OUR FAMILY: Mon, Nov 22nd, 2021, Temple#99 SantoDomingo, Dominican Republic, Trina, Ruby, Lanel, Coconut cream pie, Mark,DWTS, Oregon Lambsons

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

99th operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Sep 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

Alma 34:8

And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 4:1-23

D&C

Saints chapter 43

"Come Follow Me"

DC 135-36 "He Has Sealed His Mission and His Works with His Own Blood"

OctGenCon

"Invite Christ To Author Your Story"

Camille N. Johnson

Primary General President

I testify that the Savior is "the author and finisher of our faith."

Will you invite Him to be the author and finisher of your story?

He knows the beginning from the end. He was the Creator of heaven and earth. He wants us to return home to Him and our Heavenly Father. He has everything invested in us and wants us to succeed.

"The Peace Of Christ Abolishes Enmity"

Elder Dale G. Renlund

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The pandemic is a spiritual stress test for the Savior's Church and its members. The results are likewise mixed. Our lives have been blessed by ministering in a "higher and holier way," the Com, Follow Me curriculum, and home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning. Many have provided compassionate help and comfort during these difficult times and continue to do so.

Yet, in some instances, the spiritual stress test has shown tendencies toward contention and divisiveness. This suggests that we have work to do to change our hearts and to become unified as the Savior's true disciples. This is not a new challenge, but it is a critical one.

I got up at 4:30 this morning. James got up around 7 and after feeding Luna he went in to start his letter to Mark. I did my scripture study by myself because I like to do it before anything else. James said he had promised Mark this letter at a certain time. It took him a few hours to write and then I typed it. James addressed every point that Mark had brought up, things Mark was not satisfied with.

As I typed this letter, I was so proud of James and how he is handling this dispute. Those things that Mark listed were minimal and he never mentioned all of the extra things that were done that James didn't charge for. James tried to be fair and bent over backwards but also stood up for himself. All of Mark's complaints were directed at Armando and Salvador. In Sal's defense, he was very sick and could not come and finish the roof. The roofer said he would not come back so James fixed the problem. He traveled 450 miles roundtrip to fix a minimal problem and to dig concrete chunks out of Sue's "Beach" or sand pit. When this was complete, on Thursday, James texted and called Mark and Mark did not answer until Sunday. One of Mark's previous complaints was people not answering his calls or texts in a timely fashion. I think Mark is a bully and he always uses foul language.

After James sent the letter he asked Mark what he thought about it. He said, "I don't know, I didn't read it" and then went on to say he would pay $11,000 out of the 12 if James would agree to that today, otherwise it would be too late. This guy is unbelievable. James said the interesting thing is that Mark's wife treats him like he's treating me. How sad a life he must live. I feel sorry for him.

James agreed and told him he needed to overnight it by noon tomorrow. Who knows what Mark's reaction will be to that.

Trina bought some Sees candy the other day. She loves chocolate and Sees is her favorite. As she took a bite she realized she couldn't really taste it. She went and got tested and she has Covid. This was Friday. She has been in quarantine ever since. Her mother uninvited her to Thanksgiving. She told her kids she feels like she has leprosy.

I asked her if we could bring the family Thanksgiving dinner and she said no, she was going to cook. I guess she feels pretty good and is using this time to cook and get caught up on laundry. She texted me and asked for my sweet potato casserole because Darrel requested it.

Trina said the saddest thing was that she missed Ruby's dance concert.

Sweet, sweet Ruby

I'm surprised Trina didn't get Covid sooner with as many times as she has been exposed at work. She works in the emergency room at Mercy Gilbert.

I caught up on the movies I had to retape today. I also cleaned the refrigerator out and mopped the kitchen floor.

Sister Wilhelm delivered the coconut cream pie I ordered from Zemira. The pies are to help raise funds for wrestling. Actually I ordered a banana cream pie and a pumpkin pie. George, who is five, dropped the banana cream pie. Sandra called me last night and asked if I would trade the banana cream for a coconut cream and I said yes. The pumpkin pie is still at the Wilhelm's, Sandra forgot it and said she would deliver it tomorrow. I told her we would come by and get it. George, who had dropped the banana cream pie I originally ordered, carried the coconut pie and handed it to me. I told him he handled it like a pro.

George and Lanel, Lanel is 3, were running back and forth on the porch. All of a sudden Lanel reached the end of the porch and stopped and flipped over the ledge and landed on the ground. It was a perfect gymnastic flip but instead of landing on her feet, she landed on her head. Of course she cried and Sandra held her and tried to comfort her. Later when they got home I messaged Sandra and asked her how Lanel was. She sent me this picture:

Such a sad little face

I watched Christmas movies instead of the finale of "Dancing with the Stars". Before going to bed I fast forwarded to the end of the show to see who won. Amanda and Alan got 4th which was very disappointing because Cody, who was not a good dancer and didn't really deserve to be in the final in my opinion, got 3rd. That left Iman and Jojo as the top two. Iman, the first basketball star to make the finals ended up winning. I was quite upset when I went to bed.