Sunday, August 26th, 2018

Louisville, Kentucky

76th operating temple

Dedicated: 19 Mar 2000

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, Crucifixion

Psalms 22:16

For dogs have compassed me the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

Book of Mormon

Alma 56:41-57

*Will ye go to battle for what ye believe in?

- Am I prepared to die? What in my life is worth dying for? My family, my friends, and my faith in God. As I trust in the Lord and strive to do His will, the Lord has promised me in the scriptures that He will deliver me. So, knowing I will be delivered by and to Him, I am not afraid to die.

Old Testament

Psalms 81-85

81 Israel is commanded to sing praises to God - If the Israelites had walked in the Lord's ways, they would have triumphed over their enemies.

82 Thus says the Lord, Ye are gods and children of the Most High.

83 God is asked to confound the enemies of His people - Jehovah is the Most High over all the earth.

84 The righteous cry unto the living God - It is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness - No good thing is withheld from those who walk uprightly.

85 The Lord speaks peace to His people - Truth will spring out of the earth (the Book of Mormon), and righteousness will look down from heaven.

General Conference

Ministering

President Russell M. Nelson

"Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Jean B. Bingham, General President of the Relief Society, will explain how assigned brethren of the priesthood and assigned sisters of the Relief Society and Young Women will now function in serving and watching over members of the Church throughout the world."

James and I got to sacrament meeting a little early and saved an entire row behind the Wilhelm's for Sheri, Ian and the boys. I was so glad that Ian came even though they all left after sacrament meeting and were gone home before we got home from the block.

Andy W. was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting. He spoke about his experiences on trek. It was short. Next was Sister Hunter. She spoke about the temple and her experiences as the temple prep teacher for the members of our ward getting ready to go to the temple. She told about going through with Anthony last week. She said that he said to her in the Celestial Room, "Wow!"

Brother Howard's name was on the program but obviously he could not speak because he is in the hospital. Brother K. Hunsaker spoke on intentional and righteous parenting. That topic sounds familiar. That's what I spoke on when I spoke in sacrament meeting on May 19th, 2018.  He did a good job.

Before Sunday School began I asked Sister Johnson if she would be in charge of getting photos, birthdays, and favorites of the young women to put on the wall in the back of the Relief Society room. She said she would be glad to. She also gave me a birthday card. She wrote a note on the inside that said: "Dear Karen, You are such a great example to me of faithfulness, humility and obedience. You are always striving to do what the Lord wants you to do. I want to be just like you when I grow up!" This really touched me because I look up to Paula so much. She is the president of the Vernon Park, distributes food from the Vernon Food Bank, and is a member of the Vernon Women's Club. She is constantly giving service. I told her that I felt the same way about her!

For Sunday School I attended the teacher council meeting taught by our Sunday School President, Brother Allen. We talked about closed and open ended questions. I couldn't find that particular topic in our manual so I turned to the lesson on Asking Inspired Questions. There are three headings in this lesson about the kinds of questions a teacher should ask. 1.) Ask Questions That Help Learners Gain Basic Knowledge of Eternal Truths - "What did the Savior do for us in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46).

2.) Ask Questions That Touch The Heart and Mind - Becuase responses to these questions often rely on the feelings and experiences of the leaarners, the questions usually do not have just one correct answer. "How do you think the Apostles might have felt as they walked to the Garden of Gethsemane with the Savior?"

3.) Ask Questions That Invite Learners To Act - "What will you do differently because of what you learned today?"

Before Relief Society began I asked Sister Moore if she would be a ministering sister. She said she would love to, but she did not want to drive because of her eyes. 

Sister Curtis gave the lesson in Relief Society entitled: "True Ministers Focus on the Needs of Others." As always, she did a great job and used several of the examples of ministering that Sister Bingham gave in her conference address. We have a new sister in our ward, another one from the Concho branch. Barbara was not there today. I am afraid that although she lives in our ward she wants to continue to attend the Concho branch. She told someone at the temple that she likes Concho better than Vernon.

We had orange meatballs and salad for lunch. James took a nap while I did my weekly planning and we both ran off ancestors names we got from the app "Take a Name." I think I have enough ordinances to last me at least a month or two.

James talked to Sister Peeler. She had low sodium they are trying to treat. She is no longer in the rehab center but back in the hospital. She is getting quite discouraged because it just seems she has one setback after another.

I love this field of sunflowers somewhere in France!

I am obsessed with homemade cards!

 Wouldn't this make a nice summer home!

My sweet friend Amaron turned 9!

Friday, August 10th, 2018

Columbus, Ohio

60th operating temple

Dedicated: 4 Sept 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator

DC 29:31

For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal - 

Book of Mormon

Moroni 48:1-18

*What can we learn from Moroni's character?

- Trust in the Lord and live up to our divine potential. Pray as if every thing depended on the Lord. Work as if every thing depended on you.

Old Testament

Job 35-37

35 Elihu contrasts the weakness of man and the power of God - Our wickedness hurts other men, and our righteousness helps them - Man should trust in the Lord.

36 Elihu says, Those who are righteous are prospered - The wicked perish and die without knowledge - Elihu praises the greatness of God.

37 Elihu concludes, saying, The Lord controls the laws of nature - God reigns in terrible majesty.

General Conference

Teaching in the Home:A Joyful and Sacred Responsibility

Devin G. Durrant

" Family scripture study is an ideal forum for teaching doctrine in the home. President Russell M. Nelson said, 'Not only are parents to cling to the word of the Lord, but they have a divine mandate to teach it to their children.'"

Happy 12th Birthday Rowan!

I've never seen Rowan drink a soda. That must be

one of his dad's. When this sweet boy was asked what he

wanted for his birthday he said: "I'm getting the priesthood, I don't need anything else." You will not find a better brother, son, grandson, or friend that this young man. He is incredible!

Marvin J. Ashton, a former member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and one of my favorites, said this:

Tragedy and frustration are the unexpected intruder's on life's plans."

The question we as a Relief Society presidency are considering today is whether our next council meeting in September should be about dealing with depression and suicide prevention. I am praying for an answer.

Today I made hamburger soup for lunch and for the weekend. Luckily James loved it. He said he was pleasantly surprised when he got here at lunch time.

I also made rolls for the temple tomorrow and chocolate chip cookies for Brother Moore's baptism. It was a day spent in the kitchen. 

James worked at the Howard's most of the day trying to get their bunkhouse finished and ready for their open house on the 25th. 

I read from Dragonwatch, The Way of Kings, The Secret Keeper, Loving Lieutenant Lancaster, and Life Everlasting, the last two with James. 

It was a hazy day. I read that the California fires and causing smoke throughout the United States clear to New York. 

We started having some thunder around 4:15 pm. It rained a while but in Tempe they had what they are calling a 100 year storm, if you can believe the media. They got 3.5 inches of rain in less than an hour according to my friend Karen.

 Adalyn Tibbetts

Sheri's fifth child

 Love the cone shaped roof

 If I got these for the yard I wonder if James

would try to feed them.

 Whiteriver gets the most!

 Priest in our ward

Love this view of the Idaho Falls temple.

Thursday, May 24th, 2018

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

141st operating temple

Dedicated: 17 Mar 2013

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Birth of

3 Nephi 1:19

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born because of the sign which had been given.

Book of Mormon

Alma 5:26-42

* How can you know if you have received a change of heart?

-frankorion0711: "The day I felt the Holy Ghost for the first time. Feeling God's love changed my attitude changed my priorities. Of course the feeling leaves but the memories fused my soul. Change of heart for me is striving to follow Christ. When I fail I have my memories of partaking of the 'fruit of the tree of life that keeps me pushing forward. Trying, striving and enduring in following Christ will bring hope, love and peace which changes my heart.

Old Testament

2 Samuel 21-22

21 The Lord sends a famine - David understands that the famine came because Saul smote the Gibeonites, contrary to the oath of Israel - David delivers up seven sins of Saul to be hanged by the Gibeonites - Israel and the Philistines continue their wars.

22 David praises the Lord is a psalm of thanksgiving - The Lord is his fortress and savior, He is mighty and powerful in deliverance, He rewards men according to their righteousness, He shows mercy to the merciful, His way is perfect, He lives, and blessed is He.

General Conference

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Gerrit W. Gong

"This Easter Sabbath, I joyfully sing, 'Alleluia.' The song of our risen Savior's redeeming love celebrates the harmony of covenants (that connect us to God and to each other) and the Atonement of Jesus Christ (that helps us put off the natural man and woman and yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit)."

Russell M. Nelson, 10/08, #52. Celestial Marriage

"The noblest yearning of the human heart is for a marriage that can endure beyond death. Fidelity to a temple marriage does that. It allows families to be together forever."

James made two trips to town today to buy parts for Brother Wallace's grapple, the fittings and hydraulic hoses kept breaking. He also got the mail and went to Dollar General for laundry detergent. When he got home he cut up the pork for the green chili pork stew. 

I was able to get the pork stew going quite early so it could simmer and the meat would be very tender, then I made the white sauce chicken enchiladas. 

The missionaries called. They want to change the time for dinner from 5 to 4:30. 

James also invited his friend Anthony to eat with us. Anthony was on time but the missionaries were a little late. 

We set the food out on the counter and created a buffet line like we normally do when we have company. We had green chili pork stew, chicken enchiladas, the best refried beans ever from LaCasita, spanish rice, and an Olive Garden salad. Oh yes, and chips and salsa. 

Elder Macy thought the green chili stew was a little hot but he ate all of his and so did Elder Burt. Elder Burt normally serves in the Aspen ward in Pinetop but they are doing splits tonight. Elder Macy is from Montana and Elder Burt is from Pennsylvania.

The missionaries had to leave before leaving a message because they had an appointment with Chris M. Chris is going to be baptized on June 2nd. His wife, Mary, was another one of my young women.

After the missionaries leave James and Anthony go to the Wallace's to deliver Brother Wallace's grapple which James finally got fixed. 
I'm left washing the three crockpots and the cast iron pot and all of the dishes, silverware, etc. It takes me over an hour to clean the kitchen.

When James and Anthony returned Anthony, who lives out in the middle of nowhere and does not have a shower, took a shower in our bathroom. He came out saying that he wants a shower just like that one. He says he is going to build it himself.

James and I started our new book this evening. It is the one that Dennis loaned to me and is called, "Riders on the Orphan Train." It is a novel about a little-known piece of American history. Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and 'surrendered' children were placed out across the country. They started their journey in New York and were given away in train stations in every state in the continental United States. This is the story of two children from very different backgrounds, Ezra Duval and Elizabeth Farrell; who find themselves on the same train heading West in 1918w. Their odyssey is a story of dislocation, loss, and the search for home that is at the heart of the American experience. Can you tell I got this information off the back cover of the book? I wonder why there were so many orphans?

Pat Tillman report

No, that's not a bald kid in the audience,

parents were invited to hear the reports.

Joshua was Wyatt Earp

Addy and friends

Alex and Michael's graduation party

Socks are serious business

Graduation 2016

Talon's graduation this year

Anakin at the lake. Wonder where 

his twin is.

Tuesday, May 15th, 2018

Gila Valley, Arizona

132nd operating temple

Dedicated: 23 May 2010

By: Thomas S. Monson

Jesus Christ, birth of

Romans 1:3

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 29:33-47

*How did Mosiah's new system of government affect the agency of the people?

- It put more responsibility and accountability on the people's shoulders. They were used to Mosiah leading them and making sure they didn't get into trouble. Now they had to step up ad make more of those decisions on their own. It also gave them more freedom.

Old Testament

2 Samuel 3-4

3 The houses of David and Saul engage in a log war - David grows stronger - Abner joins David but is slain by Joab - David mourns for Abner.

4 Two of Saul's captains lsay Ishbosheth - They take his head to David, who has them slain for killing a righteous person.

General Conference

Inspired Ministering

President Henry B. Eyring

"As the Saints moved across the plains, their care for each other was organized in 'companies.' One of my paternal great-grandfathers was returning from his mission in what is now Oklahoma when he met a company on the trail. He was so weak with disease that he and his companion were on their backs in a little wagon.

The leader of the company sent two young women to help whoever might be in that forlorn wagon. One of them, a young sister who had been converted in Switzerland, took a look at one of the missionaries and felt compassion. He was saved by that company of Saints. He recovered enough to walk the rest of the way to te Salt Lake Valley with his young rescuer by his side. They fell in love and married. He became my great-grandfather Henry Eyring, and she my great-grandmother Maria Bommeli Eyring."

Rescuing Wayward Children, 268,

An endowment of power opens the way 

for an endowment of knowledge.

Russell M. Nelson, 4/06, #47.

"Marriages would be

happier if nurtured

more carefully."

Dale G. Renlund,Melchizedek Priesthood, Chapter 12 Principle #4

A Priesthood Holder Recognizes and Follows

Righteous Patterns

Truman G. Madsen, Lecture #4, 

Joseph Smith and Trials

I had a lunch date today with Harold, Vickie, Dennis and Denise at Darbi's in Pinetop for Dennis's birthday. Since we didn't do anything for Harold's birthday I considered it for his birthday too so I offered to buy. I paid the bill but Vickie came me $20 and Denise left $15 for the tip and gave me $15. 

I had a Chinese chicken salad and it was delicious. Dennis and Denise both loved their salads and Harold and Vickie loved their burgers. I can't believe that I failed to ask the waitress to take a picture of us!

After having lunch and saying our goodbyes, I went shopping at Walmart. I had to buy cards and gifts for my friend Pam, Zemira whose family James ministers to, and Ben for seminary and high school graduation. This is one of those weeks where you spend more money they you intended, especially since my calculator kept blanking out and I finally gave up on keeping track of how much I was spending.

I came home, put groceries away, rested for a little while and then headed out to visit the Burton family. I am taking them one of my "extra" crockpots and seeing what other needs they have. They are moving to St. Johns and will be living in one of Neal Lambson's homes. The parents are both handicapped and their are twin daughters Melanie and Tara who are 14. Sister Burton says the girls need clothes but she couldn't give me a size. They live in two small travel trailers you would use for camping so I am glad they are getting to move into a home. They need someone to pick up stuff they have in a storage unit in the valley. I shared this with the presidency and said we should pray to know who to ask. Kerri, the first counselor volunteered to do it and her mother who is 84, said she would go with her. I called them Superwoman and her assistant. Kerri was going down for a doctor's appointment on Thursday and will stay Friday to bring the Burton's things back. The Burton's are responsible to see that people are there to help load Kerri's trailer and truck. I told Kerri she was an answer to our prayers before we even prayed!

James reported in so we could get the point for speaking to our partners on the weight loss challenge. I prayed for him most of the day and he had a pretty good day on the golf course.

This evening I  walked, blogged, worked on my budget, and studied "Children Learning Reading." I finally got my notebook put together.

Brother Allen had surgery today on his shoulder. This injury is a result of the fall off the roof. First they attended to his broken pelvis and now they are doing his shoulder. I'm glad he got to see Jackson get his mission call before he had this surgery. Jackson is his youngest son. He and Sister Allen have 5 daughters and 2 sons.

He looks thrilled, doesn't he.

I wanted to find where Tyler, Texas was.

My friend Ann posted this. I thought

it was pretty amazing!

When I get skinny this is one of 

the dresses I want.

Lindsey from "DWTS" at her temple wedding.

It's nice to see her with clothes on!

I was 9 years old and remember

hearing about this. I also remember

the Sputnik gum, shaped like a

jaw breaker, blue with little spikes.

Ian's grandma was from Bisbee and

her last name was Beebe.

Weird and dumb

That is some big hail. I would

hate to get hit on the head with one of those.

Amazing!

"Peeping Tom"

Cats are so nosy!

People come from all over the world to see

the Red Rocks of Sedona. It is pretty but

looks a little barren to me.

Awesome photo!

Seven bunnies eating out grass.

Can you find them all?