Tuesday, August 22nd, 2017

Papeete, Tahiti

25th operating temple

Dedicated: 27-29 Oct 1983 By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Rededicated: 12 Nov 2006 By: L. Tom Perry

Atonement

3 Nephi 11:14

Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

Jesus Christ, Antemortal Existence of:

3 Nephi 26:5

If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation; being on a parallel, the one on the one hand and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began.

Alma 54:12-55:14

How are Moroni and Ammoron different in their motivations for war?

*Trujillofamilyjournal, bofm365, Instagram:

"In Alma 54:13 Moroni says, 'ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves.' In Alma 54:16-17 it says Ammoron is fighting for revenge and power. Moroni is motivated by love, which is unselfish, just like our Savior Jesus Christ. Ammoron, on the other hand, is motivated by power, hate, and selfishness, like Satan. We can learn from this account to let love be our motivation for all we do."

DC 122:1-9

How do trials and tribulations help us?
scripturestudy: "Trials and tribulations help us humbly look to God and they help us love like only God does. Love this section Verse 7, 'that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.' We can turn to God and find the good in our situations and circumstances or we can turn away from Him and become bitter and angry. Verse 9, 'Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass.' We need to hold on and look to God, for He is the way to peace and complete happiness."
General Conference

Let the Holy Spirit Guide

Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"We must act on the first prompting. First promptings are pure inspiration from heaven. The still small voice points us to opportunities to teach the gospel, to bear testimony of Jesus Christ and the Restoration, to offer support and concern, and to rescue one of God's precious children."

Around 10 a.m. James and I left for Snowflake. We are going to the distribution center to get the clothes we will need to officiate in the temple. Our first stop was El Cupido's so I could get a breakfast burrito. I was starving! 

Our temple clothes are 1/2 off the first time we purchase them. We spent over $140 and it came to $77 after taxes. 

We read from our new book, "Lily of the Manor." I love it. It is the best one we have read in a long time. I read several chapters in our car ride.

James has caught two squirrels now. They have become a nuisance and he takes them down by Chocolate Lake and drops them off. Our neighbors are not so kind to their vermin.

I made a batch of Doubletree Inn cookies. We both love them because they have oatmeal in them. 

Trump is in Phoenix tonight and there is a big rally. He pardoned Joe Arpaio. We are glad. Sheriff Joe is just trying to do his job.

Evan got his Amazon toy from me today. He ordered Link. 

"Feel good" for poking his foot.

Photos:

One of the squirrels James caught.

This guy was hanging out near the Hampton Inn

in Show Low.

I want this book!

After a walk, it's time for some R and R.

I call them James's pets.

Can you see the cougar?

(It's a shadow)

I love this photo of the Mesa temple.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Birmingham, Alabama

98th operating temple

2 Nephi 18:1-22

Christ shall be as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense - Seek the Lord, not peeping wizards - Turn to the law and to the testimony for guidance - Compare Isaiah 8.

Alma 5:41-7:10

The Good Shepherd calleth his people - Those who do evil works are children of the devil - Alma testifies of the truth of his doctrine and commands men to repent - Names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life. 6 - The Church in Zarahemla is cleansed and set in order - Alma goes to Gideon to preach. 7 - Christ shall be born of Mary - He shall loose the bands of death and bear the sins of his people - Those who repent, are baptized, and keep the commandments shall have eternal life - Filthiness cannot inherit the kingdom of God - Humility, faith, hope, and charity are required.

DC 32:1-5

How can this section give us confidence that the Lord is always with us?

Song: "Be Still My Soul"

GC:            'The Doctrine of Christ' by Brian K. Ashton

Douglas D. Holmes, First Counselor in the YMGP, has written: 

 "The ordinances of baptism and the sacrament symbolize both the end result and process of being born again.  In baptism, we bury the old man of flesh and come forth to a newness of life.  

In the sacrament, we learn that this change is a step-by-step process, where little by little, week by week, we are transformed as we repent, covenant and through increased endowments of the Spirit, become like the Savior."

GC:                       'Serve' by Elder Carl B. Cook

"Brothers and sisters, accepting and fulfilling a calling is an act of faith.  President Monson says:

'Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies,' and

'When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help.'"

We attended the 8 o'clock session at the Snowflake temple this morning.  There are a few regulars in this session: Jerry Frost, and the little Filipino sister and her husband.  Also in this session Brother Peeler and Bishop Miller from our ward.  We did our regular after session selfie.

 A couple of oldies and the Angel Moroni.

I tried something at El Cupido's that I've never had before, a carna asada burrito.  I think it is my new favorite.  At Walmart we got some pork chops and walnuts, two staples at our house.  

Painting or photo?  You tell me.

After my nap this afternoon I spent some time doing my regular gospel study that I normally do in the morning.  I read from my book, "Contrite Spirit," and then from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.  We listened to two conference talks on the way to the temple.  While I was working on my blog James came and ask me to go with him to see if we could find where Brother Slaughter lives.  James has been called to be his visiting teacher.  He doesn't have a phone number but we do have an address for him.  

James stopped at the place with his address but they had never heard of him.  There was no other possible place around that could have been his.  It was a little like the "Twilight Zone."  Did he just disappear?  James reported it to the ward membership clerk and he said he would send his records to Salt Lake.

This is a picture of Ben helping Adam celebrate 

his birthday.

It was a cold day here in Vernon so of course James built a fire.  I am tired of the dusty footprints so this is what I have devised until I can get some more rugs:

A trail to the fireplace

In our "Lady of the Lakes" book Walter Scott and Charlotte are falling in love.  It is starting to get good.  

We had pork chops and applesauce for dinner.  The applesauce is some that I canned at the cannery in Mesa in 2001 but it is still good.  

I was too tired to study my Primary lesson this evening so I decided I would get up at 4 a.m.  

Fun Photos and Starbucks

You're too expensive anyway!

Kim and Brian went to Tucson last night to

this concert.

A younger Evan at school.

Adam helping Gpa on his shed.

Visiting Teaching goodie basket.

Jared posted this last year.

Saturday, July 30, 2016

The sunrise was gorgeous this morning.

Alma Alma 42:26-43:14

This is Alma still speaking to his son Corianton:

26 - God brings about His great and eternal purposes.

27 - . . . come and partake of the waters of life freely.

29 - . . . let your sins trouble you unto repentance.

30 - Don't excuse yourself because of your sins.

31 - Preach the word with truth and soberness so the plan of mercy can take place in peoples lives who repent.

Alma 43

1-2- Alma and his sons continue to preach the word.

3 - Wars between the Nephites and Lamanites in the 18th year of the reign of the judges.

4 - The Zoramites become Lamanites.  The Nephites prepare for war as the Lamanites prepare to attack.

5 - Zerahemnah leads the Lamanites.

8 - Zerahemnah wants the Lamanites stirred up in anger against the Nephites.

9 - The Nephites desires were to preserve their liberties and protect their families and the people of Ammon.

Instead of a conference talk today I want to post this quote by Elder Renlund:

Two of my new heroes,

Elder Renlund and his wife.

James and I attended the temple this morning.  James didn't think he could sit through a session so he did initiatories and I took three names into the baptistry for a youth group to do.  The names were:

Gertrude Alice Louderback, Vickie's mother, Winnifred Braddy who is Levi Strickland's wife, and my new find this week, Mary Elizabeth Ennis.  I love doing temple work and I also put 20 names on the temple prayer roll.

After the temple we went to El Cupido's for brunch and then to Walmart to shop for food until Wednesday when I will shop again.  I like doing two shopping trips.  It's not quite so overwhelming.  we bought lots of fruits and vegetables but passed up the cherries because they were $4.48 a pound.  When we go to El Cupido's we pick up the Snowflake paper.  We can check out the Basha's ads for sales which Walmart with ad match.  On the way home we were slowed down by a bicycle race.  It was okay because we read from our book "Dawn at Emberwilde."  

When we returned home James needed a nap.  I was reading my chapter from the second Fablehaven book when I received a phone call from a guy named Andrew Macina who said he was with an Internet business Success Team.  He knew I had signed up for an internet business and wanted to know if I would qualify for their success team.  He asked me a ton of questions about our finances and our personal situation.  He wants me to set some goals and ask myself why I should be selected for their team.  I told him if it cost more money that I wasn't interested and he said I would make the money it would cost.  He is calling back on Monday and scheduling a two hour meeting for James and I to meet with his supervisor.  

Because our financial situation is not what it should be at this stage of our lives I am desperate to find a way to help James but I am leary of things on the internet and know i need to be very careful.  I can't stand the thought of James having to work another year or so because his body is wearing out.  He has supported me all these years and I want to support him now so we can go on a mission and fix up our property.  

After my phone call James was up from his nap and we loaded up the truck and went to the dump.  I came home and made cookies for Primary visits tomorrow and worked on my Primary lesson.  James worked on his gospel doctrine lesson.

James went outside to work for a little while.  

I think he was trying to beat this storm that's coming.

For dinner I made my Weight Watcher veggie soup.  It is so delicious!

As we went to bed tonight the storm we had seen earlier in the distance hit with a great vengeance.  We had lightning and thunder that was a little to close for my comfort, but we are so grateful for the rain!

In other news, Michael and his family toured the campus of Grand Canyon University where he will be starting school on a track scholarship at the end of August.

Michael looks good in purple.

Michael and his biggest fan.

As I understand it the plan is to attend a semester and then put in his papers for a mission.  I hope that goal rings true.

Lola and her cousin James

Saturday, June 18 2016

Happy Birthday Ruby!

One of the sweetest 7 year olds you will ever meet!

This year Ruby had her birthday party at Skateland.

Of course Kreed would be there and one of

Ruby's best friends.

Lola is going for the cake.  Don't you just

love Ruby's smile?

Gospel study: Alma 18:8-23.  Ammon proves his faithfulness to King Lamoni.

16 - Ammon, being filled with the Spirit of God, perceived the thoughts of the king.

18 - The king marvels because Ammon can discern his thoughts.  He thinks Ammon is the Great Spirit.  

23 - And the king answered Ammon, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words.

The service that Ammon gave to the king softened his heart and he wanted to be taught the gospel.

On the way to the temple this morning James and I listened to both talks that President Monson gave in conference.  The first was given in the priesthood session and was entitled, "A Sacred Trust."  The second was simply called "Choices."

There was smoke in Snowflake because of the fire.  

After our session we went to El Cupido's and saw Tina and Steve Allen.  They had done initiatories this morning.  Their son Rusty is coming home from his mission in 23 days.  They are so excited!

James eating his chicken quesadilla and

reading about the fire.

We did some shopping at the Walmart in Taylor before going home.  We also stopped at the post office.  My purple dice are here!

It was 91 degrees in Vernon.  It's going to be a warm day.

Max spent the week in San Diego at scout camp.  He got home today and Sheri posted pictures on Facebook.  I guess he had a blast.

They must have combined with Del Rio 2nd because I see

Jeff Chubbs and his son Nathan in the group.

Rise and shine boys!  It looks like Max

slept in his clothes.

Max showing off his skills.

Not your typical place for a Scout camp.

I love seeing the boys in their white shirts and ties!

This one if my favorite.

I love the San Diego temple.

James and I both worked on our lessons for tomorrow.  We had a light dinner.  James cut up the sugar baby watermelon he got today and that was it.  It was delicious and all we needed.  Again, we were in bed before ten.  

James stopped his preparations for awhile to make some paper airplanes for my class.

This is one of the reasons I love him so much!

He always has time to help me.

Friday, May 27, 2016

I love to see the temple
and I went there today.

I was up at 5:30 this morning and left for the temple by myself at 7:15 for the 8:30 session.  Brother Peeler from our ward arrived at the temple the same time that I did.  He is a temple worker but today he was a patron doing an endowment session just like me.

I went through for Margaret Eaton and the name of the officiator for our session was Brother Eaton.  Also, I saw a friend from high school working at the veil, his name, Alan Frost.

After the temple I stopped at El Cupido's for a drink and a bacon breakfast burrito.  I ordered it to go and my next stop was at the Taylor Walmart where I shopped for groceries and Emmy's birthday.  On to Show Low for gas and a carwash and to pick up Emmy's ice cream cake at Dairy Queen.  The only problem with their cakes is, they don't have any cake, just ice cream.  

When I returned home I unloaded the car, put groceries away and sat down to rest and watch an episode of "Chopped."  James was outside putting a door on his shed.

 It looks so nice!

Now all we need to do is plant some grass or build a sidewalk so our floor won't get so dusty.

I couldn't resist taking this picture of the birdhouse.

He made the birdhouse for the humming birds,

so the hole is a little small to get inside.

James says we have apples growing on one of our trees.

 Does that look like an apple to you?

It looks more like a pomegranate to me.

This afternoon I made a meatloaf to go with our scalloped potatoes.  Just as we sat down to eat, Jared and his kids arrived with an Arby's bag.  All the kids are here except Anna who went to Disneyland with Tricia.

Earlier this month Trina and Stacy both killed spiders.  Trina's was in the garage and Stacy's was in the house.  Which would you rather face:

Stacy's

Trina's

Sorry Stacy, put Trina wins this one for the grossest looking spider!