November 6, 2016

Happy 10th Birthday Evan!

Blow Evan!

I hope he made a wish!

Evan wanted this chocolate cake because he didn't

get any of Jared's last week.

My guess is the Washington D.C. temple

Am I right Jared?

3 Nephi 21:1-29

* What signs of the gathering of Israel do we see today?  Jesus told the Nephites He would give the "a sign" (3 Nephi 21:1) so they would know when the gathering of Israel had begun.  He then foretold the Restoration of the gospel, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the establishment of a free nation in America, and the taking of the gospel to their seed (v. 1-7).  He called the Restoration of the latter days "a great and a marvelous work (v.8).  In the early days of the Restoration, the Savior said "a marvelous work is about to come forth" (D&C 4:1).  President Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of the Restoration and of our responsibilit to help move the work forward: "This glorious gospel was ushered in with the appearance of the Father and the Son to the boy Joseph.  The dawn of the dispensation of the fulness of times rose upon the world.  All of the good, the beautiful , the divine of all previous dispensationswas restored in this most remarkable season.  Do we really comprehend, do we understand the tremendous significance of that which we have?  We of this generation are the end harvest of all that has gone before.  It is not enough to simply be known as a member of this Church.  A solemn obligation rests upon us.  We must live as true followers of Christ, with charity toward all, returning good for evil, teaching by example the ways of the Lord, and accomplishing the vast service He has outlined for us." (Ensign, May 2004, 83-4).

GC:     "Come, Follow Me" by Practicing Christian Love and Service by Elder Robert D. Hales

" When the Savior called His disciples to follow Him, they were living the law of Moses, including seeking 'an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth but the Savior came to fulfill that law with

His Atonement.  He taught a new doctrine:

'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for the which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matt 5:44; 3 Nephi 12:44).

We had a wonderful fast and testimony meeting today.  Everyone is anticipating becoming part of the Pinetop-Lakeside stake.  President Van Winkle was the last one to bear his testimony.  We will miss our wonderful stake presidency!

I had to children in my Primary class today, Kacey Westbrook, and Christian Skousen, a visitor from Lakeside.  The Wilhelm boys are gone hunting with their dad.  I miss them.  

To continue with Evan's birthday, here are some pictures of years in the past.

Evan and Rowan three years ago at California Adventure.

Evan the artist.

I love this boy!

After church we broke our fast, had some lunch, and took a nap.  

While James was still napping I got up and noticed some elk in our yard.  When I told James he jumped right up.  

Elk

James checking out the elk.
James's pictures of the elk with my camera:

Every elk wears a target on the back.

This evening we attended a stake re-organization meeting in Lakeside.  Our new stake president is Steven Shumway.  Here are some notes I took at the meeting: "Zion must increase her borders."

The name of our stake has been changed from Pinetop-Lakeside to the White Mountain stake.  At the end of the meeting Presdent Shumway left us a blessing.  He said our children and granchildren would be a light to the world.