Friday, August 24th, 2018

Oaxaca, Mexico

74th operating temple

Dedicated: 11 Mar 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Psalms 22:1

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why are thou so far from helped me, and from the words of my roaring?

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:1-17

*How does Helaman show courage and faith in these verses?

- Helaman shows great courage and faith when he encourages the people of Ammon who had buried their weapons of war and covenanted not to fight to be loyal to their covenants. There is great power and strength in covenant keeping.

Old Testament

Psalms 71-75

71 David praises God with thanksgiving - Who is like unto the Lord!

72 David speaks of Solomon, who is made a typed of the Messiah - He will have dominion - His name will endure forever - All nations will call him blessed - The whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.

73 God is good to Israel - The wicked and ungodly prosper in this world - They will be consumed with terrors hereafter - Those who trust in the Lord will be received up unto glory.

74 O God, remember Thy chosen congregation - The wicked destroy the sanctuary and burn the synagogues - O God, remember them for their deeds, and save Thy people.

75 The righteous praise and thank the God of Jacob - They will be exalted - God is the judge, and the wicked will be condemned.

General Conference

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

"Dear brothers and sisters, we belong to each other. We can be knit together in unity and in love in all things and in all places. As the Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us, wherever we are, whatever our circumstances, please come and see."

How can I encourage Cammy to read her scriptures? 

Hurricane Lane is wrecking havoc on Hawaii where Trina's sister lives.

After Sheri and Max went on their run this morning the three of us went into Walmart and KFC. I figured my budget for September before leaving and bought a suitcase for $39 because the zipper in mine is broken. 

At KFC I ordered the three piece chicken meal and paid Sheri. When James came home he ate the chicken and coleslaw. I ate the biscuit and some of the mashed potatoes and gravy. 

Sheri, Ben and I played a game of Five Crowns and Sheri won. We got a kick out of watching Ollie look out the window. He knows there are bunnies out there.

Sheri, Ollie and I went for a walk while the boys went for a ride on the Razr. It looked like rain so I stuck my umbrella in my pocket.

Sheri, Ollie, and I watched the newest Hallmark movie, "Pearl in Paradise." 

Brother Howard was taken to the hospital in an ambulance today. He is having problems with his heart and his lungs are filling up with fluid. I think he has physically been trying to do too much to prepare for their open house. 

This evening Sheri fixed her family and Rowan steaks for dinner with corn and beans. James and I had green smoothies. I baked some rolls this evening but they are to take to the temple tomorrow. 

I downloaded the audible book and ordered the book club book of the month, "Time and Again," so I can listen to it instead of having to read it. I read half of the first chapter today.

A young man in our ward posted these photos.

Not sure where they were taken.

Sheri saw this castle when she was in Scotland.

What Sky Harbor used to look like

Tonight's sunset as taken by Sheri

Saturday, July 2, 2016

After a session at the Gilbert temple.

We are terrible at selfies.

Alma 26:1-16

How is it a blessing to be an instrument in the hands of God?

1 - . . . Ammon: "How great reason have we to rejoice; could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?"

2 - These are the blessings:

3 - Our brethren the Lamanites were in darkness, . . ., but behold how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God.  This is the blessing bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

4 - Thousands rejoice and have been brought into the fold of God.

7 - They are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.

8 - Blessed be the name of our God; let  us sing to his praise, let us give thanks to His holy name, . . .

11 - Ammon in response to Aaron's accustion that he is boasting:  "I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy and I will rejoice in my God.

12 - Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things.

14 - We have reason to praise Him forever, for He is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

16 - Let us glory in the Lord.  Yea, who can say too much of His great power and mercy, and of His long-suffering towards the children of men.  I cannot say the smallest part of that which I feel.

GC: "What Shall We Do"?  Neill F. Marriott

James and I went to the 7:45 am temple session at the Gilbert temple this morning.  I gave James a name, Levi Strickland, by accident, that did not have the initiatory done yet.  Before the session he was able to do the initiatory.  That was pretty amazing to me.  While he was going through for one of my relatives, I was going through for Ida Ballentine, one of his relatives.

When we got home we took James truck to Sears to get it serviced and then we picked up Michael and Alex to take them to lunch at Cheesecake Factory.  This is our celebatory scripture reading lunch.

A couple of handsome young men

After taking Michael, Alex, and James home, I went to see if Sheri could fix my glasses.  She had spent the morning at the emergency room at the hospital with Ben.  Thank goodness the doctor didn't think it was anything too serious.    

It looks serious to me.

Sheri didn't have the tools to fix my glasses so we went down to Chandler Eye where Nancy was catching up on some work while the office was closed.  Not only did Nancy fix my glasses, she fixed the noseguards too.  For some unknown reason they had melted.  Thank you so much Nancy!

I went to the mall and Target with Sheri while James took my car to Sears and picked up his truck.  We bought clothes for Lola at the Gap and then went to the Oil & Vinegar store.  I went a little crazy before it was all over.  

I still have a couple of bottles to fill.

I got the tuscany garlic olive oil,

strawberry rhubarb, cranberry, and apple & lime vinegar.

My salads are going to taste delicious!

Sheri and I also went to Target Greatland.  She bought Ruby an Girl Scout Oven that bakes the Girl Scout Cookies.  I bought Lola a little Fischer Price ferris wheel.  I am so excited!  

We stopped by See's for some candy and then it was back home where I started my fast.  James had already started his.  I have to confess that I had some See's candy.

It was nice to be able to get both of our cars serviced today and ready to make the trip home

Cathi gave me some of this sunscreen and I am going to have James wear it when he works outside.  It is always so hard to find something you want to put on your face that will actually block the sun.

Ben needed to use this.

Guess who has a new dog?  Joshua.  He took his parents to the pet store in the mall where we were last night and they got "Shipley" for free.  I guess she has been there for awhile and some people even adopted her and then brought her back.

Cute outfit Shipley

Brian sent us a video from the cabin of a hard rainstorm with rivers of water running everywhere.  I am glad for the rain but I wish I was there to enjoy it.  

He also sent this picture that he took while he and Kim were coming off Christmas tree trail.

They went out looking for wildlife but never in their

wildest dreams thought they would see Big Horn sheep.