OUR FAMILY: Concepion

Concepion, Chile

160th operating temple

Dedicated: 28 Oct 2018

By: Russell M. Nelson

Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of

Isaiah 4:2

In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Book of Mormon #1

Mormon 1:1-19

*What does it mean to willfully rebel against God and what are the consequences? (v.16). While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Dean L. Larsen explained that rebellion against God has individual roots which, if not corrected, spread with devastating consequences: "Historically, the drifting away from the course of life marked out by the Lord has occurred as individuals begin to make compromises with the Lord's standard. This is particularly true when the transgression is willful and no repentance occurs. Remember Mormon's description of those who turned away from the true path in his day.They did not sin in ignorance. They willfully rebelled against God.. It did not occur as a universal movement. It began as individual members of the Church knowingly began to make compromises with the Lord's standards. They sought justification for their diversions in the knowledge that others were compromising as well. Those who willfully sin soon seek to establish a standard of their own with which they can feel more comfortable and which justifies their misconduct. They also seek the association of those who are willing to drift with them along the path of self-delusion. As the number of drifting individuals increases, their influence becomes more powerful. It might be described as 'the great and spacious building syndrome.' The drifting is the more dangerous when its adherents continue to overtly identify with and participate with the group that conforms to the Lord's way. Values and standards that were once clear become clouded and uncertain. Conduct that would once have caused alarm now becomes somewhat commonplace."

I remember years ago when Monte was going to school in Tucson and had become active in the Church. We went down the Sunday when he was ordained an elder. Afterwards I wanted to take everyone to lunch, justifying in my mind, that 'just this once it would be okay to go to a restaurant on the Sabbath.' James refused and I will be forever grateful of his example of faith and obedience.

Book of Mormon #2

Alma 30-31

Old Testament

Daniel 7-8

General Conference

The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead

President M. Russell Ballard

"In October 1918, 100 years ago, President Joseph F. Smith received a glorious vision. On November 1918, he sat in his room pondering Christ's atoning sacrifice and reading the Apostle Peter's description of the Savior's ministry in the spirit world after His Crucifixion. He recorded:

"As I read I was greatly impressed. ...As I pondered over these things ..., the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead." The full text of the vision is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 138.

I made this note in my written journal today:

Daniel 5:17 - "Let Thy Gifts Be to Thyself" - 'Those who function under the influence of the Spirit of God have increased capabilities, not because of their own qualifications, but because of the power of God which they are privileged to use."

"Without a knowledge of the past, present, and future, Jesus would not have been able to make the Atonement."

In the words of Joseph Smith, "the past, present and the future were and are, with Him, one eternal 'now." (TPJS, p. 220)

An exciting day for Jared, Kacey, Summer, Tanner, and Charlie. They went to San Antonio to see President Nelson and Elder Bednar who spoke at the Alamodome. Summer got to sit down on the floor but the rest of the family had the cheap seats. They had to drive over 6 hours each way to get there, but it was worth it.

Such a cute couple!

Charlie has good taste!

I spent the morning studying. One of the things I studied was the Sunday School Old Testament lesson #41, "I Have Made Thee This Day .. an Iron Pillar" Jeremiah 1-2; 15; 20; 26; 36-38.

This quote was by Elder Marion D. Hanks:

Material objectives consume too much of our attention. The struggle for what we need or for more than we need exhausts our time and energy. We pursue pleasure or entertainment, or become over involved in associations or civic matters. Of course, people need recreation, need to be achieving, need to contribute; but if these come at the cost of friendship with Christ, the price is much to high. For my people have committed two evils,' said the Lord to Israel; 'they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.'(Jer.2:13).

"The substitutions we fashion to take the place of God in our lives truly hold no water. To the measure we thus refuse the 'living water,' we miss the joy we could have" (in conference report, April 1972, 127; or Ensign, July 1972, 105).

We attended the Galveston 3rd ward block meetings today. Trevor Jensen just returned from his mission in Peru. He is 50 lbs lighter than he was two years ago. He spoke about being a witness of Christ. He said that he always had a testimony but before his mission he was afraid to share it. Since his mission he looks for every opportunity to share it. It was great to feel of his spirit and testimony. James and I sat by Terry and Cathi but they had to leave after sacrament meeting to minister to a sister who was in need.

Laura and Dave are in Boise for Logan's 16th birthday.

My friend Gerri taught Sunday School. She is an amazing, in depth, gospel doctrine teacher. James was very impressed. I have gained a fuller appreciation of the prophet Jeremiah since reading about him this year.

Another friend, Janny, taught Relief Society. She started her lesson by saying it was based on Sister Arburto's talk, "With One Accord" but she never used anything from the talk in her lesson.

Janny has a therapist and she used her therapy session for her Relief Society lesson. It was interesting to learn about being in parasympathetic mode or sympathetic mode but it was not appropriate when Relief Society is supposed to be based on a talk from the last General Conference.

After the block we all gathered in the high council room because the bishop's office wasn't big enough. James was voice for the ordination with the following in the circle: Bishop Wanlass, Paul, Adam, Michael, Brian, and Darrel. Those in the room: Stacy, Joshua, Sheri, Max, Kim, Trina, Addy, Rowan, Ruby, Lola, and me.

It was a great family experience and I am so sad that I did not get a group photo. I guess I had a senior moment.

James and I had lunch at Sheri and Ian's. We had ham, salad, mashed potatoes, and rolls. It was all delicious! Evan wouldn't eat any ham because he says he doesn't like "pig flesh." Funny how he always order ham on his sandwich when we take him to Subway.

We went back to Darrel and Trina's and Trina was baking a blueberry pie and he a banana cream pie out on the counter. They are going to a pie party at a friend's house. We brought home some ham for Darrel and Rowan.

After a nice long nap we James and I headed over to Kim and Brian's to watch a Christmas movie. This was the scene that greeted us at the door:

There are 7,600 lights on this tree.

We had a great time relaxing with Kim and Brian and watching the new, "Christmas in Evergreen" movie starring Jill Wagner. I love that old red Dodge truck. It reminds me of the one my Nannie and Grandpa had. Dennis has that truck now and it's just sitting in his driveway. James wants to know if Dennis would sell it to us. I guess I need to find out.

The Evergreen movie is supposed to be in Vermont but we looked it up and it's actually filmed in a little village in British Columbia called Burnaby. Best Christmas town ever!

Oh yes, and the refreshments were great, I had warm pumpkin struesel bread with butter and a glass of milk and James had cranberry orange bread with melted butter. Who could ask for anything more?

Brian has a turkey breast in their smoker. He gave me the recipe for the brine he put the turkey in before putting it in the smoker. I told James we need to get a smoker before Thanksgiving and call it our Christmas present to each other.