Sun, Mar 27th, 2022: Anchorage Alaska Temple,Charlie & Scarlett, Brian & Kim's ward, Brian's ordination & setting apart, lunch, goodbye, back home with Max,

 

Anchorage, Alaska

54th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Savior

Psalms 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Book of Mormon

Jacob 7:1-20

"Come Follow Me"

Review Exodus 1-6 "I have remembered my covenant.

OctGenCon

"Giving Holiness To The Lord"

Bishop L. Todd Budge

Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric

Dear brothers and sisters, as we live for God and others by giving of our means, our time, and yes, even of ourselves, we are leaving the world a little greener, leaving God's children a little happier, and in the process, becoming a little holier.

"Remember Thy Suffering Saints, O Our God"

Elder Anthony D. Perkins

Of the Seventy

President Russell M. Nelson has taught:

"The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.

"When the focus of our lives is on God's plan of salvation . . . and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening - or not happening - in our lives."

I got up at 4:15 this morning. We are going to the valley this morning for Brian's ordination and their church starts at 9. We leave at 5:24 after prayer. Max is home alone.

James goes the Payson way for me even though he says it's longer and we might not make it in time. (I know that we will.)

We listen to the Book of Mormon and several conference talks on the way down to the valley. We arrived at Kim and Brian's ward at 8:46. We sat way in the back because I know that is where Kim and Brian sit. Sheri, Evan, and Ben come in and then a little later Ian comes. Kim and Brian are members of the McQueen 1st Ward in the Chandler, Arizona Stake. 

Today was a mission farewell for a young man named Tamil Palomino. He will be serving his mission in Paraguay. What is the purpose of life? To learn and grow closer to the Lord. His mountain bike accident was a wake up call, a call to action. There is change in this world but there is One who does not change. Prayer is powerful. The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about love and peace. The first two great commandments. Life is about becoming better people than we were before. "When I die, I hope my life is like the Book of Mormon, a testimony of Jesus Christ. That's what I want to be remembered for."

Profession cello player in their ward played "Come, Come Ye Saints"

Matt Lewis was the last speaker. He is a former bishop of this ward and their former stake president. His family is from Ramah, New Mexico. Matt grew up in Taylor, Arizona. He talked about conversion to Jesus Christ. Wickedness never was happiness. President Nelson's focus on personal revelation. Young men, will you prepare to serve a mission? If you don't have a current temple recommend, please get one.

After sacrament meeting was over we all went in to a room off the hallway and waited for the two counselors from the stake presidency to come.  James ordained Brian to the office of a high priest. President Willis from the stake presidency set apart Brother Haymond as the first counselor and then he waited a few minutes for the other counselor in the stake presidency to come in. When he didn't come in, President Willis, a young guy who is very articulate and seems very spiritual set apart Brian as the second counselor. Ian and Ben and James were all in the circle. It was a special occasion and we are very happy for Brian and proud of him. 

As Brian sat in sacrament meeting on March 13th, He looked at Brother Calbert on the stand and thought; Brother Calbert has been in the bishopric for a long time, over five years. I wonder if he will be released soon. A little while later Brian got a text from the stake presidency asking him if he would come in to the stake president's office later in the day. He knew then that his question was answered. Brother Calbert was going to be released and he was going to be called.

We went home with Kim and Brian and Kim fixed us some sandwiches for lunch. Brian had to go back to the church for a meeting. We had a choice of ham or turkey and a choice of Swiss cheese or provolone for our sandwiches. We also had celery, chips and for dessert Martha Stewart bars or mint chocolate chip brownies. I also had a grape Welch. We changed our clothes and headed home. I texted Sheri to tell her we wouldn't be coming over because Kim had fed us well and we were on our way home. We listened to our book on the way home. We stopped in Payson for gas. I wish we could have gone all the way without having to buy gas but that just wasn't possible. 

Max had out his dumbells and was lifting them and watching TV when we got home. I fixed pot stickers for dinner. I invited Max but he said he was going to have fish and veggies. 

I worked on my blog before going to bed.

This picture reminds me of Molly