Book of Mormon
Moroni 8:1-30
Come Follow Me
"God be thanked for His matchless gift."
October General Conference
'Taking on the Names of Jesus Christ'
Elder Dale G. Renlund
I got up at 4:50 and James's alarm went off at 5. We are finishing up our lesson preparations. We left for church around 8:40, later than I wanted to. No one else was up. I was hoping Joshua would go with us, but not so.
This was one of the very best sacrament meetings I have ever been to. Ken Martin, who is a recovered drug addict and spent 10 years in prison, told about a time when he was in solitary confinement for 11 months. He said there was a toilet in his room, and they shoved his food under the door. I believe he called it "the Pit."
Brother Martin said his grandmother wrote him a letter and sent him a set of scriptures to read. She said she knew if he would read them, they would change his life. Having nothing else to do, he read the scriptures, and they did change his life as he "pursued a path of light." "When I was a lost soul, and He came for me."
Brother Martin bore witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. He said, "He is my God. My testimony is a lens I look through. Jesus Christ reigns. He has my heart and my knee. It is my will that needs more bending." So powerful!
When Jennifer Golly, our favorite soloist, didn't sing last week in the Christmas program, we were disappointed. She made up for it today.
She sang a song, I had never heard before, "In the First Light."
I texted her after church and she gave me the link on YouTube.
James and I both loved the song and Jennifer's beautiful voice.
Michael Gassaway was the last speaker. He said he had been studying about the "Great and Dreadful day of the Lord." He asks himself the question, "How can I make this a great day?" Faith, repent ... receive the atoning blood of Christ. Have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Reconcile. He had a disagreement with his brother that was ongoing, so he called to apologize. He made a list of people that he needed to talk to. Do all you can and then rely on Christ. Do I keep my favorite sins? How do we get rid of them?
"I give unto men weaknesses ... Ether 12:27. Weaknesses become strengths. Elder Richard G. Scott said, "When we face challenges we can't overcome alone, we experience a personal walk in Gethsemane. Be humble. Repent. I remember them no more. D&C 58.
Sins: Confess, forsake, forgive. How can Heavenly Father forget our sins if we keep bringing them up? Forgive ourselves. Look for the good in others as my wife Ayesha does. Replace sins with something good. Back to the basics. Faith, repentance ... prepare for His Second Coming.
Rosie Lauritzen and Natalie Robles were released as Relief Society counselors today and I believe most of the people on the activities committee were released. My dear friend Janna Grombach was called as the first counselor in Relief Society, and Donna Beckham as the second counselor. Cheryl Sedig is still the president, and Kristine Hipps is still the secretary. Donna and Janna are both personal friends of Cheryl. Honestly, I will miss working with Rosie. Later I spoke with Janna about the changes. She said Rosie did not know she was being released and had hurt feelings. Rosie wasn't here today. She was visiting her sister in Tucson. Janna said she was worked with Cheryl today and Cheryl does not always work well with others. I am so sorry for Rosie.
I felt that my lesson went well. Afterwards several people came up to talk to me: Paula Johnson, Tamara Applegate, Pam Woods, Bryelle Rohner, Shelly Applegate, Jordyn Applegate, Julie Wilhelm, Kristine Hipps, and Barbara Tignor.
I asked James how his lesson went and he said, "okay." He said there was lots of discussion.
Back at home, as we were in the bedroom changing our clothes, Joshua knocked on the door and asked for three bandages. I thought he must have cut himself and didn't think too much of it. Later I found out it was Samii who broke a bottle of soda and cut the palm of her hand. James and I ended up taking a nap and when we got up, Dallin & Samii had left for home. I was so sad we didn't get to say goodbye, and I was doubly upset when I found out that Samii got hurt. I texted Dallin and he said it wasn't a big deal and we shouldn't worry about it. I still felt bad and sad and like I was not a very good host.
Rowan and Evan arrive in time to have dinner with us. We had grilled honey-lime chicken, rice pilaf, corn, and broccoli. After dinner, Rowan and Joshua did the dishes and then went back to their game of Scattergories with Evan and Alayna.
This evening we FaceTimed with Jared, Kacey, and Charlie. They are in Nauvoo on a Church history/temple trip. Charlie showed us her mini-snowman and the room she is staying in. She talked about all of the fun activities in Nauvoo and she was very excited about the little bit of snow they got. Kacey has done a session in the Nauvoo temple and will be doing her 25th visit to the temple this year in the Kansas City, Missouri temple. It was a fun visit!
"All God needs to accomplish His purposes and help us become who He wants, is for each of us to turn our hearts fully to Him."
- Elder Ronald M. Barcellos, OGC 2025
Ether 3:14
Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.
imagine the early saints crossing it as they were driven
from their homes in Nauvoo
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