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.
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!
The morning of 26 July 2020 I awoke at a motel in Logan, Utah, with my four children. We were on the last day of a trip where Amanda had the weekend to pamper herself. Since we were in Logan, I took the kids around to some of the sites that were important to me. I am not including any of the graveyard pictures that I have shared earlier in visiting the resting sites of family members. This was the same trip we stopped to visit the Paris Tabernacle.
Hiram, Aliza, Lillian, and James Ross on the steps of the Logan Tabernacle in July 2020
The Logan Tabernacle is where I attended Stake Conference for all the years I attended Utah State University. I graduated from Logan Institute of Religion in this building. I recall Dad pointing out that my hair was getting thin from his vantage point on the balcony. I was sustained in this building and spoke at a Stake Conference. I sat at the feet and heard the teachings of H. David Burton and Vaughn J. Featherstone, as well as our own Stake Presidency, Thomas Cherrington, James Jenkins, and Roger McEvoy. I still remember some of their talks. I recall entertaining visiting British guests, like the Byroms and Gores, in this building. Moreover, this building had historical significance to the area and my own ancestors in the valley. In those years, I had numerous councilors, including David Ackerman, Tyler Buswell, David Moss, Jon Phillips, and Guy Schauerhamer. Secretaries were the amazing Kalynne Call (now Jensen) and Jessica Pollard (now Westerberg).
“Family and the Covenant” sculpture at Logan Tabernacle with James, Aliza, Hiram, and Lillian Ross in July 2020
Of course we had to stop at Dentist Office. 655 Darwin Avenue #6, Logan, Utah 84321, was my apartment for several years. That upper right room window was above my bed for those years. I shared a photo of it from 2012 previously. I also listed some of the poor unfortunate souls who also had to reside in close proximity to me!
Hiram, Aliza, Lillie, and James Ross in front of the Dentist Office on Darwin Avenue.
The next stop included the Logan Institute of Religion. This building is harder to capture in a picture with all the new apartment complexes so near the front of it. What was known then as the oldest and largest Institute of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I don’t know if that still holds true. I attended the Institute before my mission and when my Mom disowned me, I knuckled down and took a dozen or so Institute credits. I can attribute much of my religious underpinnings and knowledge to this time. Some of the teachers that profoundly touched me included John Fowles, Rhett James, and Michael Cooley. After the mission, various teachers, including Gene Van Shaar (who I also knew in Springfield, Missouri at what was then Southwest Missouri State University).
Aliza and Hiram Ross at Logan LDS Institute
Of course we had to make a stop at the David B. Haight Alumni House. The history of this location I have shared before. Suffice it to say, I kissed my future wife for the first time here and also asked her to marry me in this same spot. The large painting of David B. Haight is no longer hanging in the lobby inside these doors.
Hiram, Lillian, James, and Aliza Ross at David B. Haight Alumni House in July 2020
Having jumped from the Dentist Office, to the Institute, to the Alumni House, it was obviously easy to jump to Old Main. On the walk over, I snapped this picture of the Logan Temple. Since it was Sunday, we couldn’t get inside the fence so we just drove by it.
Logan Temple in July 2020
Old Main was the home of my college, then the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS). I attended most of my major classes in this building. I knew this building like the back of my hand.
Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross at Old Main of Utah State University in July 2020
I have stood in that tower overlooking the valley a number of times, usually a locked door confines you to the round windows. I have shared some historical photos of the building.
Lillie, Aliza, Hiram, and James Ross at the flower beds in front of Old Main.
I have also shared how my own family contributed to the building of this iconic building.
Lillie, Aliza, Hiram, and James Ross on west steps of south Old Main in July 2020
The photo above is interesting due to the silly children, but also the red sandstone that came from the Nuffer Quarry near Mapleton, Idaho. Both the pillar and stones in and under the brick. Of course, a visit to Old Main Hill for a child would not be complete without rolling down the hill. I also noticed how many of the old huge trees have now left the hill.
Old Main Hill in July 2020
The trip to Logan was memorable for the kids and I recalled many memories from my time attending. Maybe Amanda can attend at a future time. Logan holds fondness and great memories for me. Now we have some more.
I spent some time going through some old digital pictures. I stumbled upon a couple of these I thought I would share. I was still living in Springfield, Virginia, and working in Washington, District of Columbia, at the time. Amanda came out to visit early December. We were engaged to be married later that month back in Utah. I took her to a couple of the sites of the District while she was there.
U.S. Capitol, Dec 2005
Even today, these photos evoke the feelings that these buildings, symbols of our nation, laws, and republic, are designed to conjure from deep within the soul.
Amanda and Paul Ross at U.S. Capitol
We also made it over to visit the Lincoln Memorial.
Paul and Amanda Ross with Abraham Lincoln (in scaffolding) in 2005
The obligatory photo with the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol in the background.
Amanda and Paul Ross with Washington Monument in background 2005 from Lincoln Memorial
You cannot go to Washington in December and not stop and see some of the popular Christmas light destinations! The Washington D.C. Temple is one of those sites, but some of the lights shut off by the time we took our photo. It was getting late.
Amanda and Paul Ross at Washington D.C. Temple in Kensington, Maryland
Well, I just put out a whole philosophical e-mail and thought I would take a moment to do an actual update on life.
I am sitting here listening to Prairie Home Companion enjoying a few good laughts. Earlier I listened to Die Frau Ohne Schatten (The woman without a shadow) by Richard Strauss. It was fascinating to listen to. Made me want to learn my German. Funny how music can take us other places.
I have just finished my second week at Bank of America. Things are going very well. I am learning many more things about mortgages and all the documentations that attend. The lessons mostly center around learning the DOS-based system they use for processing all these loans. I have to admit it is a very detailed system that handles thousands of people working on it at all times with large amounts of information. Impressive as that it, they tell us it has only gone down once in the last 10 years! They have replaced one or two systems with Windows applications and they crash regularly so they are not in any rush to be replacing the old DOS-based system. Therefore, I have to learn the codes and names to navigate the system to check and update information. They teach us how to check the documents and how to put it into the system. We were done covering the documents within the first week. I have found out the position I will be in is basically an assistant underwriter. It has a whole host of names, but currently it is Home Servicing Specialist (HSS).
Last Saturday and Sunday we had Stake Conference. I think it was the most powerful Stake Conference I have ever been to. I have been to some very good ones. Two were in the Logan Tabernacle (one for the Logan University 4th Stake the other for the Logan University 5th Stake), another in the Springfield Missouri South Stake Center, and the last I can think of was a Stake Conference for the Chester Stake in Wrexham, Wales. The most impressive part in Missouri was the music and the unity I felt within the congregation. The Chester Stake was powerful for the fact of some amazing talks given, one particularly by our mission president. The one for the 5th Stake at USU was that it was basically turned into a stake testimony meeting. That in and of itself changed the tenor of the meeting but all were invited by name by the Stake Presidency. The last one for the 4th Stake, I can think of two conferences in particular. One had Elder Burton, the Presiding Bishop and the other was all the Presidency’s remarks. President Cherrington usually gave a great talk at all conferences. So this conference is in good company. It wasn’t the first conference I have been to with an apostle, but this one had an apostle acted as we expect them to. Elder Holland gave some powerful comments.
In Priesthood he taught us about Satan binding our tongues, the difference between lips and hearts, and the difference between forms of power and the real thing. He basically told us we are doing too many things without our hearts and without conviction. Time to step up to act in the name of the priesthood like we are expected to do. In Saturday evening, we were taught how we live in a broken world. Whether you like it or not, things are not perfect. He taught us about the Atonement and how all broken things will be restored to their proper order at the right time. Then he pounded out the importance of not whining, not complaining, and going forward in our lives with faith. He was very direct in those who complain or say something is wrong in life. He said nobody has the right to complain or wallow in the misery when the Savior took care of them for us. Time to walk in faith, get up, and be about doing good. The Sunday session proved to be just as good. He spoke about his personal experiences of President Hinckley and his prophetic calling. It was fascinating to learn more about the personal life of a prophet. He spoke to us about the importance of the gospel and the role of the church. Again, the topic had to do with looking beyond ourselves and seeing the big picture. He ended with the importance and the role of the Holy Ghost. How as latter day saints we live below our privileges and don’t claim the rights that are ours. We do not appreciate what has been given to us and need to wake up.
Even though I have heard similar talks, the basic point is the power by which he spoke, namely the Spirit of God. It literally took the message directly to my heart. I noticed at a couple of points how my bosom literally trembled at what it was he was speaking. I recognize the power which he conveyed.
In other news, we have been looking for a second car. With Amanda needing to travel long distances for school this fall, it isn’t going to work to have one car. So we are looking for a nice little car under $5,000. So far it has been a miserable failure. There are very few cars that are below that limit and what we are finding feel like questionable deals. We went to look at a little Audi A4 for $4,700 and he sold the car at noon. So we took a little Passat for a drive that he said he would sell to us for $4,000. It only has 103,000 miles on it. We took it for a test drive and something about the transmission raised all sorts of red flags for me. We will have to see if something else pops up. I may be too picky. I don’t want a car that smells of smoke or animals. I would like one which runs well. I would like one that isn’t completely ugly, like a stationwagon. Most people take such bad care of cars. Many have rips in the seats, big marks in the doors or dash, and more. I keep waiting for someone to give us one so we don’t have to take on a little more debt, but that probably won’t happen soon. We will have to keep you updated.
Well, I believe that is enough of an update for now.
Amanda’s cousin, Jed Rawson, decided he wanted to stop and see Washington. He made the arrangements to stay with Dennis and Gwen in Springfield. We went up for Thursday. We had a busy little day. We visited the Capitol, Library of Congress, National Archives, Air and Space Smithsonian, Natural History Smithsonian, Washington Temple, FDR Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, and I am sure there is something I missed. Oh we did stop at the White House too. It was a busy day and you can see that in the photos.
In other news, Ross Andra had a pretty major heart attach at church last week in Salt Lake City. I am not sure what doctrine they were teaching but it definitely knocked him over.
I received a phone call last weekend from Iona Mellor in Anaheim, California. She is my cousin as a daughter of Otto Andra. It was good to visit with her for more than an hour. I sent off some group sheets to her so she could return them to me with some more information. I look forward to hearing back from her.
I posted a blog earlier on the Presidential debate. Talk about a few people nipping at me since! Geez. Relax a little people.
Tomorrow I spend the day working at the National Genealogical Society’s convention here in Richmond. That should definitely be interesting. The church made quite a few announcements for it. They are literally about to move a mountain! The Granite Mountain!
There is not loads to report for this week. I have applied for probably nearly 50 jobs online. I have an interview tomorrow for a position with Combined Insurance. Who would have thought? What are the chances? Grandma worked for Combined for 30 years. I have in essence sold Combined Insurance for 6 months of my life. That is probably the equivalent that I spent with Grandma out on the road selling insurance. I sure loved it. Funny what we remember isn’t it.
There was a couple of times we went to Soda Springs to sell. I remember the Caribou Lodge. It was my first time going over, I must have been about 4-6 years old. We were in the old 1974 two door Mercury Cougar. What a car. As we came down the pass from Lava Hot Springs we hit a pheasant. The old car took it in the headlight cover. So when we needed the light, we were Popeye into Soda. Grandma liked the Red Baron pizza and she promised that she would treat me. Accordingly, we went and bought one and took it back to the Caribou Lodge. It was only then we realized that we did not have an oven. Grandma went down, and knowing the owners well, asked if they would cook it. They agreed and we ate Red Baron Pizza. It sure was good.
This was my first time on the road selling with Grandma. She had taken me several times to other places close like Kimberly, Twin Falls, Wendell, and American Falls. I always felt so loved. She would buy me clothes and completely dress me for the week. This week, she bought this little red suit that had zippers over the pockets. It was a short sleeved shirt with shorts. She gave me the permission to carry the money if I promised not to lose it. So I would zip it up in my little pockets and keep it safe all the time. Made me feel like a million bucks.
Every morning we would get up and she would make oatmeal out of the packets. She had a little warmer that you put in the coffee cup and it would boil the water in the cup. She would pour the water in with the oatmeal and we had the little feast every morning. She would comb and part my hair with a duck’s tail in the back. I felt like a little prized doll the way she took care of me.
It was this same week that we stopped at this home to visit some people. That is one thing I remember, we always had leads. Grandma never knocked not knowing who lived there. This house was on a corner or curve in the highway. I could probably take you there today, even though I was only about 5. We were sitting in the front room of the home and the people kept commenting on how adorable I was. Being a little bashful I asked to go in the backyard. I went out and stood at the back fence watching a baseball game. Never had seen a baseball game. I was thrilled, it was warm, slight breeze, and the shining metal baseball bat. Our visit came to a close and they were begging Grandma in front of me if they could keep me. She asked me if they could keep me and I remember breaking out in tears. They thought I was so much more adorable. It would be funny to know who lived there and see if they even remember this. I very much doubt it.
One of the best parts about being with Grandma and doing this insurance business was that when we set out to drive there, she would give me all the lead cards. Sometimes there would be up to 200 of them. It was my job to take a look at the map and figure out where things were. Then I would go through and organize the lead cards according to street, and then line the streets up to area. This was a big job coming to towns like Idaho Falls/Rexburg. I remembered I became quite the pro. The entire week we came back to the car, I could tell her the house number of the next house, and then would direct her how to get there. I became a master at map reading and directions. Even to this day, I can look at a map, get a good feel for where anything is, and I can know how to get where I need to go. Coming to Richmond, I think Amanda is constantly amazed that I already know where everything is. I already know the main streets, where they are, and where they go. Even in church today, changing our ward boundaries, I knew all the roads they talked about. This has been a great blessing to me. All thanks to my beloved Grandmother, and Combined Insurance.
It is funny how much we remember. At least me. I have noticed that others are not so fortunate. I remember that same week going to the sulfur mines and Grandma showing me where the Circle A trucks were. She took me and showed me where my Uncle Doug lived at the time. (Uncle Doug moved from there about 1987, which means I was definitely younger than 8. I remember going to Grace, Idaho and Grandma showing me where Evan was raised. I cannot take you there now, even though I have tried to find it. Evan and Grandma divorced in 1987 as well. I remember her taking me to the Minne Tonka caves, Bennington, Georgetown, and even little Niter. Oddly, driving through Chesterfield a few years ago, it seemed too hauntingly familiar. I still don’t know if it was from an expedition with Grandma or if it was for family history purposes. (I did later find family history links)
This weekend we went to Northern Virginia. Amanda and I have made a commitment to keep President Kimball’s challenge to the Saints that if circumstances permit, members should attend the temple at least once a month. I have done this ever since I came home from my mission. I have done it pretty well since I was endowed, except for several months in the mission when missionaries were not allowed to attend the temple. Accordingly, Amanda and I needed to attend for the month of July and thought now was as good time as any. We went up Friday night, stayed with Dennis and Gwen Thompson, who I lived with when I worked in Washington, D.C.. We spent the evening, caught up, and planned out Saturday. Saturday, we went to the temple, dropped Miss Mandy Lundstrom off at the Baltimore Washington International Airport, drove to Annapolis, Maryland; and then crashed back at the Thompson home. I did 15 initiatory at the temple and Amanda/Mandy both did a session. We got lost getting there as we talked and passed every single junction for a free way. Mandy was staying with the Thompson’s. Oddly, she was the old girlfriend of Brad Hales, my good friend and old roommate. She was going to ride the train from Springfield clear to BWI with all her luggage. Knowing how horrible that is, how much I hate traveling with luggage, I offered our services. Plus she got to go to the temple one last time. Amanda and I then ran to Annapolis to see the historic downtown. Sadly, we got there 5 minutes after they closed the statehouse. But we drove around a little longer. The Maryland Capitol is the longest used Capitol in the U.S.. It has also served at the United States Capitol while the current one was being built. It was in this very building that General George Washington resigned his commission of the Continental Army. Wonderful history. The College of St. John is right by as is the United States Naval Academy. The town reminds me so much of Britain. I love it. I recommend all pay a visit there. Go to the Capitol when it is open. I did last year and enjoyed it.
Anyhow, we came back to Richmond this morning and got ready and went to church. They reorganized our ward, but as we did not know anyone, it did not make much difference to us. At least we don’t have to attend another ward. It was a good day. At least we got a new lesson, no more of that adultery lesson we had for the last 3 weeks.
Sagacity 