OUR FAMILY: Sun, Aug 14th, 2022: Joshua's and Shayna's birthdays, Sacrament mtg, RS, "The Boulder Life", Lots of rain @ Thompson's, Charlie, Blog, J indexes,

Atlanta, Georgia

21st operating temple

Dedicated: 1-4 June 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Seed of

Isaiah 45:11

Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

Book of Mormon

Alma 50:21-40

22 And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindler in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites.

"Come Follow Me"

Review and Teaching with Power, Psalms 51-60.

AprGenCon

"Do What Mattereth Most"

Rebecca L. Craven

Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency

With the world expressing more doubt about God and confusion and pressures increasing, this is the time we must stay closest to the prophet. As he is the Lord's mouthpiece, we can trust that what he urges, counsels, and pleads with us to do are things that matter most."

James went to ward council for Chuck this morning. Chuck took Kathy to the emergency room in Springerville last night and I believe they spent the night there. James didn't have time to come home and pick me up for church so I went by myself. It's times like these that I'm glad we have two vehicles.

Haley, Alicia, and Bishop Hunsaker were the speakers in sacrament meeting. Before they spoke the bishop read in the names of a new couple in our ward, Loren and Kristy Ellsworth. Loren lived in Vernon before. Tamara says she remembers riding the school bus to Springerville with him. I talked to Kristy and she said they have been living in Pima Valley the last decade or so, but now they are back. Another good solid couple in our ward.

Haley, who is 18 and just graduated from high school, spoke on decision making, agency, and following the Spirit. We have the power to choose, but we must listen to the right voices. Prayer and scripture study are vital to the decision making process. Haley talked about the decision she had earlier in her life to change schools. Her mom told her to read the scriptures. She doesn't remember the reference and I don't know it either, but she read about a plant being transplanted to another garden where it flourished and it helped other plants flourish too. Haley took this as her answer to change schools. She said she wants to be a good influence on others and she helps her nieces and nephews make good choices. She said that the choices she makes need to help make her a better person.

I had an opportunity to talk to Haley after church. I told her I enjoyed her talk and ask her what she was doing right now. She is working at the Vernon Fire Department doing deskwork but she plans on moving to Hawaii in January. She is very excited about this move. She says she has friends who live there and has been offered a job as a dental assistant. Haley is a cute girl and I enjoyed talking to her. I ask her if she was going to learn how to surf, and snorkel and she said yes!

Alicia began her talk by quoting one of James's favorite scriptures, Alma 34:32 - For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. The things we do on a daily basis need to help us prepared to meet God. 2 Nephi 2:26-28: And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

You are a child of God, use your agency to do His will. Keep your covenants through taking the sacrament and attending the temple.

Brother Steven Owen in October 2017, said: "The moment we set foot on the path of repentance, we invite the Savior's redeeming power into our lives.

Bishop Hunsaker talked about being faithful to our covenants. He started out by asking us to reflect on the question, "What do my covenants mean to me?" We should think about our covenants everyday. The Celestial Kingdom will be far more beautiful than we can even imagine. If we knew what is was like we would do everything to get there. We would not dilly dally. President Spencer W. Kimball said that we need to do the right things to earn our exaltation. Casual prayer is not enough, a few scriptures here and there are not enough. Elder Bednar says we need to be steadfast and yolked with Christ. Covenant commitments create a connection to the Lord. Every desire, thought and action should be unto the Lord.

Sister Rosen played a special musical number, "Come, Come Ye Saints," on the piano. It was good but I'm still waiting for Sister Golly to sing again.

Natalie Robles gave a lesson in Relief Society based on Elder Cook's conference talk, "Conversion to the Will of the Lord", and Elder Stevenson's talk, "Love, Share, Invite." The focus of course was missionary work. We had a great discussion and I felt like Natalie did a good job leading us.

After Relief Society Kerri, Tamara, and I went into the Bishop's office with Natalie and her family for her setting apart. Pierce was not here today. Aubrey's son had his mission farewell and so they were all in Tucson. Bishop, Brother Allen, and Jacob Robles were in the circle when bishop set Natalie apart. Their kids, Logan, Ethan, Makenzie, and Eli were also in the room. We are so glad to have Natalie as a Relief Society teacher.

After the setting apart, the bishop ask Brother Robles if he needed a job. He said no, he didn't. Bishop ask what his job was. He said they have a YouTube channel about homesteading their place. It's called "The Boulder Life." I went home and looked it up while James was making lunch.

We watched part of the first episode and I watched a couple of more later during rest time.

I read from my two books, "Where the Crawdad's Sing", and "The Redemption of the Bride." It rained hard here and at the Thompson's. James was disappointed about the Thompson's because he wants to pour concrete tomorrow morning.

James made shrimp for dinner again. I had four.

Our old friend Brutus, who is no