Bishop Crane; Resten Tesarek towers over
everyone else.
Tom got "antsy" this morning a little after 4. James got up to let him out, but he won't go out. Is this cat ruling our lives?
I got a little anxious before church but a prayer and James calmed me down. I am not used to these panic attacks, mild as they may be, happening to me.
The outfit I wore to church today, black, yellow, white design dress and yellow jacket is an extra large and does not fit me very well now. When I got home I folded it up and put it in the Goodwill box.
Dagny (Chimi is her previous nickname, but since her dad was called to the bishopric she has been called Dagny) Tesarek was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting today. She talked about how she has been in Young Women's for a year now and how much she enjoys the monthly trips to the temple and reminded everyone that there was a trip next Saturday.
Bob & Linda Stevens were the main speakers. They are fairly new to the ward. They both spoke about new beginnings using Elder Kearon's talk as a basis for their talks.
Linda joined the church in 1992 in California with her first husband, Jerry Carter who passed away. Bob is a lifetime member. They met online and when Bob saw Linda for the first time he thought to himself: "Wow! She's a keeper!" They lived in Tucson before coming to Vernon. Bob was a contractor and Linda has her own insurance company. Linda was sealed to her first husband in 1993. When she joined the church with her husband Jerry she said they committed to go to church every Sunday, and never turn down a calling. She said once they went through the temple they committed to go once a month. Ezra Taft Benson was the prophet when she joined the Church. She said she remembers President Hinckley's talk where he told the women they should only have one piercing. At the time she had two. She came home and took her second pair of earrings out and from then on she only used one piercing. She loves teaching gospel doctrine and especially enjoyed teaching the Old and New Testament.
The Stevens' bought their Vernon property in 2023. Bob lost almost everything in the crash of 2008 and his first wife divorced him. He wasn't really interested in getting married again until he met Linda. He talked about his mother and dad who were in the audience today. He remembers his mom always telling him when he left the house to go anywhere, "remember who you are." He says he was trained well as a child. And talked about his dad's beautiful baritone voice. When asked to speak in sacrament meeting he would decline and say that he would sing instead. Bob says he did not inherit this talent. After marrying Linda she talked him in to moving back to California. They bought some land and Bob became a beekeeper with over 750 hives. (He had a tie on with beehive designs all over it). We have beekeepers in our ward so I am sure he will fit right in. He said he has had many new beginnings and many failures but he just keeps trying!
The second hour James and I attended the teacher council training meeting which is taught by our Sunday School President, John Wilhelm. Those attending the class: John & Sandra Wilhelm, Jacob Robles, Steve Rosen, and Scott Sandoval, the elders quorum presidency. Jennifer Golly and Shanna Penrod from the Young Women's, and James and I, and Ron Hall. Ron Hall is a counselor in the Sunday School presidency and the other teacher in the elders quorum along with James. Amy Reynolds, the other teacher in Relief Society, and the Relief Society were not there.
We had a good discussion. James was sad about missing Sunday School but Brother Applegate wasn't here today. Amy Bowen was the teacher.
When we got home James fixed lunch. He did a stir fry of yellow summer squash, onions, mushrooms, and our Beddar Cheddar turkey sausage links. It was delicious.
Food is more delicious than it looks
After a short rest I went through the talk that Addy, Sheri, Kim and I read this week and sent out my response to everyone. The talk was chosen by Addy: "Abide in Me, and I in You; Therefore Walk with Me" by Elder David A. Bednar from the April 2023 priesthood session of General Conference. It was a good one! Here is what I wrote:
I love that Elder Bednar starts his talk by praying for the help of the Holy Ghost. It is through the Holy Ghost that we may know the truth of all things.
Enoch was aware of his personal inadequacies and limitations. Elder Bednar suspects that all of us have felt that way at one time or another in our church service. I know I have.
The Lord said to Enoch, open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, behold my Spirit is upon you. Abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.
This reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." Philippians 4:13. With the Lord's help, and through the power of the Holy Ghost we can do whatever the Lord asks of us. "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." Partaking of the sacrament every week is a small and simple thing but over the course of a lifetime it becomes a great thing because we are committing ourselves to the Lord by "always remembering Him so that we may always have His Spirit to be with us." This is the greatest gift we can receive in this life time. It is how the Savior abides in us.
I loved this talk and want to thank Addy for choosing it!
James worked on his elders quorum lesson this afternoon, the same lesson I am teaching in Relief Society, Elder Kearon's talk, "Jesus Christ and Your New Beginning." I was working on my blog when I came across this quote by Elder Kearon in my photo file and decided to use it for my handouts.
Inside the envelope is a notebook with the words "New Beginnings" on it, and a pencil.
I have decided I need to work on doing a better job of keeping the Sabbath day holy. It shall be one of my goals as well as doing a proper fast.
As I was leaving after the second hour this morning at church, I walked in to the foyer and saw three girls sitting on the couch eating popcorn from big popcorn bags. When I asked what the special occasion was Juniper Westbrook said that they all were going to be baptized this year. The other two girls: Lanell (Nellie) Wilhelm, and Pantera Woods. Oh how I wish I had taken a picture. They were so cute!
This may sound shallow, but in my present state of mind, I cling to anything positive someone says to me: Pam Woods and Shanna Penrod both told me I was a good teacher. When I called to check on my friend Pat Tedder, who wasn't at church, she said her portable oxygen wasn't charged so she stayed home. She was worried that she had missed my lesson and was happy to learn it wasn't until next week.
I got this text from Denice Hall after church. Denice is Ron Hall's wife. Ron was in our class today and heard James claim that he cuts my hair. Anyway, this was Denice's text:
"I wanted to tell you I absolutely love your hair cut and color. I want to be a classy lady like you when I grow up."
I thanked Denice and told her she made my day. Wow, my ego is so fragile right now.
Stacy shared with me a video of Charlie Kirk standing up for Christianity. It was great.
The Robles posted a new video today. They made $15,900 on their YouTube channel last year with around 26,000 viewers.
"To listen to and obey the voice of the prophet is crucial to holding on to every good thing until the Second Coming."
- Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus, OGC 2025
Moses 3:5
And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the filed before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;
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