's praise.

This is my Father's world: he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass; he speaks to me everywhere.

Verse 3:
This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Verse 4:

This is my Father's world, the battle is not done.

Jesus, who died, shall be satisfied and earth and heaven be one.

In March 1992 Predsident Hinckley spoke to the students at Brigham Young University and listed 10 "I Believe" statements.  He said,

"The earth in its pristine beauty is an expression of the nature of its Creator.
 . . . the creation continued until “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31).
I interpret this to mean that it was beautiful, for “out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight” (Gen 2:9).
I believe in the beauty of nature, and I see and believe in the beauty of animals."

The Sacred Grove is amazing in all seasons, and in the summer it is a wonderful experience to walk beneath the trees and shrubs and experience the beauty and sacredness of this special place.  I am so thankful for the opportunity Elder Watts and I have to be here in Palmyra so near the Sacred Grove and to walk weekly on the paths within.