Sun, Aug 7th, 2022: Fast for James's job, Fast & Testimony Mtg, Sunday School-Job, Overcast & Rain, Hi blood sugar after fasting, Ministering interviews, "Big Sky River"

 

Ogden, Utah

14th operating temple

Dedicated: 18-20 June 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Jesus Christ, Second Coming

D&C 130:14

I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man, when I heard a voice repeat the following:

Book of Mormon

Alma 46:29-41

35 And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, Moroni cause to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.

"Come Follow Me"

"Teaching with Power" and Sunday School with Brother Applegate

AprGenCon

"Fear Not: Believe Only!"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Because each of you in this audience is precious to God and to this Church, I close with this special apostolic declaration. Before you ever received the gift of the Holy Ghost, you had the Light of Christ planted in you soul, that "light which is in all things, . . . giveth life to all things, and is the influence for good in the hearts of all people who have ever lived or ever will live. That light was given to protect you and teach you. Oner of its central messages is that life is the most precious of all gifts, a gift which is obtained eternally only through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. As the Light and Life of the World, the Only Begotten Son of God came to give us life by conquering death.

Inklings

"Fear Not, Only Believe"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

&

Mark 5

James and I are fasting that the elements will be tempered and the pour will go well on Tuesday. James's back hurts so much he could barely get out of bed. He took his meds, including Tramadol, on an empty stomach because he is fasting. I was worried he wouldn't make it to church and suggested that he stay home, but he would not.

We met Debbie Miller as we were going into sacrament meeting today.  She has to be on oxygen when she is at our altitude so she has been spending a lot of her time in the valley. It was good to see her.

I talked with Michelle Tesarek in the foyer. I actually did a ministering interview. I talked to her about her partner, Chelsea MacArthur and Michelle pretty much told me what I needed to know

for a ministering interview.

Our bishop is still out of town. Brother Steve Allen conducted the meeting and Pierce played the organ. Today is Pierce's birthday. I sent him a text after church wishing him a happy birthday. He is 71.

Here are some of the testimonies from today:

Steve Allen - He talked about his patriarchal blessing and taking family to the temple to do baptisms.

Lorraine Vaught - reminisced about her 54 years in the Church. She is 77. She expressed gratitude for the Savior's sacrifice in her behalf and expressed her desire to make sacrifices for Him.

Barbara Bartels  - grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. She loves the beauty of and inclusiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Chris Skousen - Becky's mom had cancer, a stroke, and Covid. At the same time her dad had stage 4 bone cancer. Becky took care of them, taking meals over twice a week, doing laundry, and cleaning house. She lost her mom three months ago and her dad two weeks after her mom. Jesus Christ is our Savior and because of him we have eternal families.

Sam Woodruff - My membership record is in Mesa, but my heart is here in Vernon. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the fact that he knows me personally and has atoned for my sins.

Greg Anderson - God is such a good God. I had a wonderful week working construction with some great people. We talked about our testimonies and how much the gospel means to us. (This is the Greg who works with James).

George Wallace - In 1968 I read about Joseph Smith's First Vision and wanted to know more. Bore testimony of what the gospel has meant to him and his family. If you have questions, pray for answers.

Elder McCoy - The Apostasy, Restoration, Book of Mormon, and personal witness that Jesus is the Christ.

Sunday School was a hoot. Jimmie Applegate is quite the entertainer. We had a debat whether Job was a real person. James, Brother Peeler, Virgil Cooper, and Wendy DeWitt think he was. Brother Applegate, Brother DeWitt and I don't think it matters. We can still learn a great deal from the story. I learned the most this week from listening and watching Ben Wilcox's YouTube video "Teaching with Power."

When I came home and took my blood sugar I was disappointed to find it was high at 135 and this after fasting 22 hours and two meals. Another low-carb day. This isn't fun but I'm glad I started checking my blood sugar so I can get it under control.

I wished Pierce a happy birthday via a text and told him I appreciated his organ playing during sacrament meeting. I hope Aubry, his daughter, makes him a cake. 

Besides Michelle, I did three more ministering interviews today. I will also talk to Catherine Halcomb on Tuesday when we got to the temple about her ministering.

We have 128 cans of food in our hallway which I intend to take downstairs this week, after inventorying them. 

This evening James and I watched a Hallmark movie, "Big Sky River." Starring Kavan Smith from "When Calls the Heart." It was tender and heartwarming and we both enjoyed it. I felt all right about watching it on the Sabbath.

Scarlett on Sunday morning

Charlie in her favorite play dress.

No power at the church today.

Scarlett on Saturday night.