Sunday, 30 November 2025 by Sagacity

Burley Idaho Temple Open House

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.

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!

Sunday, 9 November 2025 by Sagacity

New Minidoka Councilman

Mayor Julie Peterson swears in new Councilman Monique Hurst

Earlier this year, I wrote about the City of Minidoka having a new Mayor and Councilman sworn in to City service. At that time, Councilman Bridgett Frost was sworn in to service. She had to move out of Minidoka leaving a vacancy on the City Council. On 7 October 2025, Mayor Peterson appointed a new Councilman, Monique Hurst. Welcome Councilwoman Hurst! (State law calls it Councilman, state law also indicates that it is gender neutral)

The City has recently been in the news. The City has more work to do. The City Clerk and Treasurer positions are now open. The City has hired a new certified water operator, Cody Creek. The City is setting up a new accounting/budgeting/billing/utility software through Caselle. Updates and upgrades are being made to some of the electrical system. The City has achieved compliance with the Idaho Tax Commission and Idaho Controller Office in the past few months. Area of Impact has been assigned. Many more good things are moving forward for this little town. Hopefully the ball can keep rolling and gaining speed despite the odds against it. Many thanks to surrounding towns for their assistance: Burley, Heyburn, Paul, and Rupert.

So many things are moving that residents are becoming more awakened to their sleepy little town. The Mayor and all four Councilman positions were up for election in November. Two of the Councilman positions are for 2 years, the other two are 4 years. But every single seat was contested! Julie Peterson and Becky Ziebach were running for Mayor. Bulmaro Paz, Bonnie Hofmeister, and Mark Cartwright were running for the two 4-year seats. James Cook, Monique Hurst, and Jerry Tolivar are running for the two 2-year seats. That is 8 people running for 5 seats! Elections are healthy. Citizens are willing to work for the bettering of their community.

Julie Peterson will continue on as Mayor. Bulmaro Paz will retain his seat and Bonnie Hofmeister will join him for the 4 year seats. James Cook will retain his seat and Monique Hurst will continue on in her newly appointed seat.

Citizens are willing to work for the bettering of their community.

Wednesday, 5 November 2025 by Sagacity

House of the Lord: Burley temple open house begins Thursday

**ERIC GOODELL photos,** TIMES-NEWS The open house for the recently completed Burley Temple will begin Thursday and run through Sept. 22, excluding Sundays.

BURLEY — The recently completed temple on the outskirts of the city is more than a beautiful building, church members say.

Even to youthful Sophia Silvaz, a sophomore at Burley High School, it means much more.

“It is a place where heaven feels close,” Silvaz said, “a place where you can find peace, love and guidance from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regard temples — almost 400 have either been completed or have been announced worldwide — as the most sacred places on earth. At an event for the media on Monday morning, members said anticipation of the Burley temple has been growing since it was announced in 2021.

People talk Monday outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Burley Temple.

Now that the granite-clad building has been completed, an open house will kick off Thursday and run through Sept. 22, excluding Sundays. About 100,000 people are expected to tour the temple during that time.

Jolene Graham, who lives down the street from the temple, has had a front-row seat to its construction.

“Sometimes it woke us up early in the morning,” Graham said of the construction.

She recounted that people would drive by the 10-acre site, and as they saw the steel frame gradually rise out from the ground and the exterior take shape, their focus seemed to change.

People began lingering around the site longer, staying in their cars or walking near the temple grounds, she said.

Church communication directors Dave and Heather Wilson remember when the temple’s steeple was delivered to the site and was hoisted on top of the two-story building.

An exterior photo of the Burley Idaho Temple. Each temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is inscribed with the words, “Holiness to the Lord • House of the Lord.”

“Social media must have gone wild that day,” Dave Wilson said, as people started showing up, clogging the street.

“It was a winter day in December and lots and lots of little children touched that steeple as it lay on the trailer — I touched that steeple as it lay on the trailer,” Heather Wilson said.

The Wilsons had to be patient to see inside the temple. They first saw the 35,000-square-foot building about a week ago.

A temple in Twin Falls opened in 2008, and Elder Steven R. Bangerter, the church’s general authority, said it will allow more people in the Mini-Cassia area to attend more conveniently.

“The temple, for us, lies at the heart of our efforts to draw nearer to Christ,” Bangerter said. People will now be able to enjoy the blessings from temple attendance more regularly, he said.

Temples are different from meeting houses, which dot southern Idaho. In temples, people meet for regular Sunday worship and other church activities throughout the week.

Once the temple is dedicated on Jan. 11, only members of the church in good standing will be allowed to enter. There, they will perform ordinances not just for themselves but also on behalf of the dead who didn’t have the opportunity to receive them.

The Celestial Room of the Burley Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But the open house allows the public to see inside and view its beauty, from the stained-glass windows with a potato flower motif in tribute to the community’s agricultural roots to the baptistry, where members of the church will be baptized in behalf of the dead, and the sealing rooms, where couples, the church teaches, can be married not just until death but for eternity.

Many of the colors seen in the temple are meant to echo the local farmland and open skies.

The artwork in the temple depicts scenes from Jesus Christ’s life, and outdoor scenes are prevalent in the temple’s interior.

The Burley temple’s stained glass windows feature the potato plant blossom, tying local agricultural heritage into the temple’s design.

Bangerter said it was built from high-quality materials, as is expected for a building with the words “In Holiness to the Lord, House of the Lord” inscribed above its entrance.

The granite on the exterior and floor came from Italy. The area rugs are crafted from New Zealand wool.

Bangerter hopes the temple will be well-used, with high school students coming early before school to perform baptisms on behalf of the dead and church members attending “endowment sessions,” where they promise to obey God’s commandments.

Bangerter said the teachings in such sessions answer three big questions: where we came from, what is the purpose of earth life, and what will happen after we die.

The celestial room of the temple is meant to be a peaceful place, symbolizing heaven in God’s presence.

“It’s a place we go to pray and to feel close to God,” Bangerter said.

The baptistry of the Burley Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the temple, faithful Latter-day Saints can be baptized on behalf of their deceased ancestors.

He said ordinances for the dead are “an offering of service, an offering of love,” and people on the other side of the veil can accept or reject the temple work done on their behalf.

Eric Goodell reports for the Times-News.

Sunday, 7 September 2025 by Sagacity

Heyburn Bridge

I wanted to share this photo from 10 September 2020. The mirror of the Snake River from the Burley side with Heyburn’s Riverside Park just behind captivated me then, and still does.

Tuesday, 6 May 2025 by Sagacity

Riverton Classical Academy secures land donation in Heyburn

Sunday, 27 April 2025 by Sagacity

Aliza and Hiram at the Temple

I am afraid the Ross household are temple tourists. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a couple of quirks. One of which, I like to drive by temples. The more distant a location, the greater likelihood I will plan visiting a temple. Even if it is just to drive past and snap a picture. Now that my children are old enough to attend the temple, my unwritten goal is to attend varying temples. In visiting with Aliza and Hiram, they have not been keeping much of a record. Here I am, trying to re-create a list of temples they both have attended 2022 to present. I can cheat because we often take a picture while there.

Aliza could start attending the temple in January 2022. We did not have any goals for attendance, usually just whenever our Burley 11 Ward would go to the temple.

12 February 2022 – Twin Falls Idaho Temple

16 April 2022 – Pocatello Idaho Temple – Bill Teal, Mary Lou Teal, Amanda Ross, Aliza Ross, Paul Ross, Eliza Hales, Brad Hales, Aleah Hales

14 May 2022 – Logan Utah Temple – Paul and Aliza Ross with Aleah, Brad, and Eliza Hales

31 December 2022 – Brigham City Utah Temple – Paul Ross, Aleah Hales, Eliza Hales, Brad Hales, Aliza Ross, Amanda Ross

27 May 2023 – Bountiful Utah Temple – Paul and Aliza Ross, Brad, Aleah, and Eliza Hales, Marianne Christensen

19 August 2023 – Twin Falls Idaho Temple – Paul Ross, Brad Hales, Aliza Ross, Aleah Hales, Eliza Hales

Hiram could start attending the temple in January 2024. That year the Burley 8 Ward (we moved houses) asked that we set a goal of attending monthly in 2024. We fulfilled that goal.

12 January 2024 – Pocatello Idaho Temple – Amanda, Aliza, Milo, Hiram, and Paul Ross

17 February 2024 – Twin Falls Temple – Burley 8 Ward Temple Trip

8 March 2024 – Bountiful Utah Temple – Bryan Hemsley, Amanda Ross, Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Hiram Ross, Paul Ross

5 April 2024 – Twin Falls Idaho Temple – Burley 8 Ward Temple Trip

5 July 2024 – Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

23 August 2024 – Meridian Idaho Temple – Aliza only

22 September 2024 – Layton Utah Temple – Amanda Ross, Aliza Ross, Hiram Ross, Brad Hales, Aleah Hales, Elise Hales, Rachel Hales, Eliza Hales, Paul Ross

Funny story, Layton was the first time I actually took a dead person to the temple. My Great Aunt June Streeter Stout. Ask me for the story.

9 November 2024 – Twin Falls Temple – Burley 8 Ward Temple Trip

28 December 2024 – Bountiful Utah Temple – Burley 8 Ward Temple Trip

The Ward did not ask us to continue the monthly attendance for 2025, but as a family we have continued the monthly attendance goal.

1 February 2025 – Twin Falls Temple

26 March 2025 – Newport Beach California Temple

19 April 2025 – Pocatello Idaho Temple – Brad Hales, Janet Hales, Eliza Hales, Aliza Ross, Aleah Hales, Elise Hales, Paul Ross, Hiram Ross

19 April 2025 – Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

6 July 2025 – Twin Falls Idaho Temple – Derek Hemsley, Paul Ross, Hiram Ross, Aliza Ross, Olivia Hemsley

16 August 2025 – Logan Utah Temple – Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross

6 September 2025 – Twin Falls Temple – Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross

24 October 2025 – Twin Falls Temple – Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross

29 November 2025 – Orem Utah Temple – Paul Ross, Hiram Ross, Derek Hemsley, Olivia Hemsley, Jill Hemsley, Aliza Ross

19 December 2025 – Syracuse Utah Temple – Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross

In addition to attending the temple for ordinances for 2024-2025, we also attended some temple open houses.

26 May 2023 – Saratoga Springs Utah Temple – Front (l-r): Jordan Hemsley, Hiram Ross, Jill Hemsley; Standing: Amanda Ross, Aliza Ross, Rowan Hemsley, Derek Hemsley, Olivia Hemsley, Lillian Ross, Paul Ross, James Ross, Jack Hemsley, Bryan Hemsley

6 August 2023 – Moses Lake Washington Temple

23 March 2024 – Manti Utah Temple – Amanda, Paul, Hiram, James, Lillie, and Aliza Ross with Jill Hemsley

17 May 2024 – Layton Utah Temple – Lillian Ross, Paul Ross, Amanda Ross, Aliza Ross, Bryan Hemsley, Jill Hemsley, James Ross, Hiram Ross

18 May 2024 – Taylorsville Utah Temple – Bryan Hemsley, James Ross, Jill Hemsley, Aliza Ross, Lillian Ross, Hiram Ross, Amanda Ross, Paul Ross

11 October 2024 – Deseret Peak Utah Temple – Paul Ross, James Ross, Amanda Ross, Hiram Ross, Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillie Ross, Bryan Hemsley, Shanna Thompson

30 August 2025 – Elko Nevada Temple – Brad and Rachel Hales Family with Ross Family with Lea Pierucci Izama (exchange student from Germany, staying with Hales family)

8 November 2025 – Burley Idaho Temple, Amanda Ross, Brad Hales, Anson Hales, Aleah Hales, James Ross (front), Lea Pierucci Izama (back), Paul Ross, Audra Hales, Aliza Ross

This was a fun visit. Some of the kids commented about where under the temple, in the foundations, might their rocks be found? We all submitted rocks with thoughts and our names on them that were placed before the foundations were poured.

14 November 2025 – Burley Idaho Temple – Hiram Ross, Amanda Ross, Lillie Ross, Rowan Hemsley (arm around), Margo Hemsley, Bryan Hemsley, Olivia Hemsley, Jill Hemsley, Jack Hemsley, James Ross, Paul Ross, Aliza Ross, Jordan Hemsley, Derek Hemsley

And other drive by shootings related to temples in 2022-2025.

4 June 2022 – Burley Idaho Temple Groundbreaking

6 August 2023 – Columbia River Washington Temple

28 August 2023 – Los Angeles California Temple

1 September 2023 – San Diego California Temple

26 March 2025 – Los Angeles California Temple

29 March 2025 – Oakland California Temple

29 November 2025 – Provo City Utah Temple – Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with Jill Hemsley

23 December 2025 – Laie Hawaii Temple – Amanda and Paul Ross

This is only a record of attending the temple for Aliza and Hiram. Many know I have had my own personal goal for monthly attending the temple from September 1998 to the present.

Sunday, 13 April 2025 by Sagacity

Cassia County GOP awards scholarships

“Ella Hitt, left, and Abigail Williams were presented their Cassia County Republican Central Committee scholarships by Chairman Paul Ross.

“Burley – Ella Hitt and Abigail Williams were recently named the winners of a pair of $1,000 scholarships awarded by the Cassia County Republican Central Committee.

“Scholarship application requirements included an interview with an elected official, attending a public meeting and writing a resolution. Finalists were interviewed by the Cassia County Republican Scholarship Committee.

“The winning students spoke at a committee meeting and presented their resolutions and answered questions.

This posted this week. Fun to have a reference in the paper that is positive.

Sunday, 30 June 2024 by Sagacity

LD’s Cafe History

This comes from a history compiled and written by Jack Johnson as part of his Discovery Area Guides. Jack graduated from Burley High School with my Mom in 1972. He now lives in Hyrum, Utah. This article is in the 2022 Guide for North Cache County, including Smithfield, Richmond, and Lewiston. L.D. is loosely linked to me as I believe he is the nephew of Lorenzo Bowcutt, who married my Great Grandmother Lillian Coley Jonas in 1953 (Ren passed away in 1966).

“When Richmond was settled in the mid-1850’s, a locally-owned landmark business was still over a hundred years from being established. L.D.’s Cafe makes fascinating history live once more.

“Remnants of local history adorn L.D.’s dining area walls, including framed newspaper clippings, historical articles and an American flag. L.D. Bowcutt has been actively running the business since 1959, and loves to relate the history posted on his walls. Ask about his famous rodeo clown relative, or any one of the area’s veterans – each has a story that he’s anxious to tell.

“According to the Herald Journal newspaper article posted on its wall, “L.D.’s father bought this place in 1957. It started out as a poolroom. When the earthquake hit in 1961 this place rolled like a wave.” Wikipedia reports that the quake (it states as 1962) was a magnitude Mw5.9 the morning of August 30, 1962 at 6:35 am local time. With its epicenter just north of Richmond, this quake, Utah’s most costly , caused damages estimated then at $1-2 million dollars ($18.5-20 million in 2020 dollars.)

“L.D. remembers, “My father remodeled it and used some of the fixtures and furniture from the restaurant up the street that he bought because it was condemned by the damage from the earthquake.” Started initially as a bar and pool room, “since August 31, 1962, L.D.’s has served full meals. Before that it was strictly a sandwich and lunch menu.”

“”L.D. says that most of his customers are local people and repeat customers. This place isn’t commercialized or franchised. I can get to know my customers and they get to know me. People come her for sociability to be with their friends and neighbors. A log of business also gets transacted here. Based on comments from the lunch crowd, it would seem like L.D.’s customers return for more than just the comfortable, friendly atmosphere.”

“”He said one day the “champion cow” entered his cafe through the front door and paraded around the pool tables, but something like that only happens during Black and White Days, when the town is filled with horses and cows.”

“A lot of people don’t know that L.D.’s had a private meeting room upstairs. Bowcutt says that for a long time the area’s riding club would meet upstairs to shoot the bull and plan events.

“Serving two terms on the Richmond city council, L.D. Has been heavily involved in local interests. He tells how after the Richmond bank was robbed int he early 1960’s the bank manager had a buzzer installed to ring at the cafe. He’d return the call to the bank, whose employees knew when he asked, “Is L.D. there?” – a positive answer meant there was trouble, a negative meant all was well. His cafe also served as the communications center for the local volunteer fire department, sounding a warning siren whenever help was needed.

“L.D.’s daughter Lori, and grandson, J.R. Hoggan, are also actively involved, but J.R. is quick to point out that L.D. is really the heart of the business. Now in his eighties, L.D. still takes over at the grill quite often, filling every order the L.D.’s way – with healthy home-cooked meals. Hungry for meat and potatoes, burger, seafood of breakfast? You’ll find it all and a whole lot more – traditions of excellence and community involvement at L.D.’s Cafe in Richmond.

“L.D. states, “You need to be really sharp to compete with the big restaurant chains and stay open for business, and I think my cafe is the last of its kind.”

“Source: Conversation with L.D. Bowcutt Nov. 2, 2022, Wikipedia search “Earthquake – Logan, UT.

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