Glenmavis and Dunfermline

On our 44th wedding anniversary we made a family history trip to two places in Doug's family history.

This is the Auld Grey Kirk on the Hill. It was built in 1640 as a one story church and stands on a hill overlooking the village. It is 600' above sea level and you can see 60 miles to the west. The church was rebuilt in 1777 as a two story and that is why the steeple is hardly noticeable. The name for the church comes from the discoloration of the stones of the building because of smoke and fumes from nearby heavy industry. Now that the industry is long gone, the building has reverted back to the original stone color.

Agnes Jamieson and Walter Hoggan were married in this church 18 July 1851. The church was locked so will have to wait for another time to look inside.

The graveyard around the church.

We went the graveyard next to the church and found Sandy who was the Sextant. He opened his book of records, what a priceless collection. I was almost afraid to touch the pages they were so old. We found a George and Walter Jamieson who had bought a plot in the cemetery but had subsequently sold it to some others. This is the record.

Then he found the record of the church graveyard with names on each plot.

Dunfermline was founded in 1065 when King Malcom built his Tower on a hill. It is Scotland's ancient capital.

Walter and Agnes Hoggan lived in Dunfermline when they had four children. They lived on Knobbie Street, which we drove on today, however they have excavated the street and buildings and even a church to make way for a shopping mall and car park.

Dunfermline Abbey is one of the most important of the Scottish Abbeys from the 12th century to Reformation times in Scotland. It was built by David 1. It is the burial place of Scottish Kings, Queens, Princesses, and Princes including the greatest of the Scottish Kings--King Robert the Bruce who was the victor of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. His heart was removed to be taken to the Holy Land as he had wished. It never made it and now lies in Melrose Abbey.

\

The monestary is behind the Abbey and was founded by the Benedictine monks brought by Queen Margaret.

 This would have been the great hall where the monks would have eaten all of their meals in complete silence. Nods of the head and eye movement allowed food to be passed.

No pictures inside as it was locked as well. :{


Dunfermline is also the home of Andrew Carnegie who gave away $350 million dollars during his lifetime. He was the son of a weaver who was born in 1835 and emigrated to the US at the age of 12. He began his career as a bobbin boy in a factory. He made his fortune investing in iron and steel and became the world's richest man and at 33 gave much of his wealth away to benefit mankind. His museum is free to the public but only open March to November.

The Holy Land

What three world religions are represented in this picture?
If you guessed Jewish because of the Western Wall, Islam because of the Dome of the Rock (gold dome in background), and Christian because of Augusta Victoria steeple in background picture to the right of the dome, you would be right.

All three religions feel they should occupy the Holy Land.

Abraham 2:6 reads:" for I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran and to make of thee a minister to bear my name in a strange land which I will give unto thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession, when they hearken to my voice."

The Holy Land will be given to those people who hearken to HIS voice. We need to be sure to always listen to HIS voice.

The Sea of Galilee is below sea level as it enters the Dead Sea. It was at this place that the Savior was baptized. Even in his baptism he descended below all things.



Sheep will follow the Shepherd who knows their names. This is an ancient job, and the shepherds are many in the Holy Land. They had a great example.

In 1979, President Spencer W. Kimball traveled to the Holy Land to determine a site for the BYU-Jerusalem Center. In 1984 the center was granted a 49 year lease. They have a contract with Israel government that  NO proselyting will be done by any BYU Jerusalem student or faculty. The students moved in to the center in 1988. They have been there leaning about Old Testament, New Testament, Ancient and Modern Near Eastern Studies by BYU professors. Weekly field trips carry them to the sites they are learning about in the scriptures. As they read the scriptures after their study in the Holy Land, vivid images that have been implanted will return to their minds.

The languages of Hebrew and Arabic are taught by local people. The center opened with 160 students but the number has been decreased in recent years because of security issues. From 2001-2006 the center was closed because of conflict in the area.

Arabs and Jews attend weekly concerts and organ recitals and are able to tour the public area of the center which do not include the 5 levels of student/faculty rooms. The large arches house the chapel and Ruffati organ. As you sit in the chapel you can see through the large arched windows the city Jerusalem.

We had a wonderful time in the Holy Land. First as tourists in 1979 and then in 1993 teaching in the Jerusalem Center. Doug taught Old and New Testament and I taught Pediatric nursing students from Ricks College in Arab and Jewish Hospitals.
We returned again in 1996, and Doug taught in the summer session. Then as a family, we returned with the 4 daughters and spouses and two grandchildren in February 2013.

This is a small part of fireside that we gave at our Branch in Falkirk on Friday night. I hope you enjoy the pictures and thoughts.

Robert Burns Day

January 25th in Scotland is a HUGE day. Most everyone attends a Robert Burns event. It is very structured for the most part with what happens, and what you eat from beginning to end.

Robert Burns
1721-1784

Haggis is the main dish. It used to be baked in the stomach of a sheep, but now it is baked in a synthetic one.

Robert Burns Home


Robert Burns is considered the Poet Laureat of Scotland. He wrote in English, and Scottish and has given encouragement to the Scots ever since.


The TRADITIONAL Robert Burns Program

The night begins with the traditional piping of the guests (bagpipes) then informal greeting and mixing.

Then all the guests are seated, the host gives a welcoming speech and grace is said.

Some hae meat and cann eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we have meat and we can eat.
And sae let the Lord be thankit.

The supper starts with soup: Scottish broth or potato or Cock-a-Leekie

Piping of the Haggis
Everyone stands as the haggis is brought in and placed on the host's table.
Then begins the ADDRESS to the HAGGIS

Fair fa(fat) your honest, sonsie (jolly)face
Great chieftain o'the puddin-race!
Aboon (above) them a'ye tak your place
Painch (stomach), tripe, or thairm(intestine):
Wee! are ye wordy (worthy) o' a grace
As lang's my arm.

This goes on for  7 more paragraphs.
Then the speaker draws and sharpens a knife and at a certain line, he plunges it into the haggis, and cuts it open end to end. When done properly this is the highlight of the evening.






Haggis is served with tatties (potatoes) and neeps (turnips).

A Scotch whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis, then the company will sit down to the meal. A dessert course, cheese courses and  whisky trifle and coffee may be part of the meal. When you are a Mormon, the whisky, coffee,  becomes a punch or juice  and the dessert usually becomes Scottish Shortbread.

IMMORTAL memory
One of the guests gives a short speech, remembering some aspect of Burns' life or poetry. This may be light hearted or intensely serious.

APPRECIATION
The host will normally say a few words thanking the previous speaker.

TOAST TO THE LASSIES
This was originally short and given by a male guest in thanks to the women who had prepared the meal. This is normally an amusing part.

REPLY TO THE LADDIES
A female guest will give her views on men and reply to any specific points raised by the previous speaker. This is amusing as well.

WORKS BY BURNS
After the speeches, there may be singing of songs by Burns, and more poetry.

CLOSING
The host will call on one of the guests to give the vote of thanks. Everyone is asked to stand, join hands and sing Auld Lang Syne which brings the evening to an end.


IT IS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.

MONTROSE BASIN RESERVE

Montrose is on the east coast of Scotland. This wildlife reserve is known for its wide variety of birds, plant life, and great tidal basin. They have wonderful binoculars inside the visitor's center with outstanding guides to help you find anything moving outside.

Curlew-notice the size of the beak, the length and width. They all go through the mud looking for different foods.

Green Shank

Red Shank

Male Eider in Eclipse plumage.

Pink footed Geese.

When the papa duck said, "QUACK QUACK QUACK," all the little ducks came waddling back.

View of Montrose

DUNNOTTAR Castle

Gun loops above the main entrance




Dunottar sits 160 feet above the sea and is guarded on three sides by the North Sea and on the forth by St. Ninian's Den, a deep ravine. It dates from the 13th century.


Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace,the Marquis of Montrose and the future King Charles II all stayed at this castle. Cromwell attacked the castle for 8 months in 1652, hoping to get Scotland's crown jewels, which included the septre, crown and sword.
The wife of the minister of Kinneff Church smuggled the crown jewels out under the very noses of the troops.

The water supply for the castle.

The Chapel

Inside the chapel

.

 

The kitchen.

The Life of Jesus Christ-New Testament Blessings for YOU

This year our church as a whole is studying the New Testament. Using the King James Version. Bible Videos have been prepared for the use of anyone who would like to view them. They are short and so inspiring. You can even download an app for your phone.
You can go to this website: to view them. I invite you to do so.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/bible-videos-the-life-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

The New Testament consists of 27 separate books, written mainly, though not exclusively, by Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. These books teach and testify of the ministry and Atonement of Jesus Christ and the rise of the early Christian Church. The Bible—the Old and New Testaments—has influenced more people than any other book ever written. 

I bear testimony that it is the word of God.

Is this IDAHO? The HIGHLANDS or Loch Ness Monster Area?

Both going to and coming from Inverness, we had bad blizzard experiences.There were even two times of a white out on the way back. Doug commented that he has not driven in such bad situations, even in Idaho.













We traveled to Inverness to teach the church members there about Family History. Many of them were snowed in and unable to come to church. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive from Falkirk.

We crossed this long bridge to Invergordon.

These were the clouds at 9AM..

The wee road on the way to Loch Ness.

Loch Ness is a fresh water loch, or lake and is 52' above sea level. The deepest point is 755'. It is 23 miles long and is the second largest loch in Scotland. It  has more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. We also learned that because of the snow of the last two days and the melting, Loch Ness has risen 4". That is quite a bit considering the length and depth of the loch. When the salmon come to the loch, seals come and eels also. Often the eels grow to be 10' in length. The boats make wakes and often give the appearance of something in the water. Our guide told us that probably the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie) can never be disproved.

Urquhart castle as it was built originally.

This is what exists now.

Urquhart was destroyed by the English. Notice the size of the stone balls that were used. They traveled the distance of about 2 football fields. The walls and ceilings of the castle were left in ruin after the assault. Clans took anything of value from the castle afterwards.

Cannons were placed here as a defense.

Just inside the main opening to the castle was a windowless room to hold prisoners. Most of them were given fines to pay, some died waiting for trial and a few were nailed to a beam by the ear.

St. Columba is said to have worked miracles in the 6th century.

Acts of chivalry and defiance provided inspiration during the Wars of Independence.
the MacDonalds Lords of the Isles struggled with the Crown for power.

Boats travel every 30 minutes up and down the loch looking for the monster.

Very tame pheasants getting lunch.