OUR FAMILY: Sun, Oct 31st, 2021: Temple #77, Palmyra, New York: Grombach's, Bartels, Emsley's baptism, Halloween, Sabbath with Scarlett & Charlie

Palmyra, New York

77th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 Apr 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Redeemer

Alma 7:13

Now the Spirit knoweth all things nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 17:1-25

D&C

Review 124

"Come Follow Me"

"A House Unto My Name"

OctGenCon

"Make Time for the Lord"

President Russell M. Nelson

President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I plead with you today to counter the lure or the world by making time for the Lord in your life - each and every day.

The Living Christ

"That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:22-24).

Inklings

"One Percent Better"

Elder Michael A. Dunn

1 Samuel 17

Up at 4:48. I sometimes sleep in on Sundays. I studied, prayed, and planned until it was time to get ready to go to church.

Brother DeWitt was the first person we saw when we entered the church. He greeted us and I noticed he had a beard. I asked him if he was going to be Santa and he said yes. I then remembered that brothers grow out their beards in November and he was getting a head start. I think he said he started October 1st.

The Grombach's spoke in church today as did Sister Bartels.

Brother Grombach is a new member just recently baptized in May. He is quiet and shy so for him to speak in sacrament meeting is a big deal. He wife is a lifelong member but was inactive for many years. They moved to Vernon a couple of years ago to be closer to her mother, Sister Tedder.

Sister Grombach talked about her spiritual foundation and how throughout the years it had developed several large cracks. She came to realize that it's now where she has been but where she is headed that is important. She met Willie and they fell in love. He was baptized and they have been coming to church ever since. They are excited about getting their patriarchal blessings and preparing to go to the temple to be sealed.

Brother Grombach gave us a bit of his life history leading up to his baptism. He loves Vernon and says the people here are more welcoming and kind than anywhere he has lived. At one time he made the comment, "I ain't turnin' Mormon." That proved to be a false statement. In 2010 he met Jana, his soulmate and someone he wants to spend eternity with. He said he started with skepticism and it turned into faith. He and Jana read the Book of Mormon together every night before going to bed. He talked about Luke 7:36-50 where Mary, a sinner, anoints Jesus's feet with expensive oil. Simon, the Pharisee criticized her but Jesus had compassion. He talked about having compassion for strangers as well as those we know. He said the people of Vernon have great compassion.

Sister Bartels said the following: "I came here in June. You welcomed me in and showed me love and took me in, a stranger." She referred to a talk given by Elder Bednar in 2006, "Seek Ye Learning By Faith." She said that Satan's efforts against us have increased. She said that one of the reasons she joined the Church 58 years ago was because it was a church of doers, not just hearers of the word. The Lord's answers don't change as we search for truth. We need to be anxiously engaged in seeking truth. Missionaries help investigators learn by asking them to do certain things, such as read the Book of Mormon, and pray. She challenged us to take our questions to the Lord and seek for answers. She then bore her testimony.

James was very uncomfortable and did not want to stay for the second hour, so we left. Before leaving Sister DeWitt handed me a thank you card and she had one for Kathy took. I told her Kathy wasn't here today and that I would take it to her. She thanked me.

James went into town to CVS to get a laxative. We went home and we weren't home five minutes before Cammy and the kids came to runoff Emsley's baptismal program. Cammy, Liana and I worked in the bedroom by the printer while the kids played upstairs. Thomas had typed the program and sent it to me. I could not open my email on the computer. Something was definitely wrong with either my connection or the AOL sight. Finally Thomas sent it to Cammy's phone and we were able to print it off. This was only done after Liana offered a prayer that things would work out. We ran off 25 copies of the program and everyone was happy. Cammy and Liana thanked me several times before they left.

Home alone I had some lunch but James did not eat. We watched a Christmas movie, "Much Ado About Christmas." This movie was filmed in Bucharest, Romania and the settings were absolutely gorgeous. We both really liked the movie.

A little before 3 we left for Emsley's baptism at the Vernon building.

When we arrived Cammy ask if she could take a picture of us with Emsley, which she did.

These are the people we knew at the baptism: The Goodmans, Bishop and Sister Hunsaker, the Peelers, the Gillespies, the Scotts, Klugs, and Halcombs. There were others attending that I did not know but no more than 2 or 3 families. We met in the Relief Society room where we sang the opening song and had the opening prayer. Sister Gillespie, the Primary president gave a talk on baptism, and then we all moved to the overflow of the cultural hall where the baptismal font is located. Cammy and I were witnesses. Emsley was baptized by her dad and she was completely immersed the very first time. Brother Goodman said I did a good job as a witness and I told him that was my kind of job.

Emsley was dressed and back in the Relief Society room in record time. She even beat her dad. Liana gave a talk on the Holy Ghost using the book, the Holy Ghost is like a blanket. She had all sorts of props and totally involved Emsley. It was great. Afterwards Emsley was confirmed and James was invited to be part of the circle.

Bishop Hunsaker was the last speaker. He had a backpack and had Emsley come up and put it on her back. He mentioned some sins, and with each sin put a rock in the backpack. Pretty soon little Emsley was stooping over. He then explained that through the Savior's Atonement the burdens of sin (the rocks) could be removed from our lives.

Emsley sang "I Am A Child of God" as part of the program too. It was great because the family was so involved. Tildy played the piano.

We congratulated Emsley and gave her a card with a necklace before leaving.

Back at home we watched another Christmas move, "The Christmas Promise." Before going to bed we watched an interview done at Dixie College in St. George, of Susan Easton Black and her husband George Durrant. It was great! At one point Susan said, "People tell us they are leaving the Church because they have questions. We tell them we are staying because we have found answers."

Ian's parents house