Saturday, April 27th, 2019

Concepcion, Chile

160th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Oct 2018

By: Russell M. Nelson

Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship

John 20:21

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 18:1-16

New Testament "Come Follow Me"

Luke 10:38-42

General Conference

Good Shepherd, Lamb of God

Gerritt W. Gong

"Jesus Christ calls us in His voice and His name. He seeks and gathers us. He teaches us how to minister in love."

When we left at 5:40 this morning for the temple the sky was filled with smoke. The further away from Vernon we got the less smoke there was. By the time we got to the temple in Snowflake the smoke was just a distant memory. As we got out of the car and looked over towards the mountains near Vernon we could see the Vernon valley filled with smoke. So sad.

 I went ahead of James as we entered the temple because he had to wait to get approval from a higher source since he did not have his recommend. 

The Brimhall's did our training today. President Brimhall told about his dad who worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in Winslow. The men that worked with him called him the Mormon Bishop, even though he was not a bishop, and they called his line shack the Mormon temple. President Brimhall seemed proud to have such a wonderful dad. 

My first assignment was in the women's dressing room assigning lockers to sisters coming in for the 8 am. session. Next I went to initiatory. I worked in initiatory three different times today. I think they want to make sure that I memorize everything.

I helped in the baptistry, worked at the sealing desk under the stairs where I read several chapters in the Book of Mormon. I was there for an hour and helped two people.

One of my assignments was sitting in the Celestial room. While I was there a brother who was 7'4" tall came in and sat down on the couch. It looked like a toy couch with him sitting on it. I was thinking, oh dear, he's never going to find anyone to marry when a 6'2" sister, who happened to be his wife, came and sat by him. The reason I know their heights is that James told me. He was at the recommend desk when they came in the temple and spoke with them. The brother had to duck as he went out the door.

I got to have my break with James and one of my best friends at the temple, Debbie V. from Chandler. We asked where her husband Jim was. He was back in Virginia visiting his brother and had to have emergency surgery for kidney stones. He was supposed to be home to work in the temple today but didn't make it. 

On the way home this afternoon we stopped at Sonic because I wanted to try their new BBLT (Bacon, bacon lettuce tomato) sandwich. It was quite good and I think James wishes he would have gotten one instead of getting a corndog. 

When we got home we were so tired we took a nap. When we got up we were listening to a chapter from our book when Stacy called. She had to tell me that they found a house and that she starts her new job next Wednesday, May 1st. The house is over 3,000 square feet and his near Gilbert and Lindsey. They needed a big house because Adam, Jared Ammon, and Michael will all be living with them. The name of the place where she will be working is Transforming Image. She saw an ad on TV and just went in off the street. The owner says he wants her to do the TV ads so I guess she's going to be on TV. She is a little stressed about that. 

Kim and Brian went for a walk and then they took the Christmas Tree Trail ride on the Razr. They were shocked to see that there was still snow up in the high country. 

This evening we watched the new Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, "Love Takes Flight," based on a true story. We all loved it. This is not your ordinary Hallmark movie. It's a classic. I guess that's why they call it "Hall of Fame" because it's based on a true story. 

 The Umphress girls, Bailey, Gracie, and Abby 

with their horses.

 In honor of Tasha's mom Monte and his boys wore purple.

It will probably be the only time Monte says.

Their big rival Blue Ridge has purple as one of their colors.

Our girl is 8 months old today

 We found this tulip growing under a pine tree.

Not sure where it came from. 

 We really enjoyed this movie.

Summer and her prom date.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Concepcion, Chili

temple to be completed in late 2018

Jacob 1:1-19

Jacob and Joseph seek to persuade men to believe in Christ and keep his commandments - Nephi dies - Wickedness prevails among the Nephites.

Why does it seem that societies often fall as a whole?  Why is it never just a few people?

Alma 35-36

35 - The preaching of the word destroys the craft of the Zoramites - They expel the converts, who then join the people of Ammon in Jershon - Alma sorrows because of the wickedness of the people.

36 - Alma testifies to Helaman of his conversion by an angel - He suffered the pains of a damned soul; he called upon the name of Jesus, and was then born of God - Sweet joy filled his soul - He saw concourses of angels praising God - His converts have tasted and seen as he did.
DC 42:79-93
74-93, Laws governing fornication, adultery, killing, stealing, and confession of sins are set forth.
Has there been a time when I have had to reconcile with someone?  What did I learn? - Yes.  Some people don't want to reconcile, but I felt more at peace.
General Conference

There Is Power in the Book

Elder LeGrand R. Curtis

"The Book of Mormon will prepare you for the great call of diligence to labor in the vineyards of the Lord.  You will be able to discern truth from error, and you will feel the assurance of the Holy Ghost reconfirming your testimony over and over again to read the  Book of Mormon throughout your life. 

President Romney's promise:

'The spirit of contention will depart.  Parents will counsel children in greater love and wisdom.  Children will be more submissive and responsive to the counsel of their parents.  Righteousness will increase.  Faith, hope, and charity - the pure love of Christ - will abound in our homes and lives, bringing greater peace, joy, and happiness."

This was said about Lydia Knight in "The Contrite Spirit:"

"Enough grief had already touched her life that she knew how to fit joy into the corners."

I was ready to go to the valley around 11 a.m.  I stopped to get the mail.  My box was stuffed so full I could barely get it out.

All of this was shoved into my tiny little box.

After leaving the post office I picked up Amy at her house. When we left her four goats just stared at me as if to say: "Where are you taking our mommy?"  Amy says they follow her everywhere when she is outside.  From Amy's we went to the Splash and Dash in Show Low to get gas and to wash the car.  I had promised James, Cathi, and Terry burros so our next stop was in Miami at Burger House.  I had called in my order and went to the front of the line but the woman working behind the counter told me I had to go to the back of the line, which I did.  I felt bad because Claire has been waiting at the Phoenix airport since 9:30 this morning.

Devil's Bridge,  Sedona

I drove to the airport because Amy is not familiar with driving in the valley.  She is from northern California.  We picked up Claire on the northside of Terminal 4, because she flew on Southwest, somewhere between 4-4:30.  It is 97 degrees today.  Claire seemed to be in a good mood and told us about all the people she met while waiting in the airport.  Of course we got in rush hour traffic going in to Chandler.  It wasn't bad once we got on the 101 south of Baseline.  

When we got to Cathi's Claire and Amy helped me carry my suitcases in.  I introduced them to Cathi and Terry and offered each of them a glass of water.  We said our goodbyes and they left with Lexy.  Hopefully they won't have any problems.

Kacey posted this yesterday on Facebook.

I wanted to share it on here.

Cathi says she is feeling better except she does not have any energy.  She looks very pale to me.  James is very happy to see me.  I brought him the key to the medical building and now he has to go out and go to work.  He took me to get a drink at Sonic first.  He is pretty frustrated because no fully-formed company wants to do the countertop at the medical office.  

While James was gone I spent a couple of hours on my blog.  We were in bed by 10 p.m.  I got a text from Claire at 12:53 a.m. that they made it home safely.

Fun Photos:

Addy and Kayla in Rocky Point, Mexico

Stacy, pioneer woman.

Easier for men that women.

About three years ago

Carlsbad a few years ago

Dallin the year he graduated

from high school.

Adam just out of high school

Emmy and her soccer team, and

Molly