Roots of Knowledge

Roots of Knowledge

Fulton Library

Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah

See the curved structure in the middle of the picture

top - by day

below - by night

80 10’ high stained glass panes and 200’ long

A fusion of art, education, and public space, Roots of Knowledge starts with the dawn of humanity and ends with the present day. The series of stained glass windows chronicles the human quest for intellectual advancement and progress. The panes are vibrantly colored glass paintings and interpretations of world history, including major inventions such as the Mayan Calendar and the printing press; important figures such as Joan of Arc and the Kangxi Emperor; major world events, such as Scotland’s Declaration of Arbroath and the American Civil Rights Movement; and thousands of other historical figures, tools, and events. Altogether, Roots of Knowledge incorporates thousands of pieces of glass, as well as actual rock, fossils, coins, meteorite, petrified wood, and coral. (UVU)

Click on an image & you'll see larger images of these beautiful windows

Read more here and here

St. Patrick's Day

Salt Lake City - Reflections

Seems like I do a lot of reflecting nowadays. This is such a different time of life for me. Establishing different routines. Deciding what I need to do now that I'm on my own. Deciding what I want to do now that I'm on my own. As I walked around Salt Lake City recently I was aware of reflections around me. 

Reflection of the Church Office Building

Assembly Hall reflection

experimental panorama of the temple

clouds reflect off the pond onto the temple

Temples are houses of the Lord. They are great places for pondering who we are, where we came from, why we are here, and where we're going after this life. In them, we worship, make covenants with God, and we learn. 

RootsTech - Light Keepers

 Light Keepers was a special afternoon workshop about ways family history and temple work strengthen individuals and families. Read more here 

 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Matthew 7: 7-8)

Knowledge of our ancestors shapes & instills within us values that give direction & meaning to our lives." Dennis Neuenschwander

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Identifying and getting to know our ancestors continues to be a great work and a wonder in my life. At times I have felt their love and encouragement. They still exist. They know us and are cheering us on as we journey through earth life. 

RootsTech - General Sessions

A keynote presentation was a highlight of each day at RootsTech. 6,000 people filled the room and the overflow went to another room with big screen monitors. These events were filled with music, big screens, and lots of energy. 

Jason Hewlett was the emcee each day. He was amazing with the huge crowd. 

Patricia Heaton from The Middle and Everybody Loves Raymond, is from Cleveland, Ohio. She talked about her large, Catholic family. Her mother was one of 15 children. She, Patricia, has 100+ first cousins! She graduated from Ohio State and one of her four sons currently attends OSU. She even threw out O H - a few of us in the room with 6,000 people said I O. Watch her keynote here

 During one of the general sessions the church made a $2 million gift to the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. Apostle David Bednar made the presentation. Michael Moore, head of the museum, spoke as did Martin Luther King III. 

Steve Rockwood, FamilySearch CEO, talked about the theme of the conference 

- connect & belong

Keynote here

 Saroo Brierley - at age 5 he was separated from his family in India. Adopted and raised in Tasmania, he later found his birth mother. Keynote here

Jake Shimabukuro is a ukulele master - amazing talent

Keynote here 

all but last image from FamilySearch

RootsTech - Expo Hall

The Expo Hall is one of my favorite parts of RootsTech. About 200 vendors represent a wide variety or products. Many of the exhibitors conduct mini classes at their booths. There's a main stage where additional product demonstrations are held. This year there was an area dedicated to short talks about DNA. 

first day rush to purchase DNA kits

We could take an early morning short cut through the Expo Hall to get to classes. This was before the Expo Hall opened. There was a group of exhibitors gleefully playing games on this huge monitor. 

Speaking of huge displays, I passed by this one several times a day and thought it would look very nice in my office.

These authors were selling their books

Poles Apart by Audrey Wyatt

Lavender Blue by Michelle Crystal

free ukulele lessons

A Billion Graves

free apps

classes

This company was printing charts

a live family tree

Vendors offer all sorts of enticements to get people to stop at their booths - pens, candy (lots of candy), more pens, notebooks, more candy, magnifiers, and a variety of other items