Monday, November 21, 2016

Name that temple.

Mormon 3:1-22

Mormon loved his people in spite of their actions.  What should our attitude be towards those we know who don't keep the commandments?

* When he was in the Presiding Bishopric, Bishop Glenn L. Pace admonished us to strive to emulate the love Mormon exhibited: "This prophet had Christlike love for a fallen people.  Can we be content with loving less?  We must press forward with the pure love of Christ to spread the good news of the gospel.  As we do so and fight the war of good against evil, light against darkness, and truth against falsehood, we must not neglect our responsibility of dressing the wounds of those who have fallen in battle." (Ensign, Nov. 1990, 8-9).

GC:     "Joy and Spiritual Survival" by President Russell M. Nelson

'Clearly, Lehi knew opposition, anxiety, heartache, pain, disappointment, and sorrow.  Yet he declared boldly and without reservation a principle as revealed by the Lord: "Men are,

that they might have joy."  Imagine!  Of all the words he

could have used to describe the nature and purpose of our lives here in mortality, he chose the word joy!'

I absolutely love President Nelson's talk about joy in the Savior.  No matter what our circumstances we can have joy if our focus is on the Savior.  

It was a rainy day so we had a fire all day long.  I also had the light on the Christmas tree on.  I couldn't resist laying on the couch for awhile.

James was stuck in the house most of the day because of the rain.  He is planning a trip to the valley tomorrow and went to hook the trailer up to the truck.  Something was wrong with the connection so he needed to make a trip to town.  I was going to make rolls today for Thanksgiving but instead I went to town.  We read from "Justice of Affliction."  One of the Rogers' sons is in Jerusalem, one is in Siberia, one daughter is in jail, and the other is in danger of losing her life and has to go into hiding.  Right now the book is quite depressing. 

Today's sky

We stopped at Sonic while we were in town.  I got a drink and an American dog and James got a New York dog.  Dinner is done.

Kim took family pictures for Sheri today.  Here are the ones of her boys.

So handsome!

Ben is awesome!

Max is so grown up!

Evan is amazing!

Evan is smiling!

In memory of the Beatles!

For FHE tonight we sat by the fire and the tree and listened to Elder Meurs talk on the sacrament.  We also watched "A Very Merry Mixup" starring Alicia Witt.

I have a couple of more family pictures to post:

Emmy a few years ago before the move to Texas.

Jared, and James leading a blind lady.

Anna drew this while driving in the car.

Excited to watch this tomorrow!

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Fall in Pennsylvania

3 Nephi 9:1-22

What do you think it means to offer a sacrifice of "a broken heart and a contrite spirit"?  What blessings does the Savior promise to those who come unto Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit?

Answer: Elder D. Todd Christofferson said:

"You can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant heart, and your contrite, or obedient, spirit.  In reality, it is the gift of yourself - what you are and what you are becoming.  Is there something in you or in your life that is impure or unworthy?  When you get rid of it, that is a gift to the Savior.  Is there a good habit or quality that is lacking in your life?  When you adopt it and make it part of your character, you are giving a gift to the Lord." (Ensign, May 2004, 12).

GC: 'Joy and Spiritual Survival' by President Russell M. Nelson

"When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening, or not happening in our lives."

We had elk in our yard this morning.  James bugled and they bugled back.  A herd of cows and two scroungy looking bulls.

James said they had been rolling in the mud.

He says that is something they do during the rut.

I had an appointment to go visiting teaching today but at the last minute she cancelled.  Teresa Smith called me this morning and reminded me that I was going to have a handout to give to one of the inactive children in my Primary class and she was going to give it to him  when she goes to visit his mother today.  I had forgotten and told her I would have it ready on Saturday and give it to her at the pancake breakfast.  

James and I love to watch the squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and rabbits outside our window in the morning while we are doing our gospel study.  Today we saw a squirrel holding an apple core and eating it like it was corn on the cob.  

James washed my car today and cleaned pine needles out of the rain gutters.

We went to town again today.  I needed to get a refund.  Yesterday I got a couple of ink cartridges for the printer and they charged me for three.  I got a refund of $18.  While I was in Walmart I saw Charlotte, our favorite waitress from when we use to go to LaCasita.  (It has closed down).  She remembered me by name and I remembered her.  She works at Sal and Teresa's on Tuesdays and Saturdays and I told her we would come in to see her.  I have been praying that I would have opportunities to stand as a witness of the Savior.  I want to give Charlotte a Book of Mormon.  I think about her quite often.  She is on my prayer list.

Time goes by too quickly.  Ben is almost 17 and

Jared Ammon is 24.

I visit taught one sister this evening, Randa.  She and her husband are moving to Alpine soon where her husband got a job a Captain for the fire department.  I will miss here.  

My visiting teaching handout