So what does Monumental Thoughts do when on vacation? Why look at statues, of course.

A recent vacation to Salt Lake City included a stop at Temple Square with a concert at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a tour of the church grounds.

The sculpture on the left is the “Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.” The sign said, “On May 15, 1829, Jospeh Smith and Olver Cowdery went into the woods to inquire of the Lord concerning baptism. As they prayed, “a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light” . . . The messenger was John the Baptist who had baptized Jesus Christ in the River Jordan and was now a resurrected being. He laid his hands on Joseph and on Oliver and conferred upon each of them in the Aaronic Priesthood.”

The statue on the right is the “Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood.” The accompanying plaque said the Melchizedek priesthood provides “authority of God to lead His church, give the gift of the Holy Ghost and perform other saving ordinances.”

I’d never been to Salt Lake City, but came away enjoying a smaller town with less traffic and very nice people. My wife and I then went 220 miles southeast to Moab to see the canyons and that was a big hit. Think of Utah for your next vacation if not coming to Washington, that is.