Thursday, March 23, 2017

Draper, Utah
129th operating temple

Jacob 5:29-51

The Dark Ages. 29-32; Zenos prophesies of the latter-day Restoration. 33-37; The blood of Israel is preserved through the Apostasy. 38-46; Universal Apostasy: All branches of Israel are affected. 47-51; Cause of Apostasy: Branches overcome the Roots.  The Lord loves His children but allows us our agency.  Who is it that corrupts the Lord's Vineyard and why does the Lord allow this corruption?  

In verse 48 what do you think loftiness means?

Alma 47

Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become king of the Lamanites - The Nephite dissenters are more wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites. About 72 B.C.

DC 45:24-35

24-38, The gospel will be restored, the times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled, and a desolating sickness will cover the land;

Even with all the promises coming to pass, why do people still harden their hearts?

*Verse 29 They turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.  People are so wrapped up in the ways of man that they don't have time for God.  Selfishness is the cause.  "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."  Many perceive not the light.

This section is similar to the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24-25.  Here are some notes I took after reading the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual:

There are four signs when the time of the Gentiles is over:

1. The Jews will be gathered back to the land of Jerusalem. (DC 45:25)

2. It will be in a time of great social turmoil. ( DC 45:26-27)

3. The Gentiles will for the most part reject the gospel. (DC 45:28-30)

4. Jerusalem will no longer be "trodden down of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24.)

May 15, 1948 Israel became an independent nation and declared Jerusalem to be her capital.

Six-day War in 1967 Jerusalem came completely under control of a Jewish government first time since 70 A.D.

General Conference

The Blessings of Worship

Bishop Dean M. Davies

"True worship transforms us into sincere and earnest disciples of our beloved Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We change and become more like Him.  We become more understanding and caring. More forgiving. More loving. We understand that it is impossible to say that we love God while at the same time hating, dismissing, or disregarding others around us. True worship leads to an unwavering determination to walk the path of discipleship.  And that leads inevitably to charity.  These too are necessary elements of worship."

It has been snowing for over an hour but nothing is sticking.  So disheartening. We did have some exciting family news today.  Paul got the job at Amazon! He starts on April 2017.  He and Stacy are so excited because he will be making a lot more money! 

Monument Valley

I changed our Verizon plan today.  We now have unlimited data and we are paying $18 a month less.  Hoorah!

More snow, but still not sticking.  I blogged and watched "My Gal Sunday" a pretty exciting Hallmark murder mystery.  Cameron Mathison and Jack Warner were both in it.

I got a call from John Wilhelm today.  He ask me to speak in sacrament meeting on April 9th.  He wants me to speak on the marriage class based on the new manual, "Strengthening Marriage."

I am happy to do it but it is a little stressful.  I have been ask to speak in April more times than I can count.  The last two were both in April stake conferences.

This boy can eat a dozen blueberry muffins without even

batting an eye.

I had a difficult time going to sleep tonight because I took some Tramadol a short while before going to bed.  Or maybe it was the anticipation of giving a talk.

Fun Photos:

A couple of years ago Max played the trombone.

Our four year old Primary class

Love this photo and this movie!

Dinner at Chili's after I spoke in the Saturday

night session of stake conference.

I loved how everyone supported me.

James had to give me a health blessing

because of an arthritis flare up.

Whispering secrets to baby Lola.

Sweet little Ruby

Jared Ammon, Dobus, toothless Joshua

My girl Trenda

She is amazing!

Indiana Jones

Monday, March 13, 2017

Columbia River, Washington

107th operating temple

2 Nephi 31:1-21

Nephi tells why Christ was baptized - Men must follow Christ, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end to be saved - Repentance and baptism are the gate to the strait and narrow path - Eternal life comes to those who keep the commandments after baptism. About 559-545 B.C.

Since we're saved by Christ's grace, why does it matter that we follow His example and endure to the end?

Alma 31-32:14

31- Alma heads a mission to reclaim the apostate Zoramites - The Zoramites deny Christ, believe in a false concept of election, and worship with set prayers - The missionaries are filled with the Holy Spirit - Their afflictions are swallowed up in the joy of Christ. About 74 B.C.

32- Alma teaches the poor whose afflictions had humbled them -

DC 42:40-52

40-42, Pride and idleness are condemned; 43-52, The sick are to be healed through administrations and by faith;

Has there been a time when you sought a blessing for something specific, but had a different outcome?

General Conference

For Our Spiritual Development and Learning

Elder Mark E. Bassett

"As we acknowledge that we are the workmanship of a wise and devoted Father in Heaven, 'O then' why not allow Him to guide our spiritual development and learning 'according to His will and pleasure' rather than our own?"

Be Ambitious for Christ

Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita

"My dear brothers and sisters, we are ambitious for Christ when we serve faithfully, accept humbly, endure nobly, pray fervently, and partake worthily.  May we be ambitious for Christ as we accept ur difficulties and trials with patience and faith and find joy in our covenant path."

Before the Trezise's left for home today we fixed a brunch for them.  Blueberry muffins and banana nut muffins because Rowan doesn't like blueberry.  Freshly squeezed orange juice, homemade hashbrowns, scrambled eggs and bacon.  After breakfast Sheri, James and I watched, "The Love Letter."  Of course James and I have seen it but Sheri hasn't.  

Ian took the boys back up to the Falls.  When everyone was ready to go we went outside to take a picture.

This was the best picture we took.
We had so much fun with this family and will look forward to their next visit.

Ian made a design for our front planter:

I like it.

Ian took a picture of our dead tree and enhanced it:

After our company left, we took a nap and then James went to Stanford to get some diesel.  He came home and worked outside for awhile and then came in to prepare a FHE lesson for the Wilhelm's.  Brother Wilhelm ask him to do this as his home teaching assignment.  He is preparing a lesson on Talents and How We Can Serve Other People with our Talents.

My Arizona picture for the day

This evening I caught up on my gospel study, did some laundry, and baked cookies for the Wilhelm's. For FHE James and I caught up on our Book of Mormon reading.  I finished the cookies just in time, right before James had to leave.

Kacey is in San Antonio with Jared tonight.  Her kids are in Hallsville with their dad.  She and Jared are going to San Antonio on Wednesday to be with Jared's kids.

Fun Photos:

 I gave this handout to my Primary class yesterday.

I want them to learn how to bear a proper testimony.

Two years ago today I took these girls to see the movie

"Cinderella."

Lola, Molly, Emmy

Such a cutie

Such a handsome boy

Future missionaries

Sweet Ruby

Learning to drive, Grandpa style.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Happy Birthday Terry!

 Terry with two of his favorite people,

Colin and Cathi.

Something happened in our sacrament meeting that I have never seen happen before.  Brother Wilhelm got up and announced that because people were leaving right after the sacrament, we were going to have the talks first today and then the sacrament.  He then said he was joking and the real reason the sacrament would be last was because there were no cups and someone had to go get some.

Hailey Hunsaker was the youth speaker.  She is the newest Beehive and you could barely see her above the podium.  She said she was going to talk about her favorite bible story, Abraham and Isaac.  She shared the story, read scriptures, related it to the Savior, and bore her testimony.  According to James it was the perfect talk.  She really did do a great job and her mother said she wrote it herself.

Pam Wood and Rick Lauritzen were the other speakers.  Pam spoke about friendship and Rick, at the bishop's request, spoke about doctrines, policies, and traditions.  Did you know that taking the sacrament with your right hand is only a tradition.

Kacey, Curtis and Zemira were in my Primary class today.  Our lesson was on Abinadi and King Noah.  The first thing I had them do after the opening prayer was guess how many coins were in this jar.

 The coins in the jar represent how many people left to flee into

the wilderness with Alma.  Do you know how many there are?

The person who guessed the closest got an extra piece of candy from the candy basket.

 This candy basket was much fuller before Primary.

Curtis guessed 350 and he was the closest.  The answer, of course, was 450.  More about Alma next week.

In sharing time today Sister Chaffin taught about King Noah and Adinadi.  I noticed that my kids knew most of the answers, except Zemira couldn't remember Abinadi's name.

Good News!  James was able to teach his Sunday School class this week.  I had called Ed Miller earlier in the week so he was prepared to step in any time if needed.  

After lunch and naps James went home teaching with Brother Lauritzen to the Scott's and the Hunsaker's.  I stayed home and watched a movie starring Alexis Bleddell, (Rory from Gilmore Girls), "Remember Sunday".  The movie was about a guy who was a genius and then he had an anuresym and lost his short-term memory every night when he slept.  It was a touching story in keeping with the Hallmark tradition.  

This evening I spent a couple of hours studying from the Book of Mormon Religion 121-22 manual in connection with my reading of the Book of Mormon.  James studied his Sunday School lesson.

Before going to bed we watched this week's episode of "When Calls the Heart."  

Last year on this day, I took my five oldest granddaughter's to see the new Cinderella movie.  We had a great time!

Ruby, Emmy, Molly, Anna, and Addy

 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Happy Birthday to this handsome guy!

James Hayden turns 15 today.

 Another reason to be excited for today!

I have been waiting for this movie to come out on blu-ray since I saw it in the theatre in March.

James got a 4am phone call from Gail's friend Paul who is here in Arizona with his wife Janelle who is elk hunting with a guide.  Paul said he was bored and was wondering if James would take him out on the Razr to look for elk.   James thought he meant at four in the afternoon!  

James went out and promised he would be back by 9am to take me into town to get "Cinderella" and to take flowers to my mother's grave.  

Our stop at Walmart was quite productive. We got Cinderella, a beautiful potted mum plant, and chicken wings.  When we got back to the car I reminded James that we weren't allowed to eat out chicken wings.  On the way to the graveyard in Lakeside, we stopped at the Maverick station and while James was inside getting me a drink, I sat at the picnic table outside with the chicken wings.  It was a cool, windy and overcast, but I persevered!  James is full of surprises.  Not only did he get my drink but he also got each of us our own package of almond M&M's.  (No wonder I can't lose any weight!)

Someone is taking good care of my mom's grave, and I am pretty sure I know who it is....my sister-in-law Vickie who loved my Mom almost as much as I did.

  There are two statues of children between the headstone and

my mums.  You can see one of them in this picture.

On the way home we stop at Denny's for brunch.  James has an omelet and I have two pancakes and some bacon.  The pancakes weren't very good so I don't finish them.  James finishes his omelet.

yummmmmm

After my nap I watch last night's DWTS. I wasn't going to watch this season but Sheri told me how good Bindi Erwin was dancing with Derek Hough.  She was right, she is only 17 but she is very good!

I also watched Gabby win on the finale of "So You Think You Can Dance."

I watched Cinderella and then a Hallmark movie with James called "The Gourmet Detective."

Every morning and every evening during elk "season", James goes out on the porch and blows his elk call.  I think this guy heard him this evening.

 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy