Kelly C Jones Images

Angels Among Us
Written by Goodman and Becky Hobbs
The song was released in December 1993 as a Christmas single.
___________________
I was walking home from school on a cold winter day
Took a shortcut through the woods, and I lost my way
It was getting late, and I was scared and alone
But then a kind old man took my hand and led me home

Mama couldn't see him,
Oh, but he was standing there
And I knew in my heart,
He was the answer to my prayers.

Oh, I believe there are angels among us
Sent down to us from somewhere up above
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live, to teach us how to give
To guide us with the light of love.

Experimenting with A.I.

Our family roots run deep.

This is a black and white composite of photos taken at the Rome temple in 2019. Statues of the original Christus and two apostles Peter and Paul were taken at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2016.

The designers of the Rome temple decided on the basic shape for the temple known as the "Vesica Pices". This icon of a fish was a visual reference to the Greek title “Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Savior”. The design of carpets, chandeliers, and walkways in the garden reflect this shape, and is repeated over and over throughout the temple and the entire temple site.

Additionally, in the first century after the death and resurrection of Jesus, one way to covertly identify fellow Christian converts was to draw the icon in the dirt. That outline of a fish is shown in upper left and right of this image along with the oval shape in the background.

The statue of Christ is shown in high relief since he is at the very center and purpose of all temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Peter and Paul are demonstrated as sentinels at the entrance of the temple. The reason for this is that although the Scriptures do not record the deaths of Peter or Paul, it has been said that they went to Rome as missionaries and were martyred at the command of the Emperor Nero and buried there.

After Jesus' resurrection, he appeared to his disciples at the Sea of Galilee. Seven of them, including Peter James, and John, had been fishing all night without catching anything. Early in the morning, someone on the shore called out to them, asking if they had caught any fish. They replied no.

The instruction from the shore was to cast their net on the right side of the boat. When they did, the net was filled with 153 fish. John recognized the figure as Jesus and exclaimed to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Peter, excited, jumped into the water and swam to shore.

On the shore, Jesus had prepared a charcoal fire with fish and bread. After they ate, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. He needed Peter's commitment that he would give up fishing and follow him. (See John 21) The rest is history.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

The Pieta by Michelangelo in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

The Toledo Monstrance:

Defined as one of the greatest jewels of Christianity, the Monstrance is housed in the Toledo, Spain cathedral. Its creator, German master Enrique de Arfe took seven years to build, between 1514 and 1524 (500 years ago) . Scenes from the life of the Savior are illustrated in relief. Keep in mind, the first bible printed was in Mainz, Germany in 1455, just 60 years earlier.

The Monstrance is 8.2 feet tall and weighs more than 440 pounds (over 200 pounds of silver and almost 40 pounds of gold), and contains 260 statuettes, placed under canopies or small embossed vaults. Enrique de Arfe not only left the finished jewel; he also wrote a manual on how to dismantle and reassemble the 5,600 pieces that compose it by means of the corresponding 12,500 screws, which has served on several occasions for its cleaning and restoration, the last one in 2002.

The Monstrance is housed in a bullet proof glass case. My original photos of it contain reflections from the glass and supports which distracted from it's beauty. This image took some time to develop in order to remove the distractions.

Coming Around the Bend. Segovia, Spain

Moon Backdrop

A Road Less Traveled

Early Morning Hunt

Minimalism

Lunar Eclipse Progress - May 15, 2022

Island for All Seasons

Cast at Sunset

The Garden of Gethsemane

Don't Sit on the Fence Too Long

John 21:5-6

Stockholm Street

Mid 40's Vintage

Rome Temple

In Rome Temple Visitors Center

Across the River in Salzburg

Stockholm Temple

Southwestern Bavaria, Germany

Rothenberg, Germany

Frankfurt Temple

On March 29, 1942, Allied forces bombed the city of Lübeck in Germany. Lübeck was the first German city to be attacked by a massive Royal Air Force air raid. By the time the bombing raids were done, the RAF had dropped 400 tons of bombs and destroyed or damaged more than half the buildings in Lübeck. One structure that sustained extreme damage was St. Mary’s church. But one feature of the church was never repaired: the bells.

During the bombing, the church bells fell from nearly 400 feet and crashed into the floor. Today the church has been rebuilt, but the bells remain exactly as they fell and remain as a stark reminder of the destruction of war.

Florence, Italy -- Florence is known as the "cradle of the Renaissance" for its monuments, churches, and buildings. The best-known site of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as The Duomo. It was begun in 1296 and was structurally completed by 1436. Florence contains numerous museums, art galleries, some of the world's most important works of art, and no detracting skyscrapers or high rise buildings.

Versailles Palace, France

Madrid Temple

The Forum - Rome

Versailles Palace, France

Both in Rocky Mountain National Park