OUR FAMILY: Chicago Illinois 35th temple

Chicago, Illinois
35th operating temple
Dedicated: 9-13 Aug 1985
By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 124:41

For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times.

Book of Mormon

4 Nephi 1:23-49

New Testament

Review Hebrews 7-13

10/19 General Conference

"Covenant Women in Partnership with God"

"Speaking to sisters, President Russell M. Nelson gave a wonderful summary of the Lord's call to you to join Him in His work. President Nelson described your call in this way: 'The Lord said, 'My work and my glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' (Moses 1:39) So His devoted daughter-disciple may truly say, 'My work and my glory is to help my loved ones reach that heavenly goal.'

"To help another human being reach one's celestial potential is part of the divine mission of woman. As mother, teacher, or nurturing Saint, she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation. It is ennobling, edifying, and exalting."

Day 6: Obedience - Hebrews 13:17

Jesus says, "'If you love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15). Pride keeps us from submitting to God. There is freedom in obedience. When we give our whole souls unto God like it says in Omni 1:26, we find joy and peace.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Help me teach obedience to Max by my example. Help me to show my love for thee and thy Son by keeping thy commandments.

Today was the Primary Children's Sacrament meeting program. Kacey, Jared, and Charlie sat by us. Kim and Brian sat on the other side of the chapel in the back. Ed Miller had to take some time for stake business. He said he was grateful to be in his home ward on what he called, "Grandparents Day."

At the end of every song, Charlie clapped and say Yay! It was so cute. Here are some of the songs the children sang: "Come Follow Me," "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus," " Faith is Knowing," " I Wonder When He Comes Again," " Jesus Walked Upon the Water," " Choose Him Again." The last song is new and it was beautiful!

Lannie Gillespie got up at the beginning and introduced the program with this scripture: 2 Nephi 25:26 - "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

Lannie said the program was based on the children's testimonies of the Savior. She said it was based on the "Come Follow Me" course of study for this year, the New Testament. The children would share their favorite stories from the New Testament and testify of them.

My favorite story was told by Traven Westbrook who is 8. He told the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and what a miracle it was. He told the story without looking at a paper, in his own words in detail. It was so good. You could tell that he loved the story.

My second favorite was my sweet friend Andyn Miller. She told the story of Jesus's baptism. At the end she said that Heavenly Hosts came down from heaven to attend Jesus. Her closing statement was, "and Heavenly Hosts can come down and attend us too."

After the program was finished Bishop Miller got up and spoke for a few minutes. He told about a book, "The God Who Weeps." He also quoted from 3 Nephi 17 when Jesus wept and blessed the children. 3 Nephi 17: 11 - And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought. 12 - So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him. 13 - And it came to pass that when they had all been brought, and Jesus stood in the midst, he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground. 15 - And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him. ... 18 - And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome. ... 21 - And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. 22 - And when he had done this he wept again: 23 - And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. 24 - And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

The bishop also talked about being quick to forgive and told the story of Corrie and Betsy Ten Boom. He said, "Be quick to observe and obey the voice of the Lord. Show love for our enemies or those who abuse us and we will have angels round about us to bear us up, as Andyn said in her talk." It was a great meeting! The only thing I missed was the Grapp kids. Liana had a big part and she would have been great but the family is in Idaho today. Also, Charlie didn't get to meet Leland like I hope she would.

Kim and Brian went home after sacrament meeting. Jared, Kacey, and Charlie and I went to the gospel doctrine class taught by Brother Judd. The lesson was from Hebrews 7-13: "An High Priest of Good Things to Come." Jared made a comment during the lesson he said in Omni there is a scripture (vs.26), that says we need to give our whole souls unto God. He said that is personal and unique to each individual person. It was such a good comment. I was proud. Kacey was out in the hall with Charlie so she didn't get to hear the comment.

This afternoon was spent getting ready for our Thanksgiving meal. As soon as we got home from church and changed our clothes, James and I put the turkey in the roaster oven. Kim made her pumpkin delight dessert, and the stuffing. Brian brought two containers of cranberry celebration from Fry's. One for the family and one for James. I made mashed potatoes, gravy, and smothered green beans. Kacey made the mashed sweet potatoes with butter and pecans. James made his famous punch. Jared and Kacey bought the ingredients yesterday. Yesterday I baked the rolls, and I'm glad I did. Everything was delicious and it was wonderful to sit down to a nice meal surrounded by two of our children and their spouses and little Charlie.

This evening we watched the Face to Face with Elder Gong regarding the new youth program. It was quite long, but very good. Afterwards everyone wanted dessert. As Kacey was putting Coolwhip on her pumpkin delight Charlie looked at it and said: "I want some." It was clear as day.

Brian and Kim put the finishing touches on the tree. Here is my favorite picture of the week. Charlie is looking at Brian putting the star on top of the tree. Kim took the picture.

I love how she's holding an ornament and the look on her face,

and her little foot. I love everything about this picture.

The magic of Christmas through the eyes of a child.

Kacey studied the "Come Follow Me" lesson for next week. She subscribes to the Redheaded Hostess lesson helps. I listened to and watched "Teaching with Power" for James 1-5, next week's lesson.