So many wonderful things to celebrate this time of the year.
The most important being the birth, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Meeting in the Peter Whitmer home in Fayette, New York, on April 6th, 1830, a small group of believers formally organized the Church that had begun to grow based on truths revealed to a young prophet,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Book of Mormon was first published in March of 1830. If you have a copy of the original Book of Mormon it is worth $100,000. My "Nannie", Mae Strickland, gave me a copy of a 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon. It is almost 100 years old. I wonder how much it is worth? It doesn't matter because it's worth to me is far greater than any monetary value.
In my gospel study today I came across this quote by President Howard W. Hunter as I was studying King Benjamin's address and his remarks about service.
"Seek opportunities for service. Don't be overly concerned with status....It is important to be appreciated. But our focus should be on righteousness, not recognition; on service, not status. The faithful visiting teacher, who quietly goes about her work month after month, is just as important to the work of the Lord as those who occupy what some see as more prominent positions in the Church. Visibility does not equate to value."
(Ensign, November 1992, 96-97).
Along with reading the Book of Mormon, I think I have mentioned before, I am reading the Book of Mormon Student Manual Religion 121-22. This course is taught at BYU and most of the commentaries are from General Authorities Conference addresses.
Here is another quote I found inspirational by Elder Robert J. Whetten of the Seventy:
" Conversion means consecrating your life to
caring for and serving others who need your help
and sharing your gifts and blessings....
"Every unselfish act of kindness and service increases your spirituality. God would use you to bless others.
Your continued spiritual growth and eternal progress
are very much wrapped up in your relationships -
how you treat others. Do you indeed love others and become a blessing in their lives?
Isn't the measure of the leverl of your conversion how you
treat others?
The person who does only those things in the
Church that concern himself alone will never
reach the goal of perfection. Service to others
is what the gospel and exalted life are all about."
(Ensign, May 2005, 91).
James had to go to town today to get some more cement for his building project and to take a tire in. I needed to pick up some prescriptions and do a little shopping at Walmart, so I went with him.
Of course we went around lunch time. We have been wanting to try Darbi's restaurant in Pinetop for a long time, so that's where we decided to go.
This parking lot was pretty full, but we found a spot.
The fries had a cinnamon dipping sauce that was very yummy.
I ate most all of the fries and consequently could only eat half of my sandwich. I was going to take it home but decided to give it to James instead. He gobbled it up.
After lunch James dropped me off at Walmart while he went to get a tire fixed. As we were driving home I was reading a short story to him from our Sarah Eden book. They are doing work on Highway 60 between Show Low and Vernon and the traffic was a little backed up. Suddenly a truck from behind us passed. James made the comment: "Do you know why I am driving a little slower?" I said: "Because of the bags of cement you bought which makes our load heavier.?" He looked at me with a shocked look on his face. "I forgot the cement!" We were just past the St. Johns Y so we turned around to go back to town first stopping at the Stanford Store to see if they had any cement. They didn't. We had to go all the way back to the Home Depot in Show Low.
On our way back to Vernon we saw a huge plume of smoke. James made the comment that if it was a prescribed burn, it looked like it was out of control. Here are some pictures he took.
About 7 miles from our house, according
to James.
This picture was taken on our road.
I posted this first picture on Facebook and got some interesting responses:
Pam Giles: "I went to look. Highway 60 has a do not report prescribed burn flashing sign. ( It's past the Vernon turnoff which is why we didn't see it.)
Courtnie Dobson Angell: It is prescribed, they are burning over 1000 acres. It's not about burning the trees it's burning the underbrush that fuels the fires, and they do cut, it's just seasonal. The marked trees are the ones that stay.
I hate burning. It ruins our air quality and makes the forest look desolate. I know it needs to be done but I wish there was a better way. I especially wish they wouldn't do it on dry, windy days.
James finished the footings on the shed, just as he planned, in spite of an hour delay.
I did some work around the house and paid a few bills.
This evening we watched the LDS World Report which was on between conference sessions on Saturday. I loved seeing Elder Ballard and Elder Kearon helping distribute goods to the refugees in Europe. We also saw Elder Bednar and his wife speak to the saints in Libya and Sister's Esplin and Marriott visit the saints in Asia. When you see these leaders out in the world serving it brings a whole different light to who they are. I would like all my children and grandchildren to watch this report. It just might strengthen their testimonies of the gospel.
We also watched "Ice Dreams" on the Hallmark movie and mystery channel.
A former Olympic figure skater coaches an up
and coming star. It was good.
As we were getting ready to go to bed I hear that James has started a load of laundry. I have already said my prayers and am waiting in bed for him to return so we can say our family prayers. When he finally comes in he says: "I had another senior moment. I washed my pants with my phone in the pocket. When I remembered I found it in the bottom of the washer. It had been immersed in water."
I looked up some information on Google. James blow dried it and then immersed it in wheat since he couldn't find any rice.
We will see what happens. Apple says not to take the phone apart but seek help. I guess we will be going to Verizon tomorrow when we go to the valley. I think James might have "Sometimers", instead of Alzheimers.
It seems I have disappointed some of my children lately. Last week we missed going to see Jared and this week we won't be in town soon enough to babysit Lola for Darrel or pick up Sheri's kids for her. I hate disappointing the people I love the most!
