Monday, April 30th, 2018

Accra, Ghana

117th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 Jan 2004

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ betrayal of

John 13:21

When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 19:25-20:11

* Why did the Lord let Limhi's people end up in bondage?

- sue_heugly: There are two kinds of bondage: The self-inflicted kind from poor choices and iniquity, and the kind that comes from the consequences and choices of others. Limhi's people chose sin, which is to serve Satan. Abinadi warned and prophesied that the people would be brought into bondage because they hardened their hearts against Abinadi's words and wouldn't repent. The dues of discipleship do not come cheap. If we want blessings and freedom from bondage, we must be loyal to God, obey his prophets, keep the commandments and remain humble, submitting our will to His. A blessing always carries with it a responsibility, and a consequence. 

Old Testament

1 Samuel 4

The Israelites are smitten and defeated by the Philistines, who also capture the ark of God - Eli's sons are slain, Eli dies in an accident, and his daughter-in-law dies in childbirth.

General Conference

Let Us All Press On

President Russell M. Nelson

"Your desire to obey will be enhanced as you remember and reflect upon what you have felt these past two days."

Rescuing Wayward Children (221) "When you are united, your power is limitless." - Gordon B. Hinckley

Russell M. Nelson:(4/99) Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women

The Atoning One Chapter 9: "Potential Perils of Grace",

Chapter 10: "The Gospel of God", Chapter 11: "Speaking of the Lord's Atonement" 

I am a little sad I finished this book today because I have really enjoyed it. Next I am going to listen to Elder and Sister Renlund's book, The Melchizedek Priesthood.

At 8 a.m. I left for town, about 20 minutes behind James. We are taking the truck and Lexy in to get new tires. James has to pay for his, I don't have to pay for mine. It's to replace the used one they put on a few days ago when I got a flat coming home from the Morrison's.

 They got our tires on in less than 30 minutes. We took a short walk and it was time to go. Next stop, Walmart, to get the oil changed in Lexy. James made the arrangements and then left. I walked down to the mailbox and mailed the note I wrote to President Shumway.

Now it's time to go in and do my weekly shopping.

I took my time shopping, calculating all my expenses. I checked out and then went to see if my car was ready. I sat in the little waiting room and watched some of Harry Potter. I could see the hood still up on Lexy so I took a spin around the store. This trip is going to be more costly than it seems because I found things to put on my wish list: Grabbit Stick, Black memory foam shoes, "Oh The Places You'll Go" Dr. Seuss book, "Coco,"the movie, and "Coco book and playset. "Star Wars 5 Minute Stories." I actually went home and used my Amazon gift card to by two of the books and the movie. I also bought the movie, "Wonder" because Stacy said it was so good. 

Two more things on my wishlist, cute photo album papers, and some new Ginger scissors.

Finally after a few more trips around the store and the passing of two hours, Lexy was finished. I paid the girl, got my report, and loaded up Lexy for home.

I got home and put everything away and sat down in my recliner wondering where James was. He came in a few minutes later with Brother Howard's Cat skidsteer on his trailer. I was watching a Hallmark movie and he sat down and finished watching it with me. 

For dinner we had cooked cabbage. For F.H.E. we listened to President Nelson's conference talk from October 1999, "A Testimony of the Book of Mormon."

James took me outside to show me how to feed the bunnies. There was a full moon behind clouds that looked rather eerie.

8th grade. Better than his dad.

These two are pretty amazing.

My rose garden.

Ready to go

The Philistines God

Christina's Post

Maybe they should have named him Harry

or Fluffy.

Daddy Daughter Super Hero Dates

Tuesday, January 9th, 2018

Cardston, Alberta

6th operating temple

Dedicated: 26-29 Aug 1923

By: Heber J. Grant

Jesus Christ Atonement through

DC 29:1

Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I Am, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins;

Book of Mormon

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?

Old Testament Reading

Genesis 18-20; Abraham 5

Genesis 18

Abraham entertains three holy men-They promise that Sarah will have a son-Abraham will command his children to be just-The Lord appears to him-They discuss the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Genesis 19

Lot entertains holy men-The men of Sodom seek to abuse Lot's guests and are smitten with blindness-Lot is sent out of Sodom-The Lord rains brimstone and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah-Lot's daughters preserve his seed in the land.

Genesis 20

Abimelech desires Sarah, who is preserved by the Lord - Abraham prays for Abimelech, and the Lord blesses him and his household.

Old Testament Scripture Mastery

Exodus 20:8-11

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

General Conference

Spiritual Eclipse

Gary E. Stevenson

"With so many appropriate and inspired uses of technology, let us use it to teach inspire, and lift ourselves and to encourage others to become their finest - rather than to portray our idealized virtual selves. Let us also teach and demonstrate the righteous use of technology to the rising generation and warn against the associated hazards and destructive use of it. Viewing social media through the lens of the gospel can prevent it from becoming a spiritual eclipse in our lives."

I came across this quote today while reading from the book, "Rescuing Wayward Children": 

"Inasmuch as we succeed in securing eternal glory, and stand as saviors, and as kings, and priests to our God, we will save our posterity." - Lorenzo Snow

Also from "Rescuing Wayward Children":

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared - and he never taught more comforting doctrine - that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father's heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God. - 

Thanks to James's help all the Christmas decorations got taken down today. I still have a few things downstairs to box up.

A nice day here in Vernon, Arizona. What is even nicer is that there is snow on the horizon, rain and snow tonight.

James worked outside today. I am not sure why he watered the grass with the rain coming.

My friend Amy posted on Facebook that someone had 52 thoroughbred horses they wanted to give away. The dad died and the son does not want to care for the horses. James tried to call several times but could never get through. That is what happens when the word "free" is thrown into the mix.

Watched "Heartland - Life is a Highway."

Friends of Darrel and Trina own this place.

I am dying to get on of their ice cream crepes.

This homemade crunch wraps look 

better than the ones at Taco Bell.

(Can you tell I'm hungry)

A trip down memory lane. James

looks so young, and so do the kids!

Paul with his dad and his brother Aaron.

While the cats asleep the mice will play.

Friday, July 28th, 2017

Winter Quarters, Nebraska

104th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Apr 2001 by:

Gordon B. Hinckley

Atonement

2 Nephi 2:7

Jesus Christ, Advocate

Moroni 7:28

For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause f the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.

Alma 41:1-15

*Why is it important to have a correct understanding of what will happen to us after we die?

*Why were some of the people going astray? (To wrest the scriptures is to twist, distort, or change their meaning.)

*What words or phrases in Alma 41:6-7 suggest that we are responsible for what we receive in the resurrection?

*Why is it true that 'wickedness never was happiness?"

Elder Glenn L. Pace: "Activities always forbidden by the Lord and for many years frowned upon by society are now accepted and promoted by that same society. The media serves up these activities in such a fashion as to make them look desirable...Don't mistake Telestial pleasure for Celestial happiness and joy. Don't mistake lack of self-control for freedom. Complete freedom without appropriate restraint makes us slaves to our appetites. Don't envy a lesser and lower life....The commandments you observe were not given by a dispassionate God to prevent you from having fun, but by a loving Father in Heaven who wants you to be happy while you are living on this earth as well as the hereafter."

DC 105:14-26

14-19, The Lord will fight the battles of Zion; 20-26, The Saints are to be wise and not boast of mighty works as they gather;

What is an endowment?

*The direction that the first elders of the Church 'should receive their endowment from on high in my house...in Kirtland' (DC 105:33), referred to those keys and to the great outpouring of the Lord's Spirit and the manifestations that were to accompany the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. The Spirit that was poured out upon the Saints at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple was the same Spirit that was poured out on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2). That endowment of power was promised to the latter-day elders (see DC 95:8). This was not as complete as the endowment later revealed. (DCSM, 259).

General Conference

To the Friends and Investigators of the Church

Elder Joaquin E. Costa

" That day I opened my heart to the Spirit, desired to repent, and wanted to be baptized! Before that moment, I had thought of repentance as something negative, associated only with sin and wrongdoing, but suddenly I saw it in a different light - as something positive that cleared the path to growth and happiness."

Then Jesus Beholding Him Loved Him

Elder S. Mark Palmer

" As we learn to see others as the Lord sees them rather than with our own eyes, our love for them will grow and so will our desire to help them. We will see potential within others they likely do not see in themselves. With Christlike love we will not be afraid to speak with boldness, for 'perfect love casteth out fear.' And we will never give up, remembering that those who are hardest to love need love the most."

Can I tell you how much I love Elder Palmer's conference address!

Here are some of the highlights for me:

"How can I be filled with Christlike love so others can feel the love of God through me and desire to change?

"How can I be more like the Savior?

"If I didn't love you, I wouldn't care about who you become. So I invite you to change those thiings that are hard for you and become who the Lord wants you to be

"Pray for the gift of charity.

"See others as the Savior sees them."

We seem to have a plague of moths. I flushed three down the toilet this morning. 

James put the new 'body' on the Razr today. He also washed the outside of my care. We were going to go to the temple, but decided to go in the morning instead.

We read on the deck while it rained. This is becoming somewhat of a ritual...but a good one!

I worked on my blog a couple of hours this afternoon and did two posts. I am very slow!

I made ground beef tacos for dinner. James ate six and I ate three. There was one left. I guess you could say they were a hit.

After dinner we watched "A Heavenly Christmas," starring Kirstin Davis and Eric McCormack, and Shirley Maclaine.

That is just about the end of the Christmas movies, until the end of October that is! That is when the new ones come out!

Random Photos:

This is what we watch while we are reading.

I counted 17, how about you?

James has this recipe for making their nectar.

He even heats up the sugar so it's nice and smooth.

He loves his little critters. Remember, he also planted 

grass for the bunnies. The only critters we have a problem with are

the squirrels who get in to our garbage if we leave the garage door open.

Mt. Montoso almost looks like an active volcano.

Sphinx moth on my front porch.

New York, New York. There is beauty wherever you go.

There is even beauty in Cibecue, Arizona.

Talk about beauty! 

Two of my favorite beauties!

Chandler boys from the 80's.

Mike, Aaron (Paul's brother), and another friend.

I love it when castles_world posts a picture!

Castles are one of my passions.