Wednesday, December 18th, 2019

Billings, Montana

66th operating temple

Dedicated 20 Nov 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Exodus 6:3

And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, buy the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Book of Mormon

Ether 12:22-41

New Testament

Luke 2:1-20; Christmas lesson - Redheaded Hostess

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Two Great Commandments"

President Dallin H. Oaks

The work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ultimately concerned with preparing the children of God for the celestial kingdom, and most particularly for its highest glory, exaltation or eternal life. That highest destiny is possible only through marriage for eternity. Eternal life includes the creative powers inherent in the combination of male and female - what modern revelation describes as the 'continuation of the seeds forever and ever.'"

I was up at 4:30 this morning. I said a prayer for Armondo's wife Susan. She just had a baby. The baby can go home but Susan has to stay in the hospital because she has high blood pressure. 

As I was reading from Sheri Dew's book, "Women and the Priesthood," I came across this quote: "The way we see ourselves affects everything we do." This is an interesting statement and there is so much truth in it. If I don't feel good about myself, it's hard for me to be happy.

We had 30 or so elk in our yard again today. Why does this make us happy and why are we so annoyed by the three beef bulls that are here again today?

James drove to Reserve for an arraignment for the 3 tickets he got when he went to Deming. He plead not guilty. The judge said he would receive a letter in the mail regarding his court date.

James got the heater motor for the furnace this afternoon. He said he had to drill holes to mount it. He asked Ed if that was okay and Ed said yes. 

My ministering sisters Donna and Barbara came to visit this morning. They brought me cherry cheesecake cups and crackers with dip. Quite delicious.

I blogged today, did some repricing and asked for feedback, and watched three Christmas movies.

"Rediscovering Christmas"

"A Christmas Winter Song"

"A Storybook Christmas"

(One of my favorites!)

New motor for the furnace

Ed will come over tomorrow to see if

everything is in order.

 Navajo nation

 I wonder how good these are

 I just can't get enough

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019

San Diego, California

45th operating temple

Dedicated: 25 April 1993

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

Mosiah 27:13

Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.

Book of Mormon

Mormon 8:12-25

New Testament

1 Peter 3-4; I/F: 1:3-9; 2:19-24; 3:14-17; 4:12-19 I can find joy during times of trial and suffering. SS: the same

10/19 General Conference

"Giving Our Spirits Control Over Our Bodies"

"I suppose most of us fail to fully appreciate what others do for us until they are gone. I knew Barbara was always busy, but I did not fully understand the constant family, Church, and community demands upon her time. There were daily consecrated efforts repeated thousands of times through the years that kept our family functioning. And through it all, no one in our family ever heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word."

RWC: There are few coincidences for covenant people, and therefore no important person is in our lives by accident.

Ensign: Four Gifts from the Savior, by Russell M. Nelson

Love, Forgiveness, Eternal Life.

I found a Book of Mormon with Sheri's testimony in it when she was 11 years old:

"I believe that there is a Father, Son, and a Holy Ghost. They guide us throughout our lives, and help us each day. I also believe that sometime soon Jesus Christ our Savior will come again and visit the earth. I hope that you can cherish this book as much as I have. Read through it and pray about it and you will know it is true. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost I say these things, Amen."

-Sheri

Sheri also wanted to fly over Russia and drop Book of Mormon's in a time when missionary work was not allowed in that country.

I also found a Book of Mormon in which I wrote in the front, 28 Truths Found in the Book of Mormon.

I am on a quest to find rum extract. I texted my friend Debbie and she said she thinks she got it at Bashas in Taylor. So I headed for Taylor on a cold and blustery day. 

If you can't find something at Safeway or Walmart, Bashas will have it. Kacey and Jared found my Dr. Pepper 10 at the Bashas in Round Valley and now I found my rum extract at the Bashas in Taylor. I also went across the street to Walmart and bought some blankets, and things I forgot to get yesterday. I also bought Olaf to show to Charlie on Sunday.

We tried to take cookies and the Thanksgiving game to Tanna but she was not home. She did tell us earlier in the month that she was going to be gone hunting on Thanksgiving. We also went to the Howard's and had a nice visit with them. We took them chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and enough Thanksgiving cards for six people to play the game. We visited for awhile and then headed home. The wind was blowing and it was cold!

We got a box from Autumn today. It had blueberry apple and strawberry toppings, two magnets with Scarlett's picture on them, and a handprint of Scarlett's little hand with the date on it. What a kind and thoughtful gift. We are so grateful for Autumn and the love she has shown to us.

Two Christmas movies today:

Lifetime: "Christmas Pen Pals" starring Sarah Drew and Niall Matter.

Hallmark: "The Christmas Club"starring Elizabeth Mitchell, and Cameron Mathison.

 The Church has a new video out about the 

First Christmas. We have not seen it yet.

Monday, November 4th, 2019

Apia, Samoa

22nd operating temple

Dedicated: 5-6 Aug 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Head of Church

DC 11:16

Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word, my rock, my church, and my gospel, that you may know of a surety my doctrine.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 19:30-20:19

What does the Savior promise those who partake of the sacrament? Why is this promise so significant?

New Testament

Hebrews 1-6, Jesus Christ, "the Author of Eternal Salvation; Hebrews 1; Introduction to the lesson - share a verse meaningful to me. Hebrews 5:8. "Yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered."

Oct 2019 General Conference

"Spiritual Capacity"

Michelle D. Craig

"President Russell M. Nelson has extended a simple, powerful invitation: 'My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. ... Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.'

My desire this morning is to speak to you from my heart about four ways to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation."

RWC: "Divine design made sin possible so that grace could abound ... to deliver man from sin." (see Romans 5:20-21)

Once the Lord comes for us in the midst of our descent, we are accountable for the knowledge that He imparts.

"CFM": "We all have to give up something for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Would accepting Christianity mean that the Hebrews must give up their earlier beliefs and history? Jesus Christ is better. Sometimes we must give up traditions to make Jesus Christ the center of our worship and our lives.."

I spotted elk this morning and it got James out of bed. There were about 20 and one was a bull. It's always a good day when you see elk on your property.

This morning James put new brakes on my car. I bought five books to sell. 

This afternoon I made a trip to Dollar General. I bought Coke Zero for me and a pot pie for James. He loves chicken pot pies!

I stopped at the post office and I had nine books to pick up. Woohoo!

There is smoke from a prescribed burn. Not woohoo.

I worked on my Halloween blog post and it took forever! This evening I watched part of "Dancing with the Stars" but since James doesn't like it, I turned it off and we watched the next Hallmark Christmas movies, "Christmas Scavenger Hunt." We had camomile tea for refreshment.

Happy Birthday Jared!

We love you Jared!

 My hard working hubby

 I love this!

 Stag on a bed of roses. I love his antlers!

Friday, July 26th, 2019

San Jose, Costa Rica

87th operating temple

Dedicated: 4 June 2000

By: James E. Faust

Jesus Christ, Firstborn

DC 38:1

"Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made;

Book of Mormon

Alma 40:1-14

New Testament "The Lord Has Called Us for to Preach the Gospel"

Acts 20

General Conference

Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles

Elder Juan Pablo Villar

"Thanks to the Restoration of the gospel, we can come to understand how our Heavenly Father helps us develop spiritual gifts. It is more likely that He will give us opportunities to develop those gifts rather than just granting them to us without spiritual and physical effort If we are in tune with His Spirit, we will learn to identify those opportunities and then act upon them."

Jared got a new salary offer from his employer in Tyler that will cover his expenses, so they won't be moving any time soon. We feel like our prayers were answered.

James went to town this morning and took my book shipment to mail. He got oil for the Razr. Now the hard part begins, finding where to put the oil. Everything is under something else and nothing is labeled. He has the manual but the photos are not very clear.  He brought me an ice cream from McDonald's back with him. 

I made rolls for the temple tomorrow and pot pies (Marie Callendar's) for dinner this afternoon. James is supposed to quit eating 5 hours before he goes to bed so we now eat around 5 p.m. 

James put new light bulbs in while I worked on repricing books this afternoon.

I trimmed James's hair and ironed his shirt for tomorrow.

 Molly feeding Charlie

Anna drove her car over 5 1/2 hours with

Molly and Emmy to visit Jared.

Today's Christmas movies:

 So tired

I ordered the DVD for Addy and I to watch.

It's not a Hallmark movie.

We've both seen it and we like it.

So tired...