Bentonville, Arkansas
181st operating temple
Dedicated: 17 Sep 2023
By: David A. Bednar
Book of Mormon
1 Nephi 17:31-47
Come Follow Me
"Follow Him"
October General Conference
'Nourish the Roots, and the Branches Will Grow'
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"If you ever feel burned out or overwhelmed by your Church calling, try refocusing your service on Jesus Christ. Make it an expression of your love for Him. Nourish the roots, and the branches will grow. And in time, they will bear fruit."
James was asked to go to ward council this morning. It starts at 7:30 and goes until 8:30 so I was home alone when it was time to get ready for church. Today is our ward conference and James said that President Beeler conducted ward council. He came home with a list of things for a 72 hour kit, a 1st Aid kit, and a kit for your car. He wants me to work on getting the stuff on the lists.
When I arrived at church at 8:50 James was waiting for me in the foyer. He said that our regular seats were taken. Collin and Chuck left after ward council to go pick up a group of guys from the Waypoint addiction recovery center and they sat in the 2nd and 3rd rows on the left where we sit. We sat in the middle benches, back a ways in front of Kathy & Chuck Crane.
Our youth choir provided the prelude music for sacrament meeting and they sounded beautiful. One of the Jensen girls was the choir director.
President Beeler and President Alder were on the stand. President Smithson was absent because he had to be at the hospital today.
Karen Gilliland was released as a counselor in the stake Relief Society today and a Sister Whatcott was called in her place. The secretary was also released and Lindsay Shaw from our ward was called. She will be working with Sister Beverly Wilcock, and Stefani Hunsaker, along with Sister Whatcott.
Bishop Hunsaker announced Kim Penrod's funeral at 11:00 this coming Friday. He encouraged us not to judge but to be a support to the family. Shanna was not here today.
Bishop Hunsaker and President Beeler were the speakers in sacrament meeting. Here are a few notes:
Bishop Hunsaker - I shouldn't have put batteries in my pacemaker today. Knowing Jesus Christ, invite Him to be with you throughout your day. Youth, picture the Savior with you in your classes. On Judgment Day how will you feel when He asks you: "Where was I during your life?" "Did you know me?" We need to give our weaknesses to the Savior. Go to the Lord's house often. Take time to know where you are at with the Savior.
Youth Choir Musical No: - "Look Unto Christ"
President Beeler - I have felt some of the same promptings as Bishop Hunsaker. I have many dear friends here in Vernon. The Lord's net is our connections with each other. Bishop Hunsaker's pace hasn't slackened. We all need to be "healers." We always have access to God's love and power. We need to open the flood gates of "Living Water" all the way. I am grateful for the sacrament that makes this meeting sacred. I have had some profound experiences with the Savior at the sacrament table. Told the story of the Cibecue Branch Christmas party. They expected about 40 people and 200 hundred showed up. People went home and got food they had to share. They prayed and just kept serving and serving and serving and the supply never ran out. Our God is a God of miracles. If you wish to find Jesus, make the place you are, holy. We will also find Him in His holy house.
During the second hour James and I went up and sat by Catherine Halcomb. She said to me that she was disoriented and didn't know why she was here. I asked her if she recognized everyone and she said yes. She is beginning to lose her memory and it is really bothering her. She forgot to replace the batteries in her hearing aid so she didn't hear much of what was going on. She had her tablet with her and was playing a word game on it.
President Beeler and Sister Wilcock led the discussion in the second hour. The discussion was on President Nelson's recent conference address on preparing for the Second Coming of the Savior. We had a good discussion with lots of participation. Just a couple of quotes from President Nelson:
"God uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible."
"All those who will not endure chastening cannot be sanctified."
When we got home Michael was cooking breakfast bagels for everyone. He offered me one and I ate half and saved the rest for later. James had eggs and ham and bacon minus the bagel. We both had some of James's pie, which is going to be the death of both of us.
Everyone got ready and left soon after breakfast. We gave hugs and said our goodbyes.
Sammi, Namira, Dallin, Joe, Jared Ammon, Michael
Nap time for James and I after everyone left. Tome came in from outside and it looks like he's been rolling in the dirt. I was so tempted to give him a bath.
We went on a little drive this afternoon to return Susan Goodman's plastic bowl that she brought fruit salad in way back when James came home from the hospital. Pierce came out to say hello to me and asked me if I had lost anymore teeth. I told him no, they were all hanging on quite well. He said he offers his services 24/7 if anything needs fixing. So sweet.
Later James returned the "missile" he borrowed from Jarrod MacArthur who said he actually needed it right now to do some underground digging.
I blogged January 14th & 15th before going to bed.
Happy Sabbath!
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