Monday, January 9, 2017

I am not sure where this is, but I love the flowers.

1 Nephi 7:16-8:15

After being beaten, mocked, and persecuted by his brothers, Nephi did "frankly forgive them."  How can we find it in ourselves to forgive those who have hurt us?

1 Nephi 17-18

DC 5:14-24

How can we be more diligent in keeping our covenants?

Talk: "Steadfast In Our Covenants"

By: Susan W. Tanner

April 2003

Elder Marvin J. Ashton said, "When we truly become converted to Jesus Christ, committed to Him, an interesting things happens: our attention turns to the welfare of our fellowman, and the way we treat others becomes increasingly filled with patience, kindness, and a gentle acceptance."

GC:  A Witness of God by Elder Neil L. Andersen

President Thomas S. Monson has said:

"Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together...to bring souls unto Him...He will assist

us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.'

GC:  Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus by Elder Quentin L. Cook

"If we elevate anything above our devotion to the Savior, if our conduct recognizes Him as just another teacher and not the divine Son of God, then we are looking beyond the mark.  

Jesus Christ is the mark!"

We started taking the Christmas stuff down today.  Kim and Brian are doing the same thing today.  They always leave their Christmas things up until after January 8, Elvis's birthday because that is what Elvis did, according to the Elvis expert, Brian.

James had an appointment with Dr. Moffat today in town.  He brought me back some hot and sour soup, the one thing that I crave when I am sick.  He also went by Walmart and got stevia, Malt-o-Meal, and a new item, Grits.  Grits might be delicious but I just don't like the name.  

I watched a couple a movie while James was gone.

"The Seven Year Hitch".

Our fasting and prayers were answered today.  We had unscheduled rain!

Darrel texted me today and ask if I could watch their kids on the 25th.  Even though I was not planning on being in the valley that day I will never pass up a chance to watch his kids if I can help it so I said yes.  We will just be getting back from San Antonio and I will just stay in the valley a couple of extra days.

Grand Canyon

I paid our timeshare fee today which was over $1,000 for the year and I also paid tithing.  

For FHE we read Elder Andersen's conference talk and then read from Adam-ondi-Ahman.  We also watched "Garage Sale Mystery: The Novel" starring Lori Loughlin.

Photo Memories:

Darrel reading to Ruby's class.

I love this!

Stacy and her new Seaworld friend.

Paul and his new buddy.

Addy on a boat in the ocean for her sixth grade trip.

It looks like a baby stingray.

From my Vernon Mutual days, and nights.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Ether 7:1-27

How can I better listen to and obey the words of the prophets?

     In His kindness and mercy, the Lord sent prophets to warn the people of Shule's kingdom.  As first they reviled and mocked the prophets; however, the prophets were protected by the righteous king's proclamation.  Shule's people then heeded the prophets' warnings and repented, thus avoiding the destruction that would have come as a result of their rejection of the prophets' message.

     President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency explained why the Lord warns His children of their wickedness: "Because the Lord is kind, He calls servants to warn people of danger.  That call to warn is made harder and more important by the fact that the warnings of most worth are about dangers that people don't yet think are real" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 40). 

     Why do prophets often get mocked and reviled?  Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

"Prophets must often warn of the consequences of violating God's laws.  They do no preach that which is popular with the world...

"Why do prophets proclaim unpopular commandments and call society to repentance for rejecting, modifying, and even ignoring the commandments?  The reason is very simple.  Upon receiving revelation, prophets have no choice but to proclaim and reaffirm that which God has given them to tell the world" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 52).

     Elder L. Aldin Porter of the Presidency of the Seventy explained another reason people often reject the prophet's counsel.  He explained that people erroneously believe that prophetic warnings interfere with their agency: "Some complain that when the prophets speak with clarity and firmness, they are taking our agency away  We are still free to choose.  But we must accept the consequences of those decisions.  The prophets do not take away our agency.  They simply warn us of what the consequences of our choices will be.  How foolish it is to fault the prophets for their warnings" ( in Conference Report, Oct. 1999, 82 ).

GC:  A Witness of God by Elder Neil L. Andersen

From the miraculous intervention of God to Daniel came the

prophesied future of the gospel of Jesus Christ being restored

to the earth, a kingdom that would fill the whole earth,

"never to be destroyed...but to stand for ever."

In 1831 the Prophet Joseph Smith received this revelation:

"The keys of the kingdom of God and the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth are committed unto man on the

earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of 

the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain'without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth."

GC:  Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus by Elder Quentin L. Cook

"The remarkable and celestial blessing of the Savior's Atonement is that through repentance, sinful conduct is blotted out.  After Corianton's repentance, Alma concluded, "Let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance."

Instead of a selfie, we took a picture of the temple.

Christmas Nativity

Today was my 35th time at the temple this year.  I am so grateful that we have a temple close by so we can attend frequently.

James saw some old friends from high school which is always fun.  The former student body presidents.

We stopped at Sonic on the way home for some lunch.  I think I would have rather gone to El Cupidos but it was James's turn to pick.  

For some reason I was very tired when I got home so I sat down to watch a Christmas movie.  It was an old one, "Holiday Switch."  

I postponed my Primary party until next week.

Biosphere in Oracle, Arizona

I was grateful that James cleaned all of the dried mud out of the garage today.  While I was blogging I watched another Christmas movie, "Christmas Proposal."  

I got out some more Christmas decorations from downstairs.  James and I read by the fire and then we watched "Hearts of Christmas" a new movie about nurses in the NICU in a busy hospital.

Devil's Bridge in Sedona

Family and Friends:

Bluth family

Molly and Ruby last year after Christmas

Lola enjoying her Cheetos as a soccer game.