‘A hard, fun ride’: Travis Hansen riding the wave of philanthropy, business
Travis Hansen made a name for himself on the basketball court. These days, though, a surfing term best describes his accomplishments in business and charity work. Hansen starred at BYU (2000-03) before embarking on a professional hoops career, including a stint with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. He also played for eight years in the EuroLeague […]
Covering the BYU fireside that turned into a frightening ordeal
It was a quiet Sunday evening in the newsroom of the Daily Universe on BYU’s campus. As the assistant sports editor, I was putting together the sports pages for Monday’s paper while other fellow editors were working on their own pages on Feb. 7, 1993. On the television screens, the BYU devotional, featuring President Howard […]
Good Move Cafe all about bringing people together through fun and games — and food
At a time when many people play games by having their faces buried in their cell phones or other electronic devices, a new establishment in Provo is serving up a tasty alternative. Dave Moon and his son, Shawn, opened Good Move Café in October knowing that food and board games naturally bring people together. “It’s […]
How well do you know your Christmas movie quotes?
It’s that time of year when we watch favorite Christmas movies. How well do you know some of the holiday classics? Match the quote with the movie and identify who said it. View Survey Congratulations on completing the quiz. Scroll down if you want to see which character said each quote. Which character said it? […]
Kirby Heyborne’s career as audio book narrator flourishing
You’ve seen him on television in an array of national commercials for companies like AT&T, La Quinta, Target, Best Buy, Jack In the Box, Wendy’s, Honda, Volkswagen, Liberty Mutual, Verizon and CarMax, to name a few. You’ve seen him on the big screen in movies like “The Best Two Years,” “Saints and Soldiers” and “The […]
5 tips for parents to help their returned missionaries adjust to post-mission life
When missionaries return home from their missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — whether it is early or after the full two years for men or year and a half years for women — it can be difficult to adjust back to everyday life. Sometimes well-meaning parents and family members can […]
Lessons in Christ-like love from Ghana
One summer, I traveled to Ghana, in West Africa, for a work assignment. It was a life-changing experience. I was struck by the humility and spirituality of the people in general. Many Ghanaians live in abject poverty, but they are a happy, God-fearing people. One of the first things I noticed when I arrived was […]
5 things I learned from earning my Eagle Scout award
When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it was discontinuing its Varsity and Venturing Scouting programs for young men ages 14–18 in the United States and Canada, my three teenage sons rejoiced. My 13-year-old and 15-year-old twins had heard the news while they were at school. When they burst through the door […]
Roughing it at Education Week
For one week a year, even before football season has begun, a large parking lot on BYU’s campus is overrun with visitors that descend on Provo in RVs, motor homes, campers and trailers. They come from all over the country. During that week, that parking lot located adjacent to the Student Athlete Building and the […]
Tribute to President Thomas S. Monson: A friend to all
I’ve never met President Thomas S. Monson, but it feels like he’s been a close friend almost all of my life. And I’m sure many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feel the same way. Even when, as a young boy, I had a hard time sitting through general conference, President […]
Cedar Hills Mayor Gary Gygi known for being a clear communicator
When Gary Gygi was appointed mayor of Cedar Hills in January 2012, residents were sharply divided in their view of the Cedar Hills Golf Club. Some loved the golf course, others resented it. Rancor and animosity over the golf course was tearing the town apart. “Our city had a real contentious number of years about […]
How an LDS mission helped Daniel Summerhays’ golf game
During his time on the PGA Tour, 33-year-old Daniel Summerhays has fielded numerous questions about how he was able to take two years off from golf. Summerhays, a former BYU star, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Chile Santiago West Mission. During those two years in South […]
5 tips for adjusting to life after missionary service
When I returned home from a mission, I’ll admit it was hard for me to let go. For the first year, I struggled, feeling like I had gone from being someone that stood out, making a difference, to just another anonymous face in the crowd. I felt underutilized at times. I felt selfish for focusing […]
Summer getaway: Tuacahn, an oasis of entertainment in southern Utah
Looking for a place to take the family this summer that’s not too far away, is reasonably priced, offers top-flight theater performances and creates lasting memories? Take a look at Tuacahn. The Tuacahn Center for the Arts is located in Ivins, Utah, near Snow Canyon State Park. It’s an oasis of entertainment in the southern […]
Cedar Hills Mayor won’t seek re-election; close to accomplishing goals
Cedar Hills Mayor Gary Gygi will not seek re-election this fall. It’s not that he’s tired of the job. It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy it. It’s not because of health reasons. “I’m close to accomplishing most of the goals I’ve had,” Gygi explained. “Some elected officials stay on the stage too long. You need […]
The Utah Jazz you may not know (or remember)
The zenith of the Utah Jazz franchise occurred 20 years ago, when it played in the first of two consecutive NBA championship series against the Chicago Bulls during the summers of 1997 and 1998. As great as those moments were for the state of Utah and Jazz fans everywhere, I remember simpler, and tougher, times. […]
5 of the best LDS (non-BYU) NCAA Tournament performances
March Madness is here and when this time of year rolls around, it’s fun to reminisce about some of the biggest games, performances and upsets in the NCAA Tournament. When you think of Mormons and the NCAA Tournament, BYU’s Danny Ainge and Jimmer Fredette are the first two names to came to mind. Ainge authored […]
Things to appreciate when attending sacrament meeting outside of Utah
On a Sunday morning in early November, I was out of town on a business trip. I had an afternoon flight so I had some time on my hands. I opened my laptop and searched LDS.org to find a meetinghouse near my hotel just outside of Cincinnati. To my surprise, there were several options of […]
What are Utah Valley’s favorite pro franchises (excluding the Jazz)?
When the Detroit Lions hosted the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on Oct. 9, dozens of fans in the stands wore Honolulu blue Lions jerseys with the name “Van Noy” emblazoned on the back. “Are you from Utah, by chance?” a reporter from Utah asked one of the men in a Van Noy jersey that […]
If I were in charge of college football: 7 ways to make it even better
If I could pick only one sport to watch for the rest of my life, it would be college football. I love the pageantry, tradition and history of the sport. It’s amazing to watch the thousands of passionate fans that paint their faces, create signs and scream for three hours. And that’s just those that […]
Proposed college football re-alignment: Creating a true National Champion
It’s time to get rid of the conferences and divide up teams according to geography. That way, rivalries that have been destroyed in recent years can be restored. In my better-than-reality remake of college football schedules, the division champions of the eight conferences create an eight-team playoff that sets up a “Final Four” and a […]
The best, the worst and the most underrated Christmas songs
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for music. I enjoy hearing Christmas songs on the radio and singing Christmas hymns in church. Some of the best music we have has to do with the holiday season. Unfortunately, it’s produced some of the worst, too. Below is my list of Top 10, Bottom 5, […]
The blessings of welcoming home a missionary
No doubt, it’s difficult to say goodbye to your son or daughter when they leave on a mission. But when they come home after two years or 18 months, it’s even better than you can imagine. If you’ve experienced it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. I know this firsthand because my oldest son […]
One of the reasons why I choose to stand for the pledge of allegiance
Several years ago, Colin Kaepernick came to Provo as the starting quarterback for the University of Nevada. He helped beat BYU, 27–13, at LaVell Edwards Stadium that day. I was impressed with Kaepernick’s performance, as he completed 16 of 25 passes for 196 yards with one touchdown and one interception and he rushed 17 times […]
Believe it or not, it’s been 20 years since the dedication of the Mount Timpanogos Temple
During October general conference in 1992, President Gordon B. Hinckley, then a counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that a new temple would be built in Utah County — but he did not disclose a specific location at that time. Of course, many people speculated where […]
20 little-known facts about the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple on the 20th anniversary of its dedication
As part of the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Mount Timpanaogos Utah Temple, here are 20 little-known facts about this House of the Lord: The Mount Timpanogos Temple was the Church’s 49th operating temple. The Mount Timpanogos Temple was preceded by the Hong Kong China Temple and it was followed by the St. […]
5 memorable October general conference moments
Every six months during general conference, there are many talks and hymns that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can enjoy. There are moments that are deeply spiritual, and personal, for those who watch conference. But there are some conference moments that are simply memorable and historic. Here are five of […]
Life as daughters of Utah’s governor
Kimberli Cahoon, Shannon Child and Heather Vlaardingerbroek are not only sisters, but their families also live within a few blocks of each other in the city of Cedar Hills. Their father, Gary Herbert, has been the governor of Utah since 2009. It’s not a title, while they were growing up, that they ever imagined their […]
BYU-Utah rivalry in matrimony: Where does the blood bleed true?
BYU fan Jeff Spear remembers watching the BYU-Utah football game in 2012 when he started receiving rivalry-smack text messages from a stranger, or at least from a number he didn’t recognize. It took him a while to figure out who the perpetrator was. By the time he did, all he could do was laugh. Cambri […]
An unofficial guide to BYU’s acronym-filled campus
My oldest son is beginning his first semester at Brigham Young University this fall, so I decided to help him (and others) get around the alphabet-soup-of-acronyms that is the BYU campus. Let’s start with the Tanner Building, the bridge between upper campus and lower campus. Some people refer to the Tanner Building (TNRB) as the […]