Standing (l-r) Scott & Sarah Erekson, Jolene Maloney, Anne Taylor, Teresa Molitor; Seated: Trish and Tony Geddes, Amanda and Paul Ross
This is an election year. All our Idaho Constitutional Officers are up for election again. I hope some great candidates will step forward to run.
Amanda and I were fortunate to attend the Inaugural Dinner in January 2023. Many who were working on the new Idaho State Public Defender legislation were invited to attend. It was an honor.
We also walked up to the Capitol afterward for some of the festivities there.
What will the inauguration in January 2027 look like?
Amanda and Paul Ross in the Idaho State Capitol – Boise, Idaho
Extra points for those who recognize my lapel pin…
James sneaked down to catch Santa, but fell asleep
Since we just passed Christmas, I thought I would share a couple of pictures from our first Christmas in our current home. The difference 3 years makes!
Have to wait before they can descend to see the presents or trees on Christmas morning
Traditionally we make all the kids get up and get together and we go in together. That way nobody peeks or otherwise gets ahead of the other kids.
This year was unique in that we arrived home after midnight. Kids slept in until past 8 am.
I previously wrote of our trip to Alaska in 2021. We hit Denali, Anchorage, and visited Jonas cousins. On that same trip we also drove down to Kenai Fjords. It was a memorable trip.
Looking down the valley from Exit Glacier.
That glacier apparently once was down in this vicinity in the last 100 years. The hikes were not so bad for the kids, we just had to take our time.
What remains of Exit Glacier.
You can see that some of the terrain is now being filled by greenery.
Aliza, Hiram, Lillie, Amanda, James, and Paul Ross with Exit Glacier in 2021
More terrain below Exit Glacier – once all under the glacier too
We also drove down the way to Seward while we were there.
Aliza, Hiram, Lillie, and Amanda Ross looking out at Resurrection Bay
As I worked through the photos of Dave and Betty Donaldson, I stumbled on some pictures sent from Dad. Dad, Milo Paul Ross, attended the 1957 Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. I thought I would share those photos along with some other items I have scanned related to that trip. Since there were a couple of photos from the 1958 High Adventure Trip, I thought I would include those too.
First, be aware that the Great Salt Lake and Lake Bonneville Councils published a book about their trip. “Onward for God and My Country” was the motto. I have scanned the entire book – it is provided below.
The book says the trip occurred in July 1957. The book provides plenty of photos of the highlights. These few photos show what Dad thought was interesting enough to take pictures.
The trip took them east through a variety of states. Included was Chicago, Detroit, and Palmyra. Stops included the Sacred Grove and Smith Farm. Albany, Springfield, Boston, and New York City.
Dad does not recall the names or even knowing anyone in the photos at Jamboree.
I remember Dad talking about the Statue of Liberty. They climbed the stairs to the crown. He also indicated that at that time they let some of them climb to the torch. It was a very memorable experience. He also mentioned the Empire State Building and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Vice President Nixon addressed the Scouts.
Kammeyer’s supported the Jamboree.
For those LDS Scouts, Harold B Lee and Delbert L Stapley spoke to the boys on Sunday. Here is a letter Dad wrote home while there.
I previously wrote about Dad and scouting. Here is his Eagle Scout picture.
Milo Paul Ross achieved Eagle Scout
Here is a note Grandpa made about this picture.
Milo Ross, Bill McBride, Leon Taylor, Freddy Cox Eagle Announcement
Milo James Ross commented about Milo Paul Ross receiving his Duty to God award on 27 April 1959
Duty to God Award
Letter from Church Headquarters
Here are a couple of the photos from the Colorado River rafting trip. Dad thinks there are more photos. He does not remember or recognize any of the individuals in the photos.
Dad remembered they had to pull out of the river to go around the Glen Canyon Dam construction.
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Both of these were trips of a lifetime. Neither have been forgotten.
This letter was shared with me by Erron Alvey. Erron and I are cousins descending from James Thomas Ross/Meredith and Damey Catherine Graham. I have written about them before. In 2020, I shared that some more photos of James/Jim were found and I hoped that more would be found. Erron is a descendant through Robert “Bob” Leonard Ross, brother to my John “Jack” Ross. Bob’s daughter, Mary, is Erron’s Great Grandmother. It appears that some of Jim’s possessions and photos have come through the generations to her. She provided some photographs and other documents for scanning, I scanned 215 documents in all. Among them, was this letter. Pearlie was married to James Thomas Ross/Meredith Jr. Envelopes suggest Jim was living in Winton, California. None of the letters have an address on them.
The letter is dated 1934. That is right in the depths of the Great Depression. During this time in California, Jim is planning on making his way to the Salt Lake City Temple. There he will make covenants only available in temples. His closest temple at that time would have been St. George. But he has family and friends in Salt Lake City. I don’t know if he made it to Vernal and Lapoint to visit James and Pearlie and their family. But this certainly gives some more insight into the ongoing conversations and relationships that existed. I will share the scans of the letter below. I will also share some of the stash of photos that have come over, unfortunately most are unnamed individuals. Jim was baptized and confirmed 17 April 1898. He received his endowment 20 June 1935 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Damey, who has passed away in 1933, also received her endowment vicariously on the same date. They were also sealed that same date. This letter is 11 months before Jim made the trip and received these ordinances.
Pearlie May Marshall was born 16 September 1892 in Gladesboro, Carroll, Virginia and died 17 September 1976 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah. She married to James Thomas Ross (1895 – 1964) 4 June 1913 in Laurel Fork, Carroll, Virginia. They divorced and she remarried to Ashley Bartlett in Vernal, Utah, 22 November 1938. James Jr and Pearlie had six children: Vesta Virginia Ross (1914 – 2007), Eugene Dale Ross (1915 – 1986), Iola Inez Ross (1918 – 1976), Ernest Howard Ross (1919 – 1922), Sydney Bea Ross (1922 – 2010), and Carma Ross (1924 – 2015). All but Sydney were born in Lapoint, she was born in Rupert, Minidoka, Idaho. Ernest died in Rupert while there.
James and Pearlie Ross
Lapoint, Ut
July 20, 1934
Dear Dad,
We were surely pleased to get your letter as we half been expecting one for some time.
How are you and what are you doing? We are all well as usual and not doing much of any thing.
Are times getting any better down there? Don’t seem to be any better here, besides the water situation is getting serious.
Just enough for gardens and maybe that won’t last.
No hay or grain raised if under the White Rocks Canal and not much under the Government Canal.
Glad you are coming to Salt Lake City to go through the Temple.
Nothing would please me better than to go through with you, but I haven’t a penny now and don’t suppose I will then, but if it is possible I will be there.
One of my neighbors used to work in the Temple. She said you could get some one there to go through with you, but I will if I can get there.
I wish Tom would go and be sealed to you and have our work done but I’ve about given up all hopes.
You must be sure and come on out here whether I can meet you there or not.
It won’t cost much more and we want to see you so bad. The children talk about your a lot. Sydney and Carma are getting to be quite big girls now. Eugene hasn’t grown much since you saw him. Surely sorry to hear Jack had cancer of the stomach. Hope he is better by now.
How are Fannie’s folks?
I wrote her 2 or 3 weeks ago but haven’t heard from her.
Do you still stay with Florence? How are her and her family? Tell her to write and tell all about herself and kiddies.
Where is Orson? How are he and his wife getting along. Where does Mary live and how is her health now.
Dad and Mother are getting quite feeble. They ask about you often. Said give you their love. All the rest are quite well. The depression has hit them all.
Irma and Bill are still here but would like to lie in Calif.
Well, Dad don’t wait so long to write us as we are always anxious to hear from you. Be sure you make your plans to come on here when you come to Salt Lake.
Would like for you to come stay with us. It was not cold here last winter so maybe it won’t be this.
The Burley Idaho Temple Open House ran 3 November 2025 to 22 November 2025. It was an amazing opportunity to invite the local and broader community to walk through a pinnacle of our worship. I attended 5 of the much more individual and personal tours on the 3rd through 5th with public leaders and distinguished guests. I wish everyone could attend these tours, which would often take 45 minutes to 60 minutes for the full tour. Some of these were guided by General Authorities, including Elders Steven R. Bangerter, Karl D. Hirst, and K. Brett Nattress.
On Thursday, the general public was welcome to attend open tours. Our first tour tried to do a small introduction in each room, but about half-way through that was abandoned to keep the lines moving. Every tour I attended afterward did not have any attempted presentations, other than to remind individuals to not take photos and to speak softly.
Amanda sneaked over and caught a personal tour on the 6th.
6 November 2025 – Amanda Ross attended individually
Amanda and I took our family on Friday 7 November 2025.
Saturday morning we attended with some friends. This was my 7th tour that first week!
8 November 2025 – Bud and Karen Marie Whiting, Amanda Ross, James Ross, Aliza Hales, Lea Pierucci Izama, Audra Hales, Aleah Hales, Anson Hales, Brad Hales, Paul Ross
The next weekend, Amanda had a bunch of family come to town and also attend. This Friday night was my 4th tour of the second week.
14 November 2025 – Hiram Ross, Amanda Ross, Lillian Ross, Rowan Hemsley, Margo Hemsley, Bryan Hemsley, Olivia Hemsley, Jill Hemsley, Jack Hemsley, James Ross, Paul Ross, Aliza Ross, Jordan Hemsley, Derek Hemsley
I also got to attend some more times the third week. But my 4th tour in the third week was with my sister and brother-in-law.
22 November 2025 – Paul Ross, Andra and Wes Herbst
That makes 15 trips through the temple for the open house. I was also privileged to do temple security on 5 different occasions, all for the 9:00 PM to 1:00 AM shift. Here are some photos from that opportunity.
4 November 2025
4 November 2025
5 November 2025 – Paul Ross and Kevin Mower for the graveyard shift
10 November 2025 – Paul Ross and Tyson Smith for the graveyard shift
Amanda also got to do a security shift, parking shift, and foot covering (booty) shift.
12 November 2025 – Amanda Ross Parking Shift
12 November 2025 – Amanda Ross Security Shift
Some of the late night security shifts were great opportunities to reflect on the blessings we are now achieving with the ease and access of a temple so close.
When I received my first temple recommend for my own endowment, Paul Idaho Stake President, M. Gene Hansen, invited me to make a commitment to attend the temple every month at a minimum. I took that commitment. I agreed.
In Hazelton, Idaho, it took me roughly 2 1/4 hours to get to the Boise Idaho Temple (speed limits have increased since then); Idaho Falls Idaho Temple was just under 2 hours; Logan Utah Temple was about 2 1/2 hours, and Ogden Utah Temple was 2 1/2 hours. I was endowed in Logan in September 1998 with my Dad. I attended Logan and Boise before going on the mission. But it was at least half a day planning to attend the temple before the mission.
Within the Manchester England Mission is found the Preston England Temple. Attending the temple in the mission required coordination with members as the temple isn’t near public transportation and we relied on members to take us. We could only go on Preparation Day, which was Tuesday. That took some work, but I was able to attend every month of the mission (except for some months where some missionaries had abused the privilege and all missionaries lost temple attendance options for three months). Getting to the temple was within 1 hour for every area in which I served.
I lived in Branson Missouri for a couple of years. Our closest temple for Branson was the St. Louis Missouri Temple. That drive was at least 4 hours one way, often 4 1/2 hours. That required an entire day to be set aside and planned to drive, attend, and return home. Never missed a month in Branson. I sealed my Jonas grandparents together in St. Louis Missouri Temple. The Bentonville Arkansas Temple has been constructed much closer at about 2 hours. The Springfield Missouri Temple will be less than an hour away from Branson.
Amanda and I lived in Richmond Virginia for a couple of years. Our closest temple for Richmond was the Washington D.C. Temple. That drive was between 4 and 5 hours away, depending on beltway traffic. We would often go up and spend Friday night with family, attend the temple that night or in the morning, and then make our way back home. Washington D.C. Temple was closed for a bit, so to make the monthly trip, we had to go to the Raleigh North Carolina Temple. That was almost a 4 hour drive one direction. The new Richmond Virginia Temple is just outside the first neighborhood we lived in and within 10 minutes of the second neighborhood we lived.
When we moved back to Idaho, the Twin Falls Idaho Temple had been dedicated. That dropped the 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive time for all those temples to less than an hour, usually between 50-60 minutes. But it still takes time and planning to ensure I get there every month. This is double now that we also have a commitment to see that Aliza and Hiram are able to attend at least monthly.
Now, with the dedication of the Burley Idaho Temple in January, the temple will be between 5 to 6 minutes away.
Now I have to reevaluate. It seems the once a month commitment is not enough. I think that will remain the absolute minimum going forward for the rest of my life. It also seems I have no reason to not attend to at least one ordinance in the temple at least every week.
To show my gratitude to our Father and our Savior, I intend to attend the Burley Idaho Temple at least daily for the first 30 days it is open after dedication. Which isn’t as much as it seems if you consider it is not open on Sunday, Monday, or Thursday. Still working out what happens after the first 30 days.
For the last three weeks I have found myself regularly humming The Spirit of God and also muttering the Hosanna Shout under my breath. I am looking forward to the dedication of the Burley Idaho Temple on 11 January 2026!
David Donaldson is on the back row, fourth from the left. Beatrice Carol Payne is in the middle row, sixth from the left.
This photo has “David school third grade” written on it. Since David William Donaldson was born in 1928, I am guessing this photo was probably taken in 1937. I think that would have been the end of his third grade year.
I tried to see if the columns looked familiar for some of the old Ogden, Utah, schools. I couldn’t find one that seemed to match. It is a fun picture to see the kids mostly in overalls.
In discussions on an Ogden Facebook page, some people shared photos of the old Lincoln Elementary School. It was east of Washington Avenue and north of 3rd Street. I have not found any great pictures of the building to really confirm or deny this was that old Lincoln Elementary School. The current Lincoln Elementary in Ogden is a much newer building at a different location.
Nothing else is known about this photo.
Dave would have turned 97 this year on 25 November.
This photo was recently shared on social media. I have written of Heyburn before with a photo of the train station. The above photo appears to have been taken before a train depot was built. It does show the old water tower for trains, but no depot nearby. The depot picture shared previously also does not show the tower. I do not know where the water tower or depot were in relation to each other. This photo does not appear to show the river, so this is likely looking to the northeast toward Rupert.
To the left of the water tower, you can see a taller building with a sloped roof but square facade. You can see the shadows of the facade. If you look at this photo below of the train depot, there is a chance the hotel in the photo is the same as that building left of the tower above.
Heyburn as a village was formally incorporated 18 January 1911 in Lincoln County. Minidoka County was not formed until 1913.
Heyburn was surveyed by Bureau of Reclamation 1904 and 1905. The Oregon Short Line Railroad was finished to Heyburn in June 1905. The photo cannot pre-date June 1905.
Heyburn’s first depot was a boxcar. When the time came to build a depot, Heyburn had a brick plant operated by Barker and Sons. Heyburn told the railroad if they would build the depot of brick, Heyburn would furnish it free of charge. That is why you can see the depot is built of brick.
Sagacity 