Sunday, July 3, 2016

The First Presidency

President Eyring, President Monson and

President Uchtdorf

Alma 26:17-37

17 - God was merciful to us and snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state.

18 - We threatened to destroy His Church.

19 - Why didn't He allow the sword of justice fall upon us and doom us to eternal despair.

20 - . . . He did not exercise His justice upon us, but in His great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.

21 - What natural man is there that knoweth these things?  None, save it be the penitent.

22 - He that repenteth and exerciseth faith and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing - unto such it is given to reveal things which never have been revealed, to bring thousands to repentance . . .

23 - We were laughed to scorn when we said we were going among the Lamanites.

25 - The Nephites wanted to destroy the Lamanites.

26 - Our desire was to save some few of their souls.

27 - When we were depressed, the Lord comforted us and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give you success.

28 - We have suffered every privation but relied upon the mercies of God.

29 - We taught them everywhere and have been cast out, mocked, spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks, stoned, bound with strong cords and cast into prison.  Through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered.

30 - We did it that perhaps we might save some soul.

31 - We can witness the fruits of our labors.

33 - They have such great love, even greater than the Nephites toward their brethren.

35 - We have great reason to rejoice!God has all power, all wisdom and understanding, knowledge, and mercy.

36 - This is my life, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo.  Blessed be the name of my God who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

37 - God is mindful of every people.  I will give thanks unto my God forever!

GC: "I Was An Hungered" by Sister Linda K. Burton.

We  attended the Galveston 3rd ward meetings today.  Cathi and Terry rode with us to the church but we sat by Sheri's family.  

Mike Ellsworth conducted the meeting and bore his testimony.  It was wonderful and really got the ball rolling.  Cathi and I both bore our testimonies.  I loved Brother Arington's testimony.  He is a new convert.  Brian Ross who leaves for his mission this week, and his dad Mike Ross both bore their testimonies.  The Ross's are also moving this week.  Brooklyn Lieb sat by us and drew this picture for us:

Brooklyn just turned six and had on the cutest

Little Mermaid dress.

I got to sit in Primary with Sheri's class while she met with the bishop and here one of my favorite songs: "I Can Follow God's Plan for Me." After opening I went to Sunday School because Ian was there to teach the class. 

Julio Careces was the teacher and always does a great job and has lots of power point presentations.

Debbie Lieb taught Relief Society.  The lesson was based on Elder Cook's talk, "See Yourself in the Temple."  We had lots of good discussion.

We broke out fast when we got home from lunch and ate leftovers for our meal.  I had the rest of my food from Cheesecake Factory and James had the rest of some chicken he had from El Pollo Asado.

We visited with Terry & Cathi and then went to see James's mom and Dawn.  At first Dawn was gone helping Aunt June who has alzheimers.  Lois talked about how much she didn't like the Lambson's until I got her started on her life history.  We got as far as her first year of high school and stopped.  I told her we would continue again next month.  Dawn said she was amazed that she would tell me anything because she and Rebecca were trying to talk to her for months.

We had two invitations for dinner, first from Sheri, and then from Cathi & Terry.  We went to Sheri's and had steak, potatoes, asparagus, and rolls.  Yummy.  When we got back we tasted the potato salad and sirloin steak Cathi & Terry got at Sam's Club yesterday.  Very tasty.  

Jared, James, and Molly came by on their way to Darrel and Trina's.  Molly got along great with Cathi, and Indy.

Showing Cathi something on her arm.

Such cute little faces!

Who do you think is taller?

I think Ian by a very slim margin.