Thursday, October 26th, 2017

Melbourne, Australia

90th operating temple

Dedicated: 16 June 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal

John 20:14

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Book of Mormon

3 Nephi 13:1-25

*Why is it so important to forgive our fellow man?

"Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking - even a change of heart. But there is good news. This 'mighty change' of heart is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives. How is it done? Through the love of God. When are hearts are filled with the love of God, something good and pure happens to us. The more we allow the love of God to govern our minds and emotions - the more we allow our love for our Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts - the easier it is to love others with the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade. As always, Christ is our exemplar. In His teachings as in His life, He showed us the way. He forgave the wicked, the vulgar, and those who sought to hurt and do harm to Him. Jesus said it is easy to love those who love us; even the wicked can do that. But Jesus Christ taught a higher law. His words echo through the centuries and are meant for us today. They are meant for all who desire to be His disciples. They are meant for you and me. 'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.' When our hearts are filled with the love of God, we become 'kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, even as God for Christ's sake forgave us. The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive each other."

Doctrine Covenants Scripture Mastery

DC 131:1-4
1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage;
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.
General Conference

Essential Truths - Our Need to Act

Elder Adilson de Paula Parrella

"The elders started to teach our family. I vividly remember our feelings of happiness and excitement every time they came to our home. They told us that a young man had gone to a grove to ask God which church was true and that he saw God and Jesus Christ. The elders showed us an illustration of that vision, and when I saw it, I knew that Joseph Smith had indeed seen God the Father and Jesus Christ. The missionaries said that because of this vision, the true Church of Jesus Christ was again upon the earth."

For the first time since last January the Cat tractor parked on the hill is gone, moved out of view. I am so happy!

James has been trapping rats and mice like crazy lately. He has a new name, Trapper Jim:

Some are cuter than others.

James's band was featured on Good Morning Arizona this morning.

I listened to the song they sang, it was good.

James made a trip to town again today to pick up prescriptions and to get grape juice and Sprite to make a drink for our dinner guests, Paul and Janelle. 

We spent the afternoon getting ready for dinner. James was a huge help! 

James is putting ice in everyone's glasses.

He looks like a pro doesn't he.

Paul and Janelle arrived around 5 p.m. Janelle had made a delicious homemade coconut cream pie while staying in a travel trailer. It is my favorite pie!

For dinner we had roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, rolls, and a salad. Everything tasted good and Paul and Janelle were good company. I enjoyed getting to know them better.

They told a funny story about hunting in Montana during a blizzard where they separated and Janelle shot a deer and waited for Paul to come and help but he didn't know where she was. He lit a huge bonfire for her to see. Eventually they found each other and were dragging Janelle's kill with the antlers still on through the snow.

Eventually they found a cabin and the owner took them back to their truck. I told them if they have any more stories like this one they should write a book.

Janelle's going on a mule deer hunt tomorrow and her guide called with the time and location. He is meeting her at 3:15 a.m. Because they had to get up so early they left early. 

James and I cleaned the kitchen with him doing all the dishes. Afterwards we watched an episode of Heartland called "Little Secrets."

Sadie 

"You want me to do what?"

Fall in Arizona

In spite of my busy day, or maybe because of...

Zemira the amazing wrestler.

3 wins 0 losses,  with one of them a pin.

The 2016 version of Zemira

Evan

Stacy's 2nd birthday

I hope I never see this much smoke so close to

our house again!

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Brigham City, Utah

139th Operating Temple

2 Nephi 21:1-22:6

What could an ensign symbolize for us?

21-The stem of Jesse (Christ) will judge in righteousness-The knowledge of God will cover the earth in the Millennium-The Lord will raise an ensign and gather Israel-Compare Isaiah 11.

The stem of Jesse is Jesus Christ.  The root of Jesse is Joseph Smith.  Chapter 21 begins as a testimony of Jesus Christ.  It also prophesies of modern prophets and modern events. 

Chapter 22 speaks of the Savior and the Millennium.  Where would we be without the Savior? (see 2 Nephi 9:8-10)

Alma 10:15-Alma 11

10- Lehi descended from Manasseh-Amulek recounts the angelic command that he care for Alma-The prayers of the righteous cause the people to be spared-Unrighteous lawyers and judges lay the foundation of the destruction of the people.

11- The Nephite monetary system is set forth - Amulek contends with Zeezrom - Christ will not save people in their sins - Only those who inherit the kingdom of heaven are saved - All men will rise in immortality - There is no death after the Resurrection.

DC 35:1-12

Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at or near Fayette, New York, December 7, 1830.  At this time, the Prophet was engaged almost daily in making a translation of the Bible.

1-2, How men may become the sons of God 3-7, Sidney Rigdon is called to baptize and to confer the Holy Ghost; 8-12, Signs and miracles are wrought by faith.

Have there been miracles brought about in my life because of my faith? Yes there have!!

Talk: "By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled" by Marcus B. Nash

October 2012

General Conference

Repentance: A Joyful Choice

By Elder Dale G. Renlund

"Instead of making excuses, let us choose repentance.  When we understand how our sins can affect our eternal happiness, we not only become truly penitent but we also strive to become better."

My first breakfast, during my early morning gospel study, consisted of a tortilla and some hot cider.  

I read from "Contrite Spirit" today about Marriage, At-One-Ment, and the Temple.  There has been a massive cultural shift in our society regarding the importance of marriage since the 1960's when no fault divorce became legal.  The hearts of the people are, for the most part, turning against marriage.

It is snowing and blowing outside today.  It snowed all morning and then in the afternoon the sun was shining.  Crazy weather I tell you.

Everything was covered in white and then the sun came out and melted all the snow, then it would snow again.  In the end the sun won because at the end of the day there was no snow left.

By the end of the day all the snow was gone.

An elk walking down the highway near Show Low.

I got a serious craving today for a waffle.  I told James and to my surprise he said, "Well then go make one."  So I did.  I made two. The second one looked better than this one but I only got one picture.

So delicious!

James and I started a new book today.  We finished
"Lady of the Lakes" yesterday.  It was a good love story.

Today we started a book that I started last year but never finished.  It's called "The Seven Tipping Points That Saved the World" by Chris and Ted Stewart.  It is history along with a little historical fiction in the way of personal stories.  I think James is going to like it.

James keeps a fire going and our home is nice and cozy despite the weather outside.  He also has been researching new insurance for my car.  He found some with National General that is $45 cheaper than I was paying with Nationwide.  Thank you honey!

This evening President Trump gave a speech to the joint sessions of congress.  Chris Wallace had this to say about it:

"It was the best speech I have heard Donald Trump give.  I feel like tonight Donald Trump became the President of the United States."

We watched a movie on the "Up" channel this evening called "Accidental Engagement."  It was a cute movie but the Up channel is not in HD.

Fun Photos

Lola has changed quite a bit in the last two years.

Dallin and his band.

Addy in 2013

James stuck in the snow on April 20, 2016

On Christmas Tree Trail.

Molly and Emmy in the ER after their rollover accident

on Thanksgiving day a couple of years ago.

What year was this Jared?

Three handsome guys joined us for Thanksgiving dinner

the year of the rollover accident. 

Anna and Jared had to go rescue Tricia, Emmy, and Molly and missed out on Thanksgiving dinner.

Friday, July 15, 2016

There is a great need for this in our world right now.

Alma 33:1-11

1 - the people want to know whether they should believe in one God. or how they should plant the seed, or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.

2 - You don't have to be in a synagogue to worship God.

3 - Have you read what Zenos said about prayer or worship?

4 - The Lord was merciful and heard Zenos's prayer in the wilderness.

5 - The Lord was merciful and heard Zenos's prayer in the field.

6 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayer in his house. 

7 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayer in his closet.

8 - The Lord is merciful when His children cry unto Him.

9 - The Lord heard Zenos's prayers in the midst of a congregation.

10 - Thou hast heard me when I have been cast out and despised of mine enemies.  Thou didst visit mine enemies with speedy destruction.

11 - Thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of Thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of Thy Son.

GC: "Family Councils" Elder M. Russell Ballard

I got this  quote from the New Era:

"The work of the youth is to prepare for missionary work and then do missionary work." - Elder Hugo E. Martinez

A whole food plant based diet will prevent attacks, cancer, and chronic diseases.  Wheat is the staff of life. From my WoW book.

We have six empty beds in this house and this is where

they choose to sleep.

Part of the fun today was catching a lizard that

the boys named Scales.  Lizzy, Jenifer's daughter helped catch him.

I guess she catches frogs at home all the time.

So glad Jenifer, Lizzy, Dennis, Amanda, and

Sammy came to visit.

I took all the kids on my one hour Razr ride to Christmas Tree Trail and back.  We stopped and picked some flowers.

This is Lizzy's bouquet.  It was the

prettiest.

I talked to Dennis about Timothy Ballard and his organization,

"Operation Underground Railroad" that helps to rescue children sold into slavery.  His organization has rescued over 2 million children.  He calls himself a modern day abolitionist.  He wrote the two books that I am reading, "The Washington Hypothesis", and "The Lincoln Hypothesis".  I bought The Lincoln book for Dennis and told him he could read it and then I would loan him the Washington book when I was finished. We had a nice visit and I am glad that Jenifer and her kids came.  Lizzy played a piano piece for me but seemed a little shy so I didn't press her for me.  Sammy went out and started to help James spread abc but the shovel was a little heavy so he gave up.

After saying goodbye, I worked on my Primary lesson for this week which is about Helaman and the Stripling Warriors.  I couldn't help overhearing the boys playing.  Here is what I heard:

Evan: "I can't see."

Joshua: "Use your x-ray vision."

Max: " I don't like the way your face looks." (I am not sure who he was speaking to.)

I made some chocolate chip cookies.  Jenifer's kids really enjoyed them, and so did the boys.  Amanda ask: "Did you make these cookies?"  

James fixed the gasline today so I could take a shower and wash my hair!  I am grateful for indoor plumbing and hot water!

Alex is "home alone" and so of course he had to take a selfie.

Wait a minute.  How can this be a selfie if I can see his phone.

Seth must have been there to take the picture.

Dallin's band left to go on tour and here is a picture of them practicing.

Dallin standing with his arm up.

Someone is going on vacation to the beach.

I think she is pretty excited!

Darrel and Trina's beach bodies.

Kreed and Ruby or Kruby as their mother's call them.

Well, back to my life here in Vernon. I cleaned upstairs and then fixed dinner and played some games with the boys.  Evan wanted to play the match game but we talked him in to playing Apples to Apples instead.  He loved it.

It might have helped that he won.

Max and Evan playing the Match game.

I am horrible at this game.  Thank

goodness Max wanted to play.

Stacy sent this picture for Joshua.  Shipley tore up her shoes.

I love the guilty look on her face.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

I like love and money too.

Alma 32: 21-43

21 - Faith is not a perfect knowledge of things.  If ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

22 - God is merciful unto all who believe on His name.

23 - He imparteth His word by angels unto men, women, and children.

26 - Ye cannot know of my words surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 - Awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 - The word is compared to a seed.  If ye don't cast it out, but nurture it, if it is a good see it will begin to swell within your breast and it will begin to enlighten your understanding.

29 - This would increase your faith even though it is not a perfect knowledge.

30 - As the seed grows ye must say it is good.  Will not this strengthen your faith?

32 - If a seed groweth it is good, but if it doesn't grow it is not good and ye must cast it out.

34 - Is your knowledge perfect?  You knowledge is perfect in that thing.  You know that the word has swelled your soul and your mind doth begin to expand.

35 - After ye have tasted of this light is your knowledge perfect?

36 - No, it is not.  Ye must not lay aside your faith.  There is so much more to believe in!

37 - If ye nourish it with great care ii will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

38 - If ye neglect the tree it will not get any root.

39 - It's not because the seed wasn't good.  It's because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 - If you won't nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

41 - If ye nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

42 - . . . by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 - Then ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, diligence, patience and long-suffering waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

GC: Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins by Elder David A. Bednar.

News: "Condoleezza Rice Calls Americans to 'Race Toward God' in Moving Prayer After Dallas Ambush."

"A Truck in France Deliberately Runs Over 75 People"

The world seems to be at war.

This sweet little face should make you smile.

I listened to several articles in this month's Ensign and I must say I am excited about the new Church history museum in Salt Lake.  I mentioned it to James and he says: "Let's start saving our money to go to conference." I talked to Kim.  She and Kim are going to conference and she suggested I reserve a hotel room and then if we don't go we can cancel it.  Brian actually did it for me.  We will be staying at the Marriott with them if we go.  I am so excited!

This is Dallin and his band getting ready to go our tour.

Pretty exciting!

I got this quote from an article in this month's Ensign:

"Saints are to become focal points of light and power." - Elder Marion D. Hanks.

I dusted and polished the wood floor in the living/family room today.  I also clean the deck and patio.  Dennis and Jenifer are coming tomorrow and then Sheri and Ian the next day.

There were rain clouds and a little thunder today, but no rain.

I love this picture that I found on the internet.

Baby hedgehog?

James's "work in progress."

I worked on my Primary lesson today.  I also waited for James and Evan, Joshua and Max to get here, but I was just too tired.  They didn't get here until after 11.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Dallin at the mic with his band

"Harrison Fiord"

 

"There is no substitute for obedience to the commands and demands of the gospel, of doing what we are supposed to do as disciples of Jesus Christ.  We can never truly be happy or have great hope unless we follow Heavenly Father's plan for our happiness."

-David S. Baxter

 

Another beautiful day with lots of clouds and the high around 66 degrees.  It was just about perfect. 

 

 

This is the 8th week since I have had my last Remicade infusion and my knees, especially the right one, are swollen and hurt.  I am scheduled for another infusion on Friday and I can hardly wait!

 

With have three realtors coming to look at the house this next week.  One is this Friday, Ken Van Vleet on Monday, and someone from Keller-Williams on Tuesday.  There is lots I want to get done before Friday.  I worked in the Christmas closet today and washed baseboards.  I looked in the pantry and decided that would be my main priority tomorrow.  James cleaned the dining room fan for me today.



A real man helps his wife around the house.

 

For Taco Tuesday we went to Elmer's.  We have been going to Elmer's since he came to Chandler in 1974.  We love their soft machaca tacos!  They are delicious.  Other favorites are: machaca burros, the bean and cheese burros, and a large order of strips.  They are located directly across the street from Chandler High but we also remember their original location which was right next to where James had his downtown office.  It was also across the street from the high school.

Can I just say yummy!

Good choice James!

 

Some women collect fabric, others collect dolls.  Right now I am in to collecting notebooks.  My favorite brand is Studio C, especially the polka dot series, but they are hard to find so I have had to branch out.  Here are some of my favorites.



I know, I am a little obsessive compulsive

but I promise these will all be used!