Monday, April 16th, 2018

Montevideo, Uruguay

103rd operating temple

Dedicated: 18 Mar 2001

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

What should I pray for?

Bible Dictionary, "Prayer," paragraph 3

Even in the times of the Judges, the children of Israel did not forget to cry unto the Lord, and a model of prayer is furnished by Hannah (1 Sam. 2:1). Samuel was recognized by his nation to be characteristically a man of prayer ( 1 Sam. 7:5; 8;12:19, 23; Ps. 99:6).David's Psalms, and the Psalms generally, breathe the highest spirit of prayer. The nation that possessed them must have been rich in teachers and examples of prayer. Remarkable prayers were prayed by Solomon (1 Kgs. 8); Hezekiah (2 Kgs. 19:14, etc.; Isa. 38:9, etc.); Ezra (Ezra 9:5); the Levites (Neh. 9:5, etc.); and Daniel (Dan. 9:3, etc.). "Making many prayers" was a part of the corrupt religion of Israel under the later kings (Isa. 1:15) and a marked feature of the religion of the Pharisees (Matt. 6:5; 23:14).

Jesus Christ betrayal of

Matthew 10:4

Sion the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 9:1-19

* How can we relate this story of Zeniff and his people to our own lives?

- I can relate to Zeniff because I have been over-zealous at times in doing things my way, and have been slow to remember the Lord. Remembering past blessings helps us to wake up.. and recall the times the Lord has delivered us, and we can once again call upon God and ask for His help. When we are faithful we can receive the help we need to overcome sin, adversity and to warn us of spiritual dangers. How grateful I am that we have a God that believes in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chances.. How grateful I am that between my sins and adversity is a variety of mistakes and errors and that with the gift of the Atonement, I can right the wrongs, and I can erase and repair all that keeps me from returning to my Creator. 

Old Testament

Judges 6-8

6 Israel is in bondage to the Midianites - An angel appears to Gideon and calls him to deliver Israel - He overthrows the altar of Baal, the Spirit of the Lord rests upon him, and the Lord gives him a sign to show he is called to deliver Israel.

7 Gideon's army is reduced to 300 - They frighten the Midianite armies with trumpets and lights - The Midianites fight among themselves, flee, and are defeated by Israel.

8 Gideon pursues and destroys the Midianites - He frees the children of Israel but refuses their invitation to reign as king over them - Gideon dies, and Israel returns to idolatry.

General Conference

Ministering with the Power and Authority of God

President Russell M. Nelson

" We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving kindness."

Take the Holy Spirit as Your Guide

Elder Larry Y. Wilson

" What an incomparable gift comes to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. That gift is the Holy Spirit."

Happy Birthday

Alexander Kay Trezise

Born: April 16, 1998

Alex and Shayna

A read an article from the Ensign today entitled, "Christlike Attributes: Integrity," by Sister Barbara A. Lewis. Here are some notes I took:

" When we have integrity we live by our righteous beliefs and standards."

President Hinckley: 

"Keeping our covenants with honor is part of our integrity. The strength of our integrity is often tested when we are at our weakest. If we listen to the Holy Ghost we can develop trued integrity."

I always read from the Ensign first thing in the morning while I am eating my breakfast, and then I read from "Rescuing Wayward Children." Here are a few notes from that book:

"Center on your covenants, attend the temple, fast and pray, sanctify yourselves as you strive to rescue your children."

I had lunch with my friend Jean at Persnikkity's today. She got to the register before I did and consequently she bought my lunch.

I had a twisted philly cheesesteak sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries. Jean had a salad. How sensible of her.

This is Jean with her daughter Deana.

Jean has had to have multiple surgeries on

her back and neck because of a horrific car

accident she was in. It is a miracle she is alive.

I value her friendship and see the good that

she does in serving others.

I drove home by myself because Tom, Jean's husband picked her up so she could go sign some legal papers. I had a difficult time staying awake on the way home but as soon as I got out of the car at the post office the blasting wind woke me up. 

After nap time I went out to help James cut lumber to use for forms on the job he is starting at Legacy Golf Course on the 1st of May. While I helped I listened to a talk by President Nelson, from the October 1992 conference, "Where Is Wisdom"? This is the 18th talk I have listened to of his. I also listened to Brother Robert Millet's "The Atoning One," chapters 5, Treading the Winepress, and chapter 6, On Calvary's Cross.

My view. My job was to hold the boards

as they came through the saw.

Whistling while he works until he realizes

afterwards how much his back hurts.

When James took a break, I finished before he did, I read to him from Ashes on the Moor. I finished my blog and walked and walked, and walked. 

For FHE we listened to Elder Wilson's conference talk: "Take the Holy Spirit as Your Guide." James worked on entering names of children and grandchildren. He is just about finished.

Dedicated to his calling, even though

he hates the computer.

President Nelson's visit to Africa

Lola watching leap and getting ready to "leap."

Fay Canyon in Sedona

Wonder where she got the deer and if

she kept him in her house.

This rabbit was caught in this trap and

then transferred to the black cage, 

which he got out of.

Tuesday, April 10th, 2018

Houston, Texas

97th operating temple

Dedicated: 26-27 Aug 2000

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

(The Houston temple was damaged during the recent hurricane in Texas. It is scheduled for rededication on Sunday, April 22, 2018).

Jesus Christ Baptism of

2 Nephi 31:5

And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy. should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 4:16-30

* How are we all "beggars?"

- "Ye have been calling on His name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has He suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; He has poured out His Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy." I truly have been filled with this kind of joy! Everything that we have comes from God! God does answer our prayers. He delights in blessing us. Elder Holland said: "For one thing, we can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves. Perhaps some have created their own difficulties, but don't the rest of us do exactly the same thing?"

Old Testament

Joshua 17-18

17 Manasseh and Ephraim both receive an additional inheritance - Ephraim is to drive out the Canaanites from the hill country.

18 The tabernacle of the congregation is set up at Shiloh - Benjamin receives an inheritance by lot.

General Conference

Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing

Elder Dale G. Renlund

"When we gather our family histories and go to the temple on behalf of our ancestors, God fulfills promised blessings simultaneously on both sides of the veil."

What should I pray for?

Alma 37:36-37

36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and He will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

This from "Rescuing Wayward Children:" Patience and faith go hand in hand. The law of the harvest is this: whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap. Between sowing and reaping lies enduring with patience. Eventual triumph depends on what we do once the seed is sown.

I got excited when I looked at my weather app this morning and it said 10% chance of rain for both Friday and Saturday next week. I will cling to any small chance.

President Nelson and his wife Wendy, and Elder Holland and his wife Pat left today for their Global Ministry Tour. A meeting will be held in London Thursday evening, April 12, which will be broadcast to Church meetinghouses in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Church has about 186,000 members in the UK and nearly 4,000 members in Ireland.

Do my actions align with my prayers and goals? I hope so. Has the Atonement changed my heart? Absolutely! Preach My Gospel:

" If Christ had not made His Atonement, the penalties for mistakes would be added one on the other. Life would be hopeless. But He willingly sacrificed that we may be redeemed." - President Boyd K. Packer. 

Relief from torment and guilt is available through repentance. 

Elder Maxwell gave the following quote by Anne Morrow Lindbergh:

"My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds."

From President Russell M. Nelson's talk in the April 1990 GC:

#12. "Thus Shall My Church Be Called" 

* A Saint is a believer in Christ and knows of His perfect love. 

Latter-day: The divine promise is being fulfilled that this restored gospel shall be preached unto every nation, kindred, tongue and people.

Jesus Christ: "Ye shall call the Church in my name...and how be it my Church save it be called in my name?" (3 Nephi 27:7-8)

I performed somewhat of a triathalon today. I was stripping the polish off the wood floor when I realized it was time to fix lunch. I put the remover on the floor and set my timer for 5 minutes and skipped to the kitchen to start lunch. Once lunch was started I went into the laundry room to fold clothes when the timer for the polish remover went off. I repeated this several times until all the polish remover was gone. That's a good way to get some exercise.

After lunch, reading and naps, James and I headed for Show Low. Today is the day I do my grocery shopping and he had some errands he wanted to run. It was a beautiful day today and there was very little wind. 

There must be some bad weather somewhere because Walmart had a sign up in their produce section apologizing for the meager amount of produce. Not only was there not much to pick from but the prices were very high. I was going to buy some blueberries when I notice a container cost $5.98. I spent enough money as it is.

After I finished putting groceries away I planned tomorrow and noticed that it was 6:45 and I only have 10,580 steps. 

James and I spent the evening working on family records. He is trying to get all the kids and grandkids entered on his familysearch page. I paid tithing, helped him and checked on some family names. 

Christina posted on Facebook that mango trees cross-pollinate with flies instead of bees. She hung a poopy diaper in her mango tree and this is the result: 

If you look hard enough you can see quite a

few little mangoes.

National Sibling Day

James gave me the sweater for Christmas.

He loves this picture but I think I look

a little dorky.

The Bogle siblings are their mom.

The Allen kids

Jackson is the small one in front. He was 12 here.

He is now 18 and getting ready for his mission.