Saturday, March 14th, 2020

Fort Collins, Colorado

153rd operating temple

Dedicated: 16 Oct 2016

By: Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Jesus Christ, Judge

Acts 10:42

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Jacob 4:11-18

Abraham's offering of Isaac was in similitude of God and His Only Begotten - Men should reconcile themselves to God through the Atonement - The Jews will reject the foundation stone.

October 2019 Gen Conf

"Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me"

Reyna I. Aburto

"I testify to you that 'thru cloud and sunshine' the Lord will abide with us, our 'afflictions can be swallowed up in the joy of Christ,' and 'it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.' I testify that Jesus Christ will return to the earth 'with healing in his wings.' Ultimately, He 'shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more ... sorrow.' For all who will 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in him,' the 'sun shall no more go down; ... for the Lord shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended.' In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

We left the house this morning at 5:37 a.m. for the Snowflake temple. We arrived at the Show Low turn off at 6:05. 

We listened to scriptures and conference talks all the way to the temple. When we got to the Flake bridge barricades had been put up because water had run across the road. Someone had set the barricade aside and we went on through as did the two other cars that were also going to the temple.

After parking I noticed the beautiful sunrise and had to stop and take a couple of pictures.

I took this picture because you can see 
Greenspeak.

It was gorgeous!

We had six subs for the sisters today and one sister who didn't show up and did not get a sub. 

The Reidhead's presided at our morning preparation meeting. Sister Reidhead couldn't stress enough the importance of washing hands and not touching your face. We were all sad because we don't know how long the temple is going to be closed. 

My first assignment was in the baptistry. There isn't much to do between 7:30 and 8. I sat in the dressing room with Sister DeWitt who is a sub today. We had a nice visit and left just as a group was coming in.

I went to initiatory two times, top of the stairs twice, and was in sealings as a witness for an hour. Brother and Sister Bowen were doing initiatory today for their Norwegian relatives. They are so good at pronouncing the names but I struggle with them. Brother Bowen told James he has done 880 ordinances this week. Wow!

Time went by quickly today because we were busy. I did get to sit in the Celestial room and visit with Trenda. She was here with her husband and her parents were here too but in a different session.

James and I were going to stay and go to the 1:30 session but I was just too tired. I told him that when the temple opens up again I would like to start going to a session on the Saturdays we don't work. He said he would think about and that he liked the idea of going after we work because we save on gas. I said yes, but if I'm asleep during the session I don't get much out of it.

Instead of doing a session we went to Eva's for lunch. I had my regular chicken enchilada with red sauce and a side of beans and rice. James had a chicken enchilada with green sauce and a side of beans. After Eva's we stopped at the Walmart in Taylor and did some shopping. 

These are some of my friends from the temple that I will miss. Sister Cureton, Debbie Vance, Elwanda Reidhead, Diana Elmer, the Hamblin's, the Cureton's, the Farr's, the Gentry's, Sister Rupert who is from Idaho Falls, the Hancock's, and the three Neff couples, Sister Humphrey's, Sister Cochran, and the Palmer's and Reidhead's of the temple presidency.

This evening I got my book order ready to ship, finished walking, and called people such as Debra Brewer who might not know that we don't have church tomorrow.  Will tomorrow feel like Sunday if we don't have church?

Joshua on a hike with his dad

Charlie staying busy during 

social distancing

Scarlett

Lola

Beautiful baby

Sheri:

Pi-fection in Mesa

 Max and Ollie

Saturday, January 25th, 2020

Winter Quarters, Nebraska

104th operating temple

Dedicated: 22 Apr 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Revelations 21:6

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

1 Nephi 15

"The Second Great Commandment"

President Russell M. Nelson

October 2019

"Latter-day Saint Charities has provided more than two billion dollars in aid to assist those in need throughout the world. This assistance is offered to recipients regardless of their church affiliation, nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, or political persuasion.  This is not all. To assist members of the Lord's Church in distress, we love and live the ancient law of the fast. We go hungry to help others who are hungry. One day each month, we go without food and donate the cost of that food and money, to help those in need."

We left at 5:41 this morning for the Snowflake temple. We brought two dozen rolls and one dozen cinnamon rolls I had in the freezer. On the way over we listened to scriptures and conference talks and I did a little sleeping. 

The Palmer's presided over our preparation meeting. President Palmer discussed the new ceremonial clothes that will be available at the end of March. We watched three training videos. One was the importance of smiling at the front desk so the first impression people get of the temple is a positive one. 

I started out at the sealing desk downstairs and was there for an hour. The Merrill's came in with names and so did the Bowen's. These are regular temple attenders who are always working on family names. The Bowen's had lots of Scandinavian names but I guess they have trained Brother Flake how to say them. At least that's what his wife said when she came to take over at the sealing desk.

I visited with Sister Cochran and Sister Lofgreen during my break. 

After my break I was the presenter at veil 2 and then I was "as assigned." During my as assigned I continued my reading of the Old Testament chapter headings. I am about half way through Isaiah.

I spent an hour in the baptistry. Although the rest of the temple was rather slow, we had no weddings or own endowees, the baptistry was very busy. Sister Caldwell said they hadn't had a break all morning and as I left another large group was coming in.

I worked in initiatory, locker room and was the presenter at veil 2 for the 11:00 session. I was scheduled to do initiatory after being at the veil but because the veil time went over, I was 15 minutes late. Sister Hancock said the only patron was a worker and they had her covered so I got off 15 minutes early.

I went down to the break room and had a cupcake. It's been a long time since my morning break. James went outside to get my phone and to get in a few steps before the 1:30 session which we attended. 

I was so tired that at one point I fell asleep and a sister had to tap me on the should to wake me up. I hope that never happens again.

For the second week in a row Sister Andersen from Flagstaff, was my presenter at the veil. 

After our session we went to Eva's Mexican Food in downtown Snowflake. I had a chicken enchilada with rice and beans, same old thing I almost always have. James had a seafood enchilada and a tostada.

We are scheduled to clean the temple tonight at 6:30 so we had some time to kill after lunch. I suggested we go to Walmart to walk, which we did. While we were there I also bought some tea, Citrus Sunshine, Apple Cinnamon, and Cinnamon Orange. The Walmart in Show Low has none of these flavors right now.

We drove back to the temple and parked so we could see Greens Peak, Mt. Montoso, and Negra Knoll, all mountains over by Vernon.

We walked around the temple a couple of times and then James got in the car to take a short nap. I sat down to redo my daily schedule. 

Around 6:00 we walked in to the temple with our friend Kerri Halcomb. We signed in and got our temple cleaning clothes on. We were so happy to have 19 people from our ward attend. The Show Low Creek ward had 10 people. These our the ward members who came to help us clean: Kerri Halcomb, Virgil Cooper, Anthony Romyak, Jerry Scott, Becky and Chris Skousen, Jim and Linda Diewald, Barbara and Fred Klug, Pierce Goodman, Blain Curtis, Alicia and Bishop Hunsaker, MaKenzi and Tyler Forrester, and Ron Chandler, plus James and I. 

James and I dusted the two ordinances rooms, the wood in the hallway and on the stairs. It was a lot but pretty easy. 

We were home before nine o'clock. When we got home I finished my steps and then James made us herbal tea and then we watched "Hearts of Winter" starring Jill Wagner and Victor Webster, two of our favorite Hallmark actors. It was a long day and this was a good way to unwind.

I am so grateful for the temple!

 Bench at Eva's

 Evan really knows how to have fun!

Who buys a 5 lb tube of hamburger.

I guess you could freeze it and use it for a weapon.