Sunday, December 1st, 2019

Mt. Timpanogas, Utah

49th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Oct 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

1 Corinthians 12:27

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Book of Mormon

Ether 1:1-43

New Testament

Review 1-2 Peter; Read 1-3 John, Jude, using Redheaded Hostess and New Testament Student Manual and "Don't Miss This" YouTube presentation.

10/19 General Conference

"The Message, the Meaning, and the Multitude"

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"The prayer of every speaker at this conference, the hope of all who sing, the reverence of every guest - all are dedicated to inviting the Spirit of Him whose Church this is - the Living Christ, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peacer."

This thought came to me as we were driving to church and the snow was glistening as the sunlight shined on it: "I don't like glitter on my floor but I love glittering snow."

I got a text from Rita. Randy passed away at 1a.m. this morning. She asked me to please tell my brothers so I immediately texted Harold and Dennis.

Chuck Crane conducted our Fast and Testimony meeting this morning. Many people were absent today. Some of them are down at Tonto Creek looking for Willa Rawlings. Several testimonies mentioned the sadness surrounding the Rawlings family. Chris Skousen said he knew them well. 

Brother Peeler said something interesting in Sunday School. He said that during the trial of our faith as we pray to the Father, through the Son, our answers come through the Holy Ghost. Of course I knew this but someone said afterwards, Pam Wood's, our teacher: "So that's why it takes so long for our prayers to be answered."

I read about a study that was done regarding diet soda and aspartame. The study is linking aspartame to leukemia and lymphoma. Since I have had bouts with lymphoma I decided it was time for me to quit drinking diet sodas. I had my last Coke Zero today.

I listened to several BYU-Idaho Devotionals and made some calls regarding ministering assignments. So happy that Darla Rider said she would be a companion to Paula Johnson!

Jani Huso Johnson did a post about the Rawlings family and how they owned and ran several theaters in northern Arizona. I had told James before that that the only Rawlings I knew was Bud Rawlings who ran the Show Low Theater. I guess he was a brother to Bill. Bill is Willa's grandpa.

This evening we listened to "Don't Miss This" with Dave and Emily. They gave a lesson on 1-3 John and Jude, our reading assignment for this coming week.

 One of our angels

oops

Another of our angels

 Autumn and Scarlett were at Jared and Kacey's today.

We quit a little early because they were all going to go

look at Christmas lights. 

I love the look on Scarlett's face!

Family Dinner at Serrano's on the 

1st Sat of December

The Rawlings Family

Saturday after Thanksgiving every year

Saturday, November 25th, 2017

San Antonio, Texas

120th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 May 2005

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Atonement through

John 10:15

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 6:6-22

Mormon asks his people why they rejected the open arms of Christ. Mormon taught that their reunion with the Savior would have been joyful (6:17). We too must prepare ourselves to stand before the Lord at the Judgment. President James E. Faust explained: 

"We long for the ultimate blessing of the Atonement - to become one with Him, to be in His divine presence, to be called individually by name as He warmly welcomes us home with a radiant smile, beckoning us with open arms to be enfolded in His boundless love.

How gloriously sublime this experience will be if we can feel worthy enough to be in His presence. The free gift of His great atoning sacrifice for each of us is the only way we can be exalted enough to stand before Him and see Him face to face. The overwhelming message of the Atonement is the perfect love the Savior has for each of us. It is a love full of mercy, patience, grace, equity, long-suffering and, above all, forgiving. The evil influence of Satan would destroy any hope we have in overcoming our mistakes. He would have us feel that we are lost and that there is no hope. In contrast, Jesus reaches down to us to lift us up. Through our repentance and the gift of the Atonement, we can prepare to be worthy to stand in His presence."

Doctrine Covenants Favorite Scriptures

DC 11:25

Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things:

General Conference

God's Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon

Brother Tad R. Callister

"How did Joseph produce a book that radiates with the Spirit, and where did he get such profound doctrine, much of which clarifies or contradicts the Christian beliefs of his time? For example, the Book of Mormon teaches, contrary to most Christian beliefs, that the Fall of Adam was a positive step forward. It reveals the covenants made at baptism, which are not addressed in the Bible."

James gave me a blessing before we left for the temple this morning. It gave me comfort and peace. My day went something like this: Preparation meeting with President Palmer and his wife presiding. We saw a patron film that we had seen before. 

My first assignment was the locker room where I assigned patrons coming in for the 8 a.m. session. Sister Applegate was one of those patrons. My second assignment was as an initiatory patron, and then I had some study time and then went back to be an initiatory worker. I did the washing ordinances again and it was good practice for me. 

My next assignment was as the greeter downstairs behind the check in desk. A young brother came in for his own endowment. The only person who came with him was his escort, no other family or friends.

I had a break and got to sit down and have a snack with James and the Vance's. The rest of my time was spent as being the 2nd follower in the 11 a.m. endowment session. The 2nd follower counts the sisters as they enter the session and checks to make sure they received the new name. The 2nd follower gives the tokens and helps patrons at the veil. Last time I did not do so well at the veil but this time it went well. The only person I really had to help was a little Navajo lady who knew nothing. At first when I tried to help her she just stared at me and I thought maybe she didn't speak English. I then said to her, just say what I say. She did it and we got through it. It was a good day for me. President Williams, the Show Low stake president and his wife were in my session. Afterwards they James spoke with them. President Williams told him he loved having him on the high council in Show Low because then he wasn't the only one with a deformed ear. President Williams was a wrestler at ASU too. He loves wrestling!

On the way home we stopped at El Cupido's and I got my Big Jake burro. It was perfect. We also went to Home Depot and Lowe's in Show Low to look for replacement lights for the tree. We didn't get home until 3:30. Erik and Kristofor had come by with their families on their way to look for Christmas trees. When they left they said they were going on the McNary road. James called and told them there were no Christmas trees, only pine trees on that road. He directed them to go up by Green's Peak, which they did. This is what they got:

Erik said the most important thing to

him was the good smell from the tree.

Kristofor, Christine, and Erik's little girl

Tabitha

Tonight was the annual ASU vs. UofA game. It is a battle for the territorial cup. After a Razr ride with Kim Brian came back and turned the game on. We watched the game and played a game of Five Crowns, which I won. ASU also ended up winning, 42-30.

I got my steps in today inspite of being at the temple.

Lola says: 

"Not pity for the Kitty!"

Something Darrel taught her to say regarding

the ASU vs. UofA game.

How sad.

Friday, November 23, 2012

James and Alex got up very early this morning to go fishing at Silver Creek.  James says it was 29 degrees when they got there.  Alex had a very successful day fishing.  James said he caught 13 fish, more than everyone else there put together.  Here is the biggest one.

The biggest rainbow trout ever!

The kid is a fishing genius

Notice the unsuccessful fishermen in the background.

I made that lucky hat.

Smiling fish.

Cody, Chelsea, Carter, and Cash Pace came up today.  They are best friends with Brian and Kim.

Brian made us all delicious burgers for dinner.  Burgers with cheese and poblano chilies.  

James, Joe, and Alex went out looking for coyotes this evening.  They were not very successful.

The boys are in the truck waiting for Grandpa who forgot his keys.

Brian and Cody watched the ASU, UofA game, which ASU ended up winning.  

Kim and I played a game of 5 Crowns with Chelsea and then while she spent time with her boys we went in and watched a Christmas movie.  I also worked on my lesson for Sunday.