Friday, January 4th, 2019

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ, Death of

DC 20:23

He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day;

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 3:9-31

Why do you think Sam willingly followed Nephi while Laman and Lemuel persecuted him?

New Testament

John 7:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; James 1:5-6, 22; 2:17

General Conference

Laying the Foundation of a Great Work

Elder Steven R. Bangerter

"Consistent, wholesome family traditions that include prayer, scripture reading, family home evening, and attendance at Church meetings, though seemingly small and simple create a culture of love, respect, unity, and security. In the spirit that accompanies these efforts, our children become protected from the fiery darts of the adversary so embedded in the worldly culture of our day."

I got up at 3:36 this morning to take a shower. I went back to bed and James and I lay their talking, trying to decide if we were going to our appointments in the valley today. James finally said, "Yes we are. We can do hard things." We left around 5 a.m.

James drives. The hardest part is getting out of the garage because of the snow piled up in our driveway. Away we go! No stopping. We drive directly to James's appointment on Dobson just south of Frye. 

I leave the keys in the car and text him that I am walking north on Dobson Rd. My infusion appointment is at 10:30 and it's around 8:45, on Baseline and Arizona Avenue. I only walk a short ways before he picks me up and drives to the Chandler mall. The only place open is Wildflower Bakery. I ordered some lemon ricotta pancakes and James has some orange juice. I eat two of my pancakes. They are delicious. What is it with me and lemon these days?

Two of my favorites are in the infusion center, Angie who puts in my drip, and Frances who makes the appointments. I got 640 mg of Actemra. My blood pressure was 108/64. I think my walking is helping me to stay a little more healthy although my weight is up about four lbs for last month.

 At 11:30 I am finished. James is outside waiting. I drive this time to QuikTrip to check the air in our tires and to get some gas. 

Our next stop is the Olive Garden on Gilbert and Germann. I have the Ravioli di portabello:

My favorite OG dish right now.

This is what James ordered:

Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken

I liked mine better.

Our waiters name was Jesse. I really liked him so he got a good tip.  

We were going to go to Darrel and Trina's just to say hi but Trina was taking the younger girls to Sodalicious and the older two were gone somewhere else. Rowan was with the Trezise's bowling.
 We said goodbye and that we would be back Monday and Tuesday, and headed home.

 Evan, Joshua, Rowan, and Max

 The winners!

Alex and Ian

I drove until we got to the Circle K in Superior. When we got out to trade places I realized what a beautiful, sunny day it is. 

Our ride was pretty uneventful until we got to the Safeway in Show Low where James stopped to get me some Dr. Pepper 10. As he was carrying it to the car he realized that it weighed more than the 5 lbs that he is supposed to be lifting. Sorry honey.

As we got to our hill in Vernon we made a running start and kept it going until we rounded the road into our driveway and garage. We almost got stuck in the driveway!

I walked and worked on my computer this evening doing my blog. I am a little sad because I have watched all the Christmas movies I had recorded, all 126 of them.

 I love Sister Hinckley!

 The Wanlass Family

Posting ideas for Valentine cards

 I took a picture of this when I was at the 

Chandler mall this morning.

My favorite temple, I couldn't resist posting

 In Arkansas at Kacey's mom's

70th birthday. Charlie loves her

brother Tanner.

Saturday, July 28th, 2018

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ, Creator

Hebrews 11:3

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Book of Mormon

Alma 41:1-15

* Why is it requisite for all things to be restored in the last days?

- How could the Atonement of Jesus Christ be effective it it was not requisite for all things to be restored. The plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God. Men are judged according to their works. Wickedness never was happiness. Give mercy to receive mercy. That which you send out shall be returned unto you. Restoration condemneth the sinner.

Old Testament

Esther 6-8

6 Mordecai receives great honors - Haman mourns and is counseled by his wife.

7 Esther reveals Haman's plot to destroy the Jews - He is hanged on his own gallows.

8 Mordecai is honored and placed over the house of Haman - Ahasuerus issues a decree to preserve the Jews.

General Conference

Behold the Man!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Because of Jesus Christ, we will rise from the despair of death and embrace those we love, shedding tears of overwhelming joy and overflowing gratitude. Because of Jesus Christ, we will exist as eternal beings, worlds without end. Because of Jesus the Christ, our sins can not only be erased; they can be forgotten. We can become purified and exalted. Holy. Because of our beloved Savior, we can forever drink from the fountain of water that springs up into eternal life. We can dwell forever in the mansions of our eternal King, in unimaginable glory and perfect happiness."

We left for the temple this morning at 5:40. On the way we listened to our scriptures from the Old Testament, I read from the Book of Mormon, and we listened to Elder Uchtdorf's conference address, Behold the Man! We already had family prayer before we left the house. It's a beautiful morning and we are always anxious to get to the temple in time to get dressed and be to preparation meeting by 6:55. 

President Palmer and his wife did the training in preparation meeting. We watched three films about patrons having a good experience in the temple. 

My first assignment was locker room at 730. Sisters started pouring in for the 8 a.m. session. We willed up the ten lockers quickly and I started over. Some lockers had three people assigned. 

After locker room I went downstairs to be greeter 2. There are three greeters, one stands and asks the people as they come in if they are going to a session. Two helps new people and runs errands as needed and three is for the baptistry. The baptistry greeter wasn't there so I showed people to the chapel and told the baptistry director. 

Sister Johnson, the wife of one of the sealers asked me if I wanted to do sealings with my husband who was already in the sealing room. I said yes and she said she would take my next assignment at the sealers desk downstairs. 

When I got to the sealing room, Brother Flake was the sealer and the other sealer, Brother Johnson, was a witness. James and I were able to do sealings for some of my Strickland and Rutledge relatives. I thanked Sister Johnson when I saw her again.

I was only there for 30 minutes and then I had to go back down to the sealing desk under the stairs just off the entry to the temple.

Sister Higgins, a sweet hispanic sister who works on our shift asked me if I would help her organize her stack of sealing cards.  That is part of my job and I said I would be happy to help her. There were some cards already done, some that needed more information, and there were 3 couples to be sealed, 16 sons to parents, and 18 daughters to parents. She is going to take them up and do them at 10. I told her everything she needed to do. Glad I could be of service to her.  Oh yes, something interesting about her cards. The submitters name was Beatrice Lambson. I pointed that out to her and I assume it was her name because she said, oh yes, that was a long time ago.  I need to find out who she was married to.

During my break I visited with Sister Flake whose husband is the sealer. I told her what a good sealer I thought he was and she said yes, she agreed. She told me what a blessing it has been to him in his life. He says, "can you imagine me, an old cowboy, being a sealer in the temple." She said it is very easy for him to memorize things. He loves to recite poetry and he entertained family members at her family reunion with both inspirational poems and cowboy poems. Sister Flake is from Alpine and I told her my grandpa was born in Nutrioso. It's a small world. She told me about her dad dying from an infection in his leg, the same kind Joseph Smith had. He would not let the doctor amputate and he ended up dying of the infection. I feel like I made a new friend in her.

This afternoon I worked in the Celestial room and saw Sandy's sister Connie again. I guess she and her husband were the witness couple in the session that James was the follower in. 

I got off an hour early today because there was nothing for me to do. I went downstairs and waited in the car for James.

Before going home we went in to Show Low and got orange chicken, beef and broccoli, rice and noddles at Panda Express, enough to feed four people. We also stopped by and picked up two Oreo Blizzards at Dairy Queen. We are feeding the missionaries.

We got home and while I rested James had an unexpected visit from Brother Valentic who is up here from Chandler. He is in Sheri's ward and when James told him that Ben had received his mission call he was very happy. He said, "You know, I watch him bless the sacrament and he has a glow about him." Brother Valentic use to have Alex as a home teaching companion and really likes him too. He hopes because of Ben's example he might want to serve a mission. 

Elder Bernecker and Elder Bingham were right on time. We enjoyed our dinner and then visiting afterwards. Elder Bingham is from Idaho and I asked him how cold it gets in Idaho Falls. He said it can get 40 below. Sheri took Ben shopping today and he said he didn't need a hat or a scarf. He may change his mind when he gets there.

The elders' left before 7. James went out to work on his rabbit hutch and walk, and finish a sling he is making for his David and Goliath Primary lesson. I cleaned the kitchen, walked, and finished a Christmas movie I started yesterday.

I love that smile!

 How fun!

Beautiful!

Monday, February 19th, 2018

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8-14 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Jesus Christ Authority of

John 10:18

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 9:50-10:17

*What are  things you prioritize that won't "satisfy?" How does 9:51 affect where you spend your time, money, and work?

Old Testament

Levitucus 15-16

15 Laws, rites, and sacrifices are revealed for cleansing those who have a discharge and other types of uncleanness.

16 How and when Aaron must enter the holy place is explained - Sacrifices are offered to reconcile Israel to God - The scapegoat carries away the sins of the people - The sins of all Israel are forgiven on the Day of Atonement.

Old Testament Favorite Scriptures

Exodus 16:12

I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God.

General Conference

That Your Joy Might Be Full

Jean B. Bingham

" Faith in Jesus Christ brings even more gifts than healing and peace. As President Henry B. Eyring shared: 'I have been thankful for the many ways the Lord has visited me with the Comforter when I needed peace. Yet our Father in Heaven is concerned not just about our comfort but even more about our upward progress.'"

Has the Day of Miracles Ceased?

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom

" A critical question to ponder is 'Where do we place our faith?' Is our faith focused on simply wanting to be relieved of pain and suffering, or is it firmly centered on God the Father and His holy plan and in Jesus the Christ and His Atonement? Faith in the Father and the Son allows us to understand and accept Their will as we prepare for eternity."

I woke up this morning to a howling wind and a promise of snow. A cold and blustery day with wind, rain, snow hail and even some sunshine. It was one of those days when you just want to curl up in front of the fire with a good book....which we did a couple of times.

We also watched a Hallmark movie and had some popcorn and homemade lemonade. 

"Religious freedom is the cornerstone of peace in a world with many competing philosophies. It gives us space to follow the truth God speaks to our hearts. We use our freedom of religion and belief to establish our core convictions." - Elder D. Todd Christofferson

February 2018 Ensign, 32.

James worked on a bid for Salvador and I paid the Amazon credit card, blogged, walked 12,000 steps and worked on posting expenses for December in order to "catchup" on my budget. 

James went home teaching to Sister Dye and the Wilhelm's with his partner Brother Westbrook. 

I watched the first episode of the new season of "When Calls the Heart." James and I finished reading "Love and Loss at Whitmore Manor."

That last one doesn't seem real.

Ollie watching his family release the

balloons they got for Valentine's day.

My view out my window today.

Super Moon 

Wednesday, September 13th, 2017

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

8 Jan 1995 by Howard W. Hunter

Atonement

DC 74:7

But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean.

Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal

Genesis 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

Helaman 6:32-41

What do these verses tell us about the power of prayer? How can I apply these principles to my own life?

*To me, verse 35 is the key to becoming a true follower of Christ.

'They fasted and prayed oft and increased in humility and were firmer in the faith of Christ. They became sanctified because they yielded their hearts unto God.'
DC 133:1-15
How am I preparing for the Second Coming?
Have I prepared room for Him in my heart? I need to learn all I can about Him through the scriptures and conference talks. I must try to become like Him. I need to communicate with Heavenly Father through prayer. I need to be worthy to have the Spirit be with me at all times because the Spirit testifies of the Savior and helps me to love other people as the Savior loves them. I must repent of my sins and be ready to enter into His presence. Obedience, humility, preparation, restoration, sanctification, gathering are all keywords.
General Conference

The Language of the Gospel

Elder Valeri V. Cordon

"No achievement in this life, important as it may be, will be relevant if we lose the language of the gospel in our families."

Happy Birthday Mom!

My guardian angel

Lakeside Cemetery

James had a 10:30 doctor's appointment with Dr. Moffat. He went by himself. After awhile I got a call saying that the doctor wanted him to go to the emergency room so they could check for a blood clot in his lungs. James told Dr. Moffat that we had just returned from a 2,000 mile car drive and that he had pains in his chest. That's all the doctor needed to hear to have him admitted into the emergency room.

I got ready and got into town as quickly as I could, driving the truck. I think James was happy to see me although he told me I didn't have to come. How could I not? I read to him from our new book, "Borrowed Light" which Cathi gave to us.

This is about a Mormon girl who lives in Salt Lake City in the early 1900's who just graduated from Miss Farmer's cooking school in Boston. She is engaged but not in love so she breaks it off and answers an add in the newspaper for a cook at a remote Wyoming ranch.  I was able to read several chapters before going home this evening.

They did  a test to check for a blood clot and it came back negative. Because James has what they call heart disease, the doctor on call, Dr. Johnson, wants him to stay overnight so they can do a stress test on him tomorrow. They also did 4 EKG's, 3 CT scans, one MRI and an Xray.  

I stayed with him until they moved him in a room with a more comfortable bed and he ordered and ate dinner. Oh yes, his oxygen rate kept falling below 90 so they also gave him oxygen. The reason he went to Dr. Moffat in the first place was because he has been having trouble breathing, especially at night. That problem has not even been addressed. I have a feeling he will be going back to Dr. Moffat soon.

Looking tired. They don't let you rest in the hospital.

The first thing I noticed when I returned home was the clean garage and it reminded me of how lucky I am to be married to such a wonderful man.

This picture doesn't do it justice. Believe me

when I say it has never been this clean!

No Heartland tonight. That wouldn't be fair. I watched an old

Hallmark movie before going to bed.

Random Favorite Photos:

It's vacation time for some people

The Gonzales' are at Disneyland

I love the look on Joshua's face and how
his fists are clenched like he's ready
to fight Darth Vader.

The Elmer's are fishing in
Alaska

Strike a pose

I never would have imagined!

Pet Piggie

Look at that tower. This one has got to
belong to Rapunzel.

Twins or Thief?
Does that mountain in the background look familiar?

Saguaro Sunset

Monday, February 27, 2017

Bountiful, Utah 

47th Operating Temple

2 Nephi 20:12-34 (Compare Isaiah 10)

Social injustices exist in the northern kingdom of Israel.  The kingdom of Assyria is an instrument in God's hand to punish Israel. God destroys Assyria, which is a type of destruction at the Second Coming.  A remnant of Israel will return in the last days.  Understanding the gospel is one thing.  Living it is another.  We are commanded to care for the poor and needy.  The obsession of ancient Assyria was land, power, and wealth.  The Lord burned and consumed the Assyrians as a type of the burning that will take place at His Second Coming, in a world also obsessed with land, wealth, and power. During this testing time the righteous must continue to love God, trust in His promises, be patient and be assured.  2 Nephi 20 teaches us to wait upon the Lord with faith and never give up, but to "stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for His arm to be revealed" (DC 123:17)

Alma 9-10:4

9-Alma commands the people of Ammonihah to repent-The Lord will be merciful to the Lamanites in the last days-If the Nephites forsake the light, they will be destroyed by the Lamanites-The Son of God will come soon-He will redeem those who repent, are baptized, and have faith in His name. 

DC 34:1-12

What can you do in your life now to prepare for the Second Coming?

Talk: "Preparation for the Restoration and the Second Coming. My Hand Be Over Thee"

By: Robert D. Hales

October 2005

I listened to this talk by Elder Hales and absolutely loved it!

General Conference

'No Greater Joy Than To Know That They Know

By Elder K. Brett Nattress

"I am grateful for the gift of the Book of Mormon.  I know that it is true!  It contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I am unaware of anyone who is diligently reading the Book of Mormon each day with pure intent and with faith in Christ who has lost their testimony and fallen away.  Moroni's prophetic promise carries with it the key to know the truth of all things including having the ability to discern and avoid the deceptions of the adversary."

(See Moroni 10:4-5)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD

WHO WAS BORN IN 1931 AND WOULD

BE 86 YEARS OLD TODAY

This is my favorite picture of my dad because he was

happiest on the back of a horse living out in the middle

of nowhere on the Milky Ranch.

The Milky Ranch is near the Petrified Forest

and the Painted Desert.

 My dad was a successful businessman in Show Low for many years when he ran Kings Market later renamed Double MM

Market before it was gutted by a fire.  It was after that my dad was able to live and breath ranching.

My dad's parents:

Verdie Rea Robinson

and

Arlee T. Maxwell

Although my mom and dad's marriage didn't last,

I believe her loved my mom and she loved him.

This is me as a baby.

Aunt Gene on the left was my dad's only sibling.

She is with my brother Dennis's wife Denise.  

Aunt Gene is my only living tie to my

dad's family.  I love her. She will be 90 years old in March.

I am grateful for this knowledge and I am sure

my dad is too.

My friend Hailey came over today and demonstrated LipSense lipstick.  I bought two colors.

It's suppose to last all day

I got a text from Addy today asking if I would be in the valley next Monday, March 6th.  Actually I am going down this Wednesday for a tooth extraction and my infusion but we are planning on coming back Saturday.  She wants me to come to her choir concert.  She has had two other concerts I have not been able to attend so I told her I would be there.  We will just come home Saturday, teach our classes on Sunday and go back to the valley on Monday.

We heard some sad news today.  Our primary care physician, Dr. Moffat was suppose to be in his new office today but a fire destroyed it Saturday night.  Dr. Moffat is an amazing man who makes house calls and really cares about people.  We love and appreciate him and hope he can get in to that new office very soon.