Thursday, June 23, 2016

The fire is still going strong.

Alma 20:19-30

Despite being faithful, Ammon's brethren had a very different experience preaching to the Lamanites.  How should we react when the outcomes of our faithfulness seem unfruitful?

I like what cofpac99001 said on bofm365 on Instagram: We succeed when we serve, we succeed when we invite others to come unto Christ, regardless of the reception or the fruit.  We succeed when we obey.  We succeed when we endure with patience.  The ultimate outcome of our faithfulness is the quality of the fruit that we become.

Also, trujillofamilyjournal

When the outcomes of our faithfulness seem unfruitful we can strive to trust in the Lord and remember that Jesus Christ suffered all our pains struggles, and difficulties.  It gives me peace to know that I'm never alone.  It helps to remember that the hard things in life help us learn and grow.

20 - Ammon smote King Lamoni's father's arm so he couldn't use it.  He could have killed him, but he didn't.

24 - He makes a deal with the king for the kings life.  1.)My brethren be cast out of prison and 2.) Your son may rating his kingdom and he may do according to he own desires.

25 - The king rejoices that that's all Ammon wants.

26 - Ammon had no desire to destroy him and he saw how much Ammon loved his son Lamoni.

27 - The king grants Ammon's wishes and asks that Ammon and his brethren come to see him because he was desirous to learn more about what Ammon was teaching.

28 - Almmon's brethren are brought forth out of prison

 because King Lamoni had gained favor with the king of the land of Middoni.

29 - Ammon sorrows for the condition of his brethren, yet they were patient in all their sufferings.

30 - talks about a "more hardened and a more stiff-necked people."

In the Book of Mormon Student Manual on p. 203 it says this:

"The record states that Aaron and his companions served among those who were 'a more hardened and a more stiff-necked people'.

Their experience parallels the experience of many who try to teach those who either have no interest in, or who are antagonistic toward the gospel. President Henry B, Eyring explained why we must still try to reach every soul:

"Why should I speak to anyone about the gospel who seems content?  What danger is there to them or to me if I do or say nothing?

"Well, the danger may be hard to see, but it is real, both for them and for us.  For instance, at some moment in the world to come, everyone you will ever meet will know what you know now.  They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, was to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority fro God.  They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth.  And they will know that you knew.  And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offer you" (Ensign, Nov. 1998,33).

General Conference: "He Will Place You On His Shoulders and Carry You Home", President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I finished the Ensign today and have already read the Friend so now I can read the New Era!

I seared our roast that we are feeding the missionaries for dinner early this morning and then put it in a 225 degree oven.  Around noon I put in onion, celery, carrot, and red potatoes.  I made a gravy with beef broth, mushroom soup, and onion soup mix, and brown gravy mix.  It should be delicious!

For lunch James and I had leftovers.  He had meatloaf and I had fajitas.

James needs diesel for the tractor.  He forgot to get it yesterday so he ask me to make a trip to Stanford store with him, which I did.  Of course he wanted me to read from our book, which I did.  We are so boring and predictable.

Jared and his kids are in California for a few days.  He sent me these pictures:

Nice, James.

Anna looks so grown up.

Sunbathing

More sunbathing

Time for lunch

Emmy

James

Molly and Emmy at an Angel's game.

A nice looking group, except Molly

looks a little sad.

Molly wants some cotton candy.

James, Anna, and Emmy 

Around 4 pm. James and I went to work in the kitchen.  I set the table and put the rolls in the oven.  James made grape, lime juice and then he put together a salad.  We are ready!

Elder Rosenbalm and Elder Goodenough get here right a 5pm.

Elder Rosenbalm has a nice smile!

Elder Rosenbalm will be going home in a couple of weeks so this is probably the last time we will have him for dinner.  We wish him well.  His family is in Kuwait right now.  He will go there for a short time and then come back and go to school in Provo.

We had a spectacular sunset this evening, partly I think, because of the fire.

I took this while sitting on our front porch.

The fire crews are saying that drones are hindering efforts near the Cedar fire.  It has grown to 43,00 acres.

  

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

I love President Uchtdorf

Gospel Study: Alma 19:22-36

22 - Ammon is protected by the Lord as someone tries to slay him with a sword.  

23 - The Lord promised Mosiah that his sons would be protected.

25-26 The people thought Ammon was either the Great Spirit, sent by the Great Spirit, or a monster.

33 - Kin Lamoni and his wife awake from a trance and declare unto the people their hearts have been changed.  They have no more desire to do evil.

34 - Some in attendance saw angels.

35 - Many believed and were baptized.

36 - And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites, thus the Lord did begin to pour out His Spirit upon them; and we see that His arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on His name.

General Conference: "Fathers" Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Besides the scriptures and conference talks, here are a few books I am reading right now.

James is reading one of the new books I got him.

It's called "Moroni's America."

I made chicken fajitas for lunch.  Instead of using flour tortillas I used corn.  I didn't fry them.  I wrapped them in foil and put them in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes.  They were quite good.  

After lunch James said a prayer about the fire, the fireman, and asking for rain.  We will fast until noon tomorrow.  

The piano tuner that Kathy Crane arranged for us came today.  Her name is Delores Solomon.  She knows Randy, Dennis, and Rita.  She said she grew up in Show Low and her dad, Sam Solomon was the mayor of Show Low at one time.  It cost us $125.00 because she had to do some stretching of the strings.  Kathy says she's much more thorough than the guy who was going to come.  It took her about an hour to tune our piano.

A couple that we know from Chandler who have been married for quite some time and never had any children had a baby boy today.  His name is Evander Gunther.  Here is what Evander's mom Kate wrote on Facebook.

Kate and Justice have waited so long for a baby.  We wish them all the very best.  They are a wonderful couple.

Here is an update on the fire and something that James's niece Christina wrote.

I caught this picture as we were getting ready to go outside and read from our book "Juliana".  

Still no hummingbirds.  James says they will come

after the rains start.

I paid bills this afternoon while James wrote a letter to his cousin Vivian, Uncle Lovell's daughter, about Cindy and Alisha.  Vivian wrote to him accusing James and his brothers of neglecting them, which is not true.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Thank you firefighters for all that you do.

Alma 17:32-18:87 Study Notes

How was Ammon's reaction to adversity an act of faith?

He saw the adversity and went to work.  He had complete trust that the Lord would deliver him from his trail - whatever the deliverance might look like.  

Ammon is such an awesome example of faith in the Lord.  He goes fearlessly to preach the gospel to the Lamanites.  When Almmon is faced with adversity, such as the Lamanites trying to kill him, he fearlessly fights them off.  Ammon had confidence in the Lord and His work.  Faith and fear cannot exist at the same time.  When we have faith and confidence in the Lord and His work we can be great missionaries like Ammon.

General Conference: "Eternal Families" by President Henry B. Eyring.

There is smoke everywhere outside.  The fire may be under control, but the smoke certainlly isn't.  I am concerned about James coming home because of his allergies.  

This picture was taken by my friend Tina Allen.

For lunch today I had a salad and five crackers with ham and cheese.  

I started to go out and work in the garage but I had seen a mouse the other day and I was afraid to move anything.  I talked myself into waiting until James was here to help.

I cleaned our bedroom and bathroom instead.  I dusted, vacuumed, and washed all of the towels and the rugs.  

James called and said he was on his way home but it was going slow because traffic was bumper to bumper going through Payson.  The 60 is still closed because of the fire.  

Jared posted some pictures of Anna at girls camp this week.  He was one of the priesthood chaperones.  He really enjoyed going and I love these pictures of Anna!

It's the loom hats.  Nice look Anna.

Horseback riding

Rock wall climbing

Volleyball

Looking a little shy.  I think that's Amanda with Anna.

I do believe that Jared said they also had a zipline.  What a great girls camp!  So sad that the girls in the Show Low stake didn't 

get to experience girls camp this year because of the fire.

It looks like Addy, Rowan, Ruby, and Lola got to go see the new Dory movie with their cousins today.

I'm sure Trina's mom had something to do with this.

This picture was taken a couple of years ago at the beach.

This is Sheri's picture.  I can't believe how much

Alex has changed!

James brought me a Sonic cheeseburger for dinner.  Sheri sent me lemon cream almonds and picked up my thyroid prescription at Dr. Allen's.  

This is what the sunset looked like tonight courtesy of the fire.

After we ate our burgers we sat down and watched the latest episode of The Good Witch and then went to bed early because we are going to the temple in the morning.