Sunday, January 6th, 2019

Mount Timpanogos, Utah

49th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 October 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Death of

Jonah 1:17

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 4:20-5:6

What can we learn from Zoram who, after learning about the Lord's will from Nephi, decided to leave Jerusalem and follow Lehi and his family?

New Testament

Lesson 2 - Matthew 1; Luke 1; "Be it unto me according to Thy Word."

General Conference

Gather Together in One All Things in Christ

Elder David A. Bednar

""The purpose and purification, the happiness and joy, and the continuing conversion and protection that come from 'yielding our hearts unto God' and 'receiving his image in our countenances' cannot be obtained merely by performing and checking off all the spiritual things we are supposed to do. Rather, the power of the Savior's gospel to transform and bless us flows from discerning and applying the interrelatedness of its doctrine, principles, and practices. Only as we gather together in one all things in Christ, with firm focus upon Him, can gospel truths synergistically enable us to become what God desires us to become and endure valiantly to the end."

Stacy shared that Jared Ammon recently gave her a hug. This is a huge improvement over how he has treated her in the past year. Prayers really are answered.

I stopped my studies this morning to help James with his Primary lesson. I told him I would help him give it if he still had laringitis. I think he is going to be able to give it though. The steroids are finally kicking in. 

During sacrament meeting today I pondered on what my goals should be this year in the following areas: 1) Health, eating and exercise, 2) Finances, budgeting, less spending, pay down loan, 3) Family History and Temple work, weekly research and temple attendance, and daily blog 4) Family unity and relationships, less criticism, more praise, patient and kind, 5) Clean and organize my home, 6) Create: cards, table runners, caligraphy 7) Book Business 8) Relief Society 9) Gospel study. Just a rough draft of some of my goals for the year.

Fast and testimony meeting was good and it lasted only an hour. There were more people in second hour than I have ever seen in the Vernon ward. If this continues we may have to move into the chapel. Sister Wood led the discussion on how we are responsible for our own learning. Lots of good scriptures and discussion.

After our meetings James and I went to the Peeler's so James and Owen could administer the sacrament to Donna. Kathy Crane was there too.  Donna is suffering from nerve pain and she can't be on Lyrica because of her diabetes. She has an appointment later in the month with her nerve doctor and then with Dr. Crandall, James's doctor.

 It was Mr. Toad's wild ride up our hill and our driveway again. 
Before we broke our fast we expressed our desire for greater family unity in living the gospel in our home and each of our children's homes. 

I made roast beef and swiss subs for lunch. They were delicious. James went down for a nap after lunch. We got some more snow but none of it is sticking. Later we got some sunshine which helped to melt some of the snow. 

This evening we read from the Book of Mormon together and studied the second "Come Follow Me" lesson. James emailed Ben. I will email him in the morning. 

I finally finished my blog for 2018. I got a text from Sheri asking if we could stay at Darrel or Trina's or Cathi's when we come down tomorrow. I guess Max doesn't want to give up his room. She apologized for his selfishness but I told her it was okay and that I didn't want him to resent us. I was sure we could stay with Darrel and Trina.

 

Wednesday, August 8th, 2018

Guayquil, Ecuador

58th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 Aug 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Creator

Alma 5:15

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raise in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

Book of Mormon

Alma 47:1-19

*How can the interaction between Amalickiah and Lehonti be symbolic of our interaction with temptations?

- Amalickiah never gave up even though Lehonti refused him several times. Eventually Lehonti gave in just like we often do to Satan.

Old Testament

Job 29-31

29 Job recalls his former prosperity and greatness - He was blessed because of his righteousness, his charity, and his good deeds

30 Job is derided by the children of vile and base men - In his afflicted state, he cries to the Lord - Job says that he wept for those in trouble.

31 Job invites judgment so that God may know his integrity - If he has done ill, Job welcomes the penalties for so doing.

General Conference

Young Women in the Work

Bonnie L. Oscarson

"As we consider the roles that our young women will be expected to assume in the near future we might ask ourselves what kind of experiences we could provide for them now that will help with their preparation to be missionaries, gospel scholars, leaders in the Church auxiliaries temple workers, wives, mothers, mentors, examples, and friends. They can actually begin now to fill many of those roles. Youth are often asked to hep teach lessons on Sunday in their classes. Opportunities are now available for our young women to perform service in the temple previously completed by ordinance workers or volunteers when they attend with their youth groups to perform baptisms for the dead. Our primary -age girls are now invited to attend Temple and Priesthood Preparation meetings, which will help them understand that they too are important participants in priesthood-directed work. They are learning that men, women, youth, and children are all recipients of priesthood blessings and all can take an active role in moving forward the Lord's work."

Happy 9th Birthday Molly!

I love this girl's zest for life and her smile!

I enjoy listening to articles from the Ensign while I am ironing. Today I listened to: "Parents, Help Them to Prepare," and "My Scar Story."

James made three trips to town today to get parts for the pump on the well and it's still not working right. I have had no shower since Monday and James is quite discouraged. In the morning he will be calling the manufacturer of the pump.

My friend Jean and I went to lunch today. We went to Mountain Thai because that is one of her favorite restaurants up here on the mountain. James and I went there once and we did not like what we ordered. Jean says she gets the soup. I ordered the same thing she did, the vegetable soup with shrimp except I ordered egg noddles and she ordered clear noodles. When we asked the waitress what the difference was she said the clear noodles are better for you but the egg noodles have a better flavor. I said I would go for the flavor. Jean reminded the waitress to bring over the bottle of sweet chili and then she ordered sticky rice and mangoes for her daughter Deana, and one order for us to share.

When our soup came it tasted pretty bland until we poured in the sweet chili sauce. Delicious!  Neither one of us finished so we got take home boxes. I love when I can get two meals out of an order!

We may have been too full to finish off our soup but we weren't too full to eat all of the fresh mangoes and sticky rice. This is the best dessert I have had in a long time! Jean insisted that she pay for my lunch even though I protested and told her it was my turn. She said I always pick her up and she wanted to treat me. I told her I was so glad we came here and I would come back and bring James with me. She said the four of us should come back together.

On the way home we stopped at Dr. Hall's dentist office. Hunter, Jean's granddaughter works here. Hunter's mom Deana was waiting for us to pick her up. First we loaded Dean's groceries into my car and then we followed Deana to her mother-in-laws home where she took Hunter's car. Jimmy will pick it up there and take it to get new tires. Deana then got in and we drove home. I told her I was sure glad she ordered the mangoes and sticky rice otherwise I wouldn't have known what I was missing. Deana is Jean's daughter and she has some health issues as do both her mom and dad. She was on oxygen. Deana I think is probably around 50 years old.

I went home, took a short rest on my recliner in front of the TV and then worked on getting my 20,000 steps today, inspite of not being able to take a shower. 

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the check engine light is no on in my car. The maintenance required light has been on for quite some time. I am beginning to get concerned. Don't fail me now Lexy!

Donna update from Kathy: 

"Doctor Francis saw the fracture on the MRI and said nothing to panic about and she shouldn't have been sent down. No surgery with that fracture. They are going to do an MRI today on her upper back and neck."  -10:13 AM

"Just got a call from Owen. Donna has been in a lot of pain today and elevated blood pressure. They took another MRI and have decided to do surgery tomorrow. She will have a rod put in to keep her back straight to try and help it to heal." - 7:37 PM

Happy 15th Anniversary to these two!

Interesting!

I wonder what she wanted.

Always on the look out.

Gilbert temple after a rain storm.