Frankfurt, Germany
41st operating temple
Dedicated: 28 Aug 1987
By: Ezra Taft Benson
Jesus Christ, Temptation of
D&C 20:22
He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.
Book of Mormon
2 Nephi 19:1-20:11
Come Follow Me
Review & "Don't Miss This"
Jesus's Name
Deliverer
Phrase
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.
Words
Prayer, Treasure, Master, Fruits, Ask, Golden Rule
Favorite Scriptures
Matthew 6:19-21, 33; 7:7
OctGenCon
That They Might Know Thee
Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt
Of the Seventy
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. As such, Jesus knows His sheep, "calleth his own sheep by name," and, as the Lamb of God, gave HIs life for His sheep. Similarly, Jesus wants us to be good shepherds, particularly in our families and as ministering brothers and sisters. One way we demonstrate our love for Jesus is by feeding His sheep. For those sheep who may be wandering, good shepherds go into the wilderness to find the lost sheep and then stay with them until they return to safety. As good shepherds and as local conditions permit, we should seek to spend more time ministering to people in their homes. In our ministering, texting and technology should be used to enhance, not replace, personal contact.
The Virtue Of The Word
Elder Mark D. Eddy
Of the Seventy
President Russell M. Nelson:
"I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions - every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for you own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day."
100 Favorite Verses - "Faith Unto Repentance"
Alma 34:15-16
15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
His mediation is a manifestation of His mercy, and His supreme mercy was manifested through His great atoning sacrifice, a gift of infinite love extended to every child of God. We must have faith that through HIs Atonement we can be made spiritually clean and whole. This is the quality of faith that motivates us to true and sincere repentance.
James says he only got 45 minutes of sleep last night. He had severe stomach cramps, and dry heaves all night. He was sweating with a rapid heart rate, white skin, and diarrhea. Poor guy. It was probably that alfalfa powder he ate. It bloats cows and evidently people too.
No more. He got ready for church but wasn't sure he was going until the very last minute. He is a trooper.
We left around 8 a.m. so I would have time to set up the room before my lesson. It started snowing just before we left so I went back in the bedroom and got my blue Disneyland umbrella. The snow is coming down fast and furious and soon we will have another winter wonderland. The last snow was mostly melted as the last couple of days have been in the 50's.
When we got to church James helped me carry everything in but we couldn't go into the Relief Society room because they were having ward council. We went into the cultural hall and sat down and I read the quotes from my lesson and James answered the questions. We were done in 20 minutes and he was concerned. I told him not to be, that with the sisters there would be more comments and also I had a quite lengthy closing statement. It will all work out.
Finally, around 8:30 we were able to set up the room. James drew the grace circle and filled it in, I put up pioneer pictures, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, a picture of Jesus with footsteps of faith leading to it, and a cross with the words: "Come after me, deny self, take up your cross, and follow me." I put up my new name for the lesson based on the two conference talks by President Ballard and Elder Holland: "Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus Christ with Footsteps of Faith"
Not a very good representationIt looked much better than this,
but you get the general idea.
After I was all setup it was 9 a.m. and time for sacrament meeting. I went in ahead of James and sat in the second row on the left side of the chapel as you face the podium. We normally sit in the middle but now I am thinking we need to sit on the right side of the chapel because even though we were in the front James could not hear. The speakers were: Resten Tesarek who gave the youth talk on four ways that Jesus Christ strengthens us, and Bob and Kristine Hipps who are both soft spoken.
Sister Kristine Hipps - Spoke about President Nelson's talk in the Sunday morning session of conference: "Overcome the World and Find Rest." Here are some notes I took:
Overcome the world through your covenants with God. Come unto me all ye....Matt 11:28-29. The Doctrine of Christ increases momentum. 2 Nephi 5:27 - And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness. Mosiah 2:41 - And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness, O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
In 2016 President Nelson talked about how the focus of our lives determine how much joy we experience. He has ask us to live in a higher and holier way and pick up our spiritual momentum. Satan is bound by our righteousness. I call upon you to become this righteous people.
Brother Bob Hipps - A sermon is a talk on a religious subject. Poem - I will rather live a sermon than hear one anyday. My wife Kistine lives sermons everyday. Three rules to live by: 1)Be prepared for life, 2) Develop Integrity, 3) Play by the Rules. Softball coach 47 years ago. Champion game between Mesa 9th ward our biggest contenders. The score was 9-6 but 9th ward had last bats. There were two outs and the bases were loaded. The guy at bat hit a homerun which made the score 10-9 9th wards favor. The 9th ward fans go wild and they begin to celebrate. The pitcher and the 3rd baseman knew the third runner missed third base. They do an appeal, the correct way because they had been taught, and hope that the umpire saw that the runner missed third. The umpire's name was Dale Miller and he was a member of 9th ward and a professional umpire. The team stayed on the field, as you have to do during an appeal, and waited. The umpire called the runner out which cancelled out the last two runs and Brother Hipps's ward, 24th ward, won the game 9-8. Brother Hipps makes the point that the umpire showed integrity that day by doing the right thing. Brother Hipps says the reason they won the game was because of a 13 year old Scout named Vi Sikahema.
My Relief Society lesson can be found on my computer as February 2023 Relief Society lesson. Oh yes, I wanted to make a list of those who made comments during the lesson. Here is the list according to what I can remember:
Millie Scott, Tamara Applegate, Rosie Laurtizen, Jeanie Jameson, Pam Wood, Kerri Halcomb, Catherine Halcomb, Lynda Price, and Theresa Hein.
I want to share on here my closing statement which is quite long. I got it off Instagram from comefollowmedaily:
No one may ever know how frustrated you got with your kids today...but then you chose to say a prayer and invite peace.
No one may ever know that you taught your child about how much you love Jesus while they were playing a game.
That you spent extra time preparing the lesson for family night, praying for what each family member really needed to hear.
That you brough dinner to someone when your life was already chaotic.
That you paid extra fast offerings because you know your area needs it.
That you pulled out your scriptures to read just a couple verses instead of going to sleep like you so easily could have.
That it was really difficult to say "yes" to that calling and to actually show up to fulfill it.
That it was a huge personal sacrifice for you to follow a prompting.
That you chose to not complain when you so easily could have.
There is so much.
So much goodness that we in the quiet corners of rooms and homes around the world.
That no one will ever recognize with an award, or even be aware of its existence.
But that's okay.
We don't do it for the awards.
We aren't following Jesus for the accolades and pats on the back.
We're just trying to follow Jesus and keep our covenants because we love God.
But even if we don't need the appreciation...
There is someone who is actually completely and totally aware of each little sacrifice that we make to bring more goodness and righteousness into the world.
He sees it all.
Those little moments of courage. Those small efforts. Those quiet displays of solid faith.
And He is actually ready to more than compensate each of us for any sense of sacrifice or effort on our parts.
"Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." (Matt 6:4)
As the glorious Resurrection followed the agonizing Crucifixion, so blessings of every kind are poured out on those who are willing to "believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross."
Sometimes these blessings come soon and sometimes they come later, but the marvelous conclusion from the Savior himself is that they do come.
To obtain such blessings, may we follow Him with Footsteps of Faith.
Let's be like Paul who said: "I have fought a good fight, I had finished my course, I have kept the faith."
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Whew, that was long, but I loved it. I am happy that the lesson went well and that it is over and I can go home, have some lunch, and take a nap. Before going home we went down to the foyer and waited for a member of the bishopric to set me apart. Pierce was talking to Crystal Flake across from us and when he finished I asked him if they were doing setting aparts. He said yes and took James and I down the hallway to a classroom. Pierce set me apart with James assisting. I was set apart as an instructor in the Vernon ward Relief Society. It was a sweet setting apart. I can't remember the exact words but I remember the feeling I had while Pierce was speaking.
We got stuck a couple of times trying to turn onto our road and go up the hill but James managed to get us out and home safely.
After lunch and a nap James and I were reading from the Book of Mormon when I decided I wanted to text Tanna Conrad to see if she could talk. She said she could. I asked if she was still in the hospital and if she had had an emergency c-section. She said she was not in the hospital because they were out of beds but her baby was still in the hospital because he had to be on oxygen. Tanna is staying at her sisters. Tanna has a concussion, two broken lumbar in her back, a black eye that's swollen shut and road burn. The baby is healthy but was born a month premature hence the oxygen.
Travis, Tanna's boyfriend broke his neck and just had surgery in the valley. They are waiting for him to wake up. I put his name and Tanna's on the prayer roll at the temple and asked if there was anything I could do for her. There isn't right now but there might be later.
I passed the information regarding Tanna to the Relief Society President, Cheryl Sedig. James told Chuck and Chuck told Bishop Hunsaker.
This evening we FaceTimed with Jared, Kacey, and Charlie. Charlie wanted to see the snow so James took my phone outside and showed her. She says she loves the snow. Charlie has a couple of dinosaurs, one is a T-Rex called Teree (I think), and a Brontosaurus called Bronty. She made a little house for them to live in. Jared says Emmy wants to go to the University of Oregon next year and she wants to become a lawyer. Molly is playing soccer but she says it's her last year because she really doesn't like it that well. She loves basketball.
Autumn will soon be getting her Masters from ASU. We are all very proud of her. Summer is going skiing in Colorado with friends and has signed up for a three hour lesson since she has never skied before. Lovie is growing and weighs about 8 lbs now. She was 4 lbs when they got her. Charlie said the sweetest prayer at the end of the call. We really enjoyed our time with them! Oh yes, only five more months and Jared will have Tricia paid off!
Went to bed between 9-9:30. I was especially tired because I didn't take a nap this afternoon.
Happy 26th "Magical" Birthday to Joe
His cat and his cake!
Caramel Apple Cheesecake Cake with Biscoff Pecan Crust and Biscoff Buttercream Frosting!
A girl and her doggieRamah Lake James's memory:
Monument Valley, Navajo Nation
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