OUR FAMILY: Sunday, August 3, 2025: Call frm Bro Allen, 5th Sunday on scriptures will I be a presenter, Fast & Testimony mtg, Vernon Day best in 20 yrs, John W. teaches SS, Bro Lauritzen marriage class, FaceTime J,K,Ch, loved talking w/ them

Durban, South Africa

168th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Feb 2020

By: Ronald A. Rasband

Book of Mormon

Alma 44:1-15

*What truths can we learn from Alma 44:4-6 that can help us in our spiritual battles?

Quote: "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.

- Ten Commandments

D&C

84:103-120

Come Follow Me

Personal "Come Follow Me" notebook

April General Conference

'Right Before Our Eyes'

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

Lesson

'Faith: A Bond of Trust and Loyalty'

Elder Sandino Roman

A.S.K.

'Small and Simple Things'

President Dallin H. Oaks, AGC 2018

Other

Priesthood Power

Forgiveness Scripture

Liahona

"Follow Him"

"Look Unto Christ in Every Thought"

"To Be A Jew"

Up @ 4:41 already had T&T, I went straight to my desk to have my prayers. Prayer, D&C, CFM, BM & R.E.J., "Spiritual Treasures".

Marinate chicken. get ready to go to my meetings. I got a call from Brother Steve Allen who is a counselor in the bishopric. He asked if I would be a presenter at the 5th Sunday presentation on home scripture study. I said I would be happy to. He said he and Brother Knight, our high councilman would be the other presenters. He would have more information forthcoming.

I said a prayer before we left for church. A few minutes later James asks me if I am going to pray. I told him that I already did. He looks confused and says he doesn't remember. When we arrive at the parking lot and park our car, before getting out he asks me to offer another prayer, which I did. I am a little worried about this.

Bishop Hunsaker had to shush us during the prelude. People were talking louder and louder over the music. It was much better after the shush.

Today is Fast & Testimony meeting. Bishop expressed his gratitude for all of the support received for the Vernon Day celebration yesterday. Paula Johnson, who is the president of the park and in charge of Vernon Day said it was the best they have had for 20 years. The main purpose of Vernon Day is to raise money for the park. Bishop called it part of the "Hear Him" initiative and a missionary tool.

John Wilhelm taught Sunday School today. It was rather last minute but he did a good job because he knows how to ask questions. He is the Sunday School president.

At 11:30 we attended Brother Lauritzen's marriage class. I was surprised by how many people attended. Here are the people I remember being in the class. Since I sat in the front I may have missed some of those sitting in the back: Oksana, Lynda Finnell, Tamara Applegate, Alicia Hunsaker, (Bishop came for a short while but then had to leave), the Diewalds, Lorraine Vaught, Teresa Hein Brother Lauritzen's wife Rosie, Susan & Jeff Crane, the Frost's and sister Frosts parents who are visiting, the Flakes, and John and Sandra Wilhelm.

James and I get in to a little argument on the way home. Not a good since we just got out of a marriage class.

We have no clouds and no rain today. It is becoming quite a concern as the monsoon usually starts around July 20th.

We break out fast and have grilled chicken, and strawberry spinach salad for lunch. After the kitchen is clean it is time for some Rest & Reading. Then it's time to work on my blog. I text Kacey to see if we can Face Time today. She asks if we can do it right now. James is still sleeping. When he wakes up I text them and soon we are connecting via Face Time. Here is a brief summary of our Face Time.

The first face we see is Mason's. He is looking at us and smiling but he doesn't wave. Charlie is very afraid of the storms they are having and today she, along with Jared & Kacey fasted that she would no longer be afraid. The other night she woke up very frightened because she thought a tree was going to fall on the house. Charlie also got her ears pierced, something she has been wanting to do for a long time. When she goes to the library with her mom Kacey tells her she can check out six chapter books. She reads them all in one day. She and Scarlett played the "Finding Jesus" game the other day. They looked for Jesus by doing service for other people, mainly Jared & Kacey since that is who they were with. Charlie sang, "I Love to See the Temple" for us at the end of our call.

They are going to Bentonville this week to attend the temple with Kristine's son who is going on a mission. Autumn is doing well physically but her anxiety attacks are coming back. Mason comes to visit on Sunday evenings. Tanner is no longer living with them but they hope he will come and visit while Mason is here. Mason loves him. So grateful we got to connect with our Texas family. We so enjoyed talking with them and miss them very much. Oh yes, Kacey is happy about Summer's engagement to Johnny or JB as they call him. He is not LDS but is religious and is a good influence on Summer. Baby Benson is adorable!

Something I wanted to mention earlier but will do so now. Catherine Halcomb was not at church. Kerri says her hip is bothering her. This is something new and I will check in on her this week.

Also, Winna Ulmer bore her testimony and said her granddaughter, Hope Lootans has been missing for three months. Hope was one of my young women when I served as a counselor in that organization. I put her name on the temple prayer roll.

I blogged July 27th at a slow pace and start July 28th but I am falling asleep. I take a shower and that helps for awhile but soon I am falling asleep again. We have prayer and go to bed.

"Devoting our Sabbaths to the Lord and His purposes is itself an act of worhip."

- Elder D. Todd Christofferson

D&C 84:109

Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?

Mason