Sunday, March 11th, 2018

Edmonton, Alberta

67th operating temple

Dedicated: 11-12 Dec 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ Authority of

2 Nephi 10:14
For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words.
Book of Mormon
2 Nephi 29:1-14
* How have these verses increased my appreciation for the Book of Mormon?
Old Testament
Numbers 24
Balaam sees in vision and prophesies of the destiny of Israel - He prophesies of the Messiah: There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.
Old Testament Favorite Scriptures
Exodus 20:16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
General Conference

Repentance is Always Positive

Stephen W. Owen

" I have a friend who grew up in a less-active Latter-day Saint family. When he was a young adult, he too 'came to himself' and decided to prepare for a mission. He became an excellent missionary. On his last day before returning home, the mission president interviewed him and asked him to bear his testimony. He did so, and after a tearful embrace, the president said, 'Elder, you could forget or deny everything you have just testified of in a matter of months if you do not continue to do the things that built your testimony in the first place.' My friend later tole me that he has prayed and read the scriptures daily since he returned from his mission. Being constantly 'nourished by the good word of God' has kept him 'in the right way.'"

I was up at 4:15 this morning. I had my prayers and continued working on my Primary lesson, "Abraham and Lot," The Circle of Love.

We left at 8:40 because I wrote personal notes to all the kids in my class.

Andy W. was the youth speaker in sacrament meeting today.  He spoke on his favorite scripture story which was Nephi getting the plates and what an example he was of overcoming trials.

Sister S. Wilhelm spoke on the Church's Self-Reliance program. 

Brother Goodman was the final speaker and what a wonderful talk he gave. He spoke about justice and mercy and how God wants all his children to enjoy all of His blessings. We open the vault to those blessings through our faith and obedience. As we live God's laws we find protection and are pointed toward Jesus Christ. Suffering for sins should help us to change. That is it's purpose.

We had two visitors in our Primary class, the Patrick's grandchildren Rhea and Graham. They are not members but they love coming to Primary. I also had Curtis from the older class, and Liana, Amaron, and Andyn from my class. I spoke with Sister Singleton about Jace and he is in Whiteriver visiting his birth mother. Gracie was not here today and I have written her a note as I did all of the children in my class. Colter was in the valley visiting his sister Brielle with his parents and LeeAnn and Hailey.

When I gave out the notes I wrote to the children in my class, Curtis ran out of the room. It was sometime before he returned.

Sister Hall's mother did singing time today. She was quite good. 

Sister Skousen did sharing time which involved all the children and was based on the scriptures. 

I spoke with Sister Skousen about Sister Gentry and she loves Sister Gentry as much as Sister Gentry loves her.

Liana and Andyn both got to pick two treasures for the two newsletters they turned in. Amaron wanted one too but I had to tell him no. I told him I would help him do the paper which isn't due until the next fast Sunday so he could pick a treasure. I can no longer do these papers every week, but now only once a month.

Andyn took the fishing hat and some colored pencils. Liana took some candy and a doll.

We went home and had lunch and before we knew it Darrel and Trina were here with all the kiddies.  

At 4 p.m. I went to a high priest group presidency meeting with James. They are planning a party for the older single sisters in the ward and they want the wives input. Sister Hunsaker was there too but Sister Curtis is still in St. David taking care of her father who has alzheimers.

The meeting was just an hour long and then we were back home with our company. James cut the chicken breasts in half and I made a honey mustard to marinate them in. I also took out the chicken tenders from the freezer and put them in some warm water and took some rolls out to rise. We had a very nice dinner: Chicken, grilled and fried tenders, green beans, corn, beans, a salad which Trina made, and rolls. It was quite delicious.

After dinner I played Apples to Apples with Ruby, Trina, and Addy.  Addy and Rowan worked on my Provo City Center, "Brick'em temple and then we watched Lindsay Lohan in "The Parent Trap." Of course Lola had to watch her favorite movie, "Brave" before we watched ours. It was after midnight before we went to bed.

Couldn't resist this one.

President Nelson and his wife Wendy

greet some young adults at the 

Nevada fireside.

The last of the Butler brothers.

Salt River Canyon

Such a lovely couple

Trina said it was like they were in a cloud.

Salt River Canyon

Courtesy of Darrel

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Lisbon, Portugal

to be completed mid-late 2019

Mosiah 18:1-16

We receive the Spirit of the Lord and the promise of eternal life by making and keeping the covenant of baptism.  

* Make a list on one side of a sheet of paper the covenants you made at baptism  One the other side of the paper make a list of what God promises to us.

* Review this list each week before taking the sacrament to see how you are doing.

3 Nephi 12

Jesus calls and commissions the twelve disciples - He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount - He speaks the Beatitudes - His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses - Men are commanded to be perfect even as He and His Father are perfect - Compare Matthew 5.

DC 63:13-23

The adulterous in heart will deny the faith and be cast into the lake of fire; The faithful will receive an inheritance upon the transfigured earth; A full account of the events on the Mount of Transfiguration has not yet been revealed;

What promise do we receive if we keep the commandments.

We will know of the mysteries of the kingdom and receive eternal life.

General Conference

To the Friends and Investigators of the Church

Elder Joaquin E. Costa

" If you pay the price of revelation, humble yourself, 

read, pray, and repent, the heavens will open and you will

know that Jesus is the Christ."

I love President Monson

James left this morning around 5:30 a.m. and asked me to call in his Burger House order at 7:15 because he can't talk above a whisper.  I am home alone, again.  

After my gospel study I watched one of my favorite Hallmark movies, "Country Wedding," starring Autumn Reeser and Jesse Metcalf.

Such a cute couple and a great movie!

A barn wedding

Jared texted me and asked me to put some names on the temple prayer roll because he and Kacey are traveling to Longview for the court date for Tanner to decide who is going to have custody.  I put the judges, the attorney's name, and Kacey and Tanner's name on the prayer roll. I also texted Jared's siblings and their spouses and ask for their prayers in Jared and Kacey's behalf regarding Tanner and Emmy who does not want to come and stay with Jared this weekend because she will miss a Sunday shopping party at the mall.

I got a call from our stake president today.  I thought maybe he was going to ask me to speak in stake conference but thank goodness he didn't.  He just wanted my friend Pam's phone number.  He wants to take Elder Southward to visit them on Saturday morning.

I paid bills today and made a couple of blog entries.  I also made some cinnamon rolls that were in the freezer.  That may have been a mistake since I am the only one here to eat them.

Fun Photos:

Beautiful Arizona

Sheri and some Chandler friends:

Christy, Drea, Adrienne

Joshua is proud of his block creation

and the trophy in his hand which is 

probably for the Pinewood Derby.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

1 Nephi 21:1-21

1.  When have I been a missionary in my everyday life?

2.  When have you had the chance to be an everyday missionary?

Jacob 5

DC: 18:21-30

How do we take upon us the name of Christ?

Talk:  "Taking Upon Us The Name of Jesus Christ?

By: Dallin H. Oaks

April 1985

GC:   'I Will Bring the Light of the Gospel into My Home' by Jean

B. Bingham

"When we see our own imperfections more clearly, we are less inclined to view others 'through a glass, darkly.'

We want to use the light of the gospel to see others as the Savior does - with compassion, hope, and charity.  The day will come

when we will have a complete understanding of others' hearts and will be grateful to have mercy extended to us - just as we

extend charitable thoughts and words to others during this life."

After my morning gospel study I paid my credit card bill that is due today and then headed for Deseret Book to pick out a gift for Karen Schneider.  I am having lunch with her today and it is her birthday month.  This is what I got:

I also got this book for James and I to read.

I already have a gratitude journal like this one.

I got to Firebirds, our favorite restaurant, before Karen did because she was helping a friend with family history work.  While I was waiting I got a Firebirds gift card for Sheri's birthday to go with her puzzle.  (Earlier I bought gift cards for Trina, Stacy, Adam, and Joe for their birthdays.  We have lots of February birthdays!)

It was great to see Karen.  I had our regular meal of coconut shrimp with habernero mango salsa coleslaw, and sourdough bread.  For dessert I ordered creme brulee cheesecake.  Karen has cancer and was very careful about what she ate.  She will probably have to have treatments for the rest of her life to keep her cancer in check.

She brought me a gift too:

She got me started on the Aunt Dimity series years ago and I have every book, except this new one.  I am excited to read it!

We had a nice visit and then said our goodbyes and decided we would do it again soon.  I went home to take a nap but not before reading from my new Aunt Dimity book.  Nancy Atherton is a good writer.

James spent the morning re-making the cabinet he ordered from his friend Dan.  He came home feeling quite sick.  It's probably from the episode last week when he got sprayed with water.  He went right to bed.  I got him a blanket, aspirin, soup, stew, and water.  I eat Goldfish and creme brulee cheesecake for dinner.  Oh yes, I also read from "Boys in the Boat" for James.  Once he was asleep I read from Aunt Dimity.

Terry and Cathi are so kind.  They provided the soup and stew for James.  

Fun Photos

Four of my favorites.  Two of them have birthdays' today.

Happy Birthday Drea and Adrienne!

A year or two ago.

Adam and Alex helping in Lois' yard.

Is she cool or what?  I love the cowboy boots and the

look on her face.

Evan's Robo Company bake sale a couple of years ago.

He made a lot of money and shared it with his workers,

Max, Joshua, and Rowan.

I love this face!

The Ray boys the way I remember them before they

all grew up.

Andy, Brennan, Peter

Tim, and Matt.