Sunday, December 8th, 2019

Madrid, Spain

56th temple

Dedicated: 19 March 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Jehovah

Genesis 2:4

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,

Book of Mormon

Ether 6:12-30

New Testament

Review 1-3 John and Jude; Began reading the book of Revelations

10/19 General Conference

"Watchful unto Prayer Continually"

Elder David A. Bednar

"Nephi described how in the latter days Satan would attempt to pacify and lull the children of God into a false sense of 'carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.'

Constant vigilance is required to counteract complacency and casualness. To be vigilant, is the state or action of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties. And keeping watch denotes that act of staying awake to guard and protect. Spiritually speaking, we need to stay awake and be alert to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the signals that come from the Lord's watchmen on the towers."

Because of the rain and mud we decided we would go to church in the truck. James wasn't sure the car would make it back up the hill when we were coming home. I took my blue umbrella. 

Sue Hubble was confirmed today by one of the missionaries and her son who baptized her was in the circle. She has been waiting a long time to join the Church but her husband did not approve. He passed away a few months ago and that's when she decided to take the discussions. 

Brother Wright, the high councilman over our ward released the two counselors in the stake presidency, President Wright, and President Miles. He had us sustain two new counselors, Brother Alder, and Brother Smithson. He also told us that we would be getting a new bishop next week. He praised Bishop Miller for the service he has given.

 Makenzi Forrester - "Honoring His Name" by Lisa Harkness. Keeping covenants, partaking of the sacrament are two ways we can honor his name. With covenant identity and belonging we are 

called by the name of Jesus Christ. Through the covenant of baptism, we promise to always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve others. We renew this covenant when we partake of the sacrament. We are 'the children of Christ.' We must witness of Christ through our words and actions.

Tyler Forrester - "Watchful Unto Prayer Continually" by Elder Bednar. Constant vigilance is required to counteract complacency and casualness. Alma 34:39 - Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.

Diana Curtis was the teacher in Relief Society. The lesson was based on President Nelson's conference address: "Spiritual Treasures", one of my favorites. Marie Campbell tells about some of her frustrations and the sisters encourage her. I think she felt better by the end of the lesson. Millie and Diana both said this scripture helps them when they are stressed: "Be still and know that I am God."

Are roads truly are a "muddy mess." We got home, had some lunch and rest. I paid tithing online and we went back to tithing settlement at 2:45. We spoke with the Judd's and the Grapp's. Brother Diewald was there to assist us. As we went in to see Bishop Miller we realized this was the last time we would have tithing settlement with him. We expressed our gratitude to him for what a wonderful bishop he has been. It was bittersweet.

I used a towel to get in and out of the truck to protect my legs from the mud on the running board. 

As I was blogging this evening James's computer was making me crazy. I can hardly wait for my new one to get here on Tuesday. 

We watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional on BYU-TV this evening. Sister Jones, Brother Kearon, and President Oaks were the speakers.

We also FaceTimed with Kacey, Jared, and Charlie. Kacey told me about the meeting she went to today for all of the ministering sisters during Relief Society. Our ward needs to do something like this.

I can't find my book on "Revelation". I've looked every where I can think of. It may still be packed away in a box.

Charlie on the Sabbath

 Scarlett too!

"TBT: Andyn and Sophie Miller

Sunday, December 4, 2016

I am so grateful for the Sabbath day when we worship our Heavenly Father and partake of the sacrament and ponder about the Savior and His great atoning sacrifice.  Today was fast and testimony meeting.  I bore my testimony.  Our new stake president, President Shumway and his counselor, President Bealer both visited our sacrament meeting.  They both bore their testimonies and I felt the Spirit so strongly.  They are truly men of God.

There are only five or six temple that decorate for Christmas.

The Mesa temple is one of them, and of course,

the Salt Lake temple.

Ether 3:1-16

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said, in regards to the brother of Jared seeing the spiritual, premortal Jesus Christ: "Perhaps Christ was saying to the brother of Jared, 'Never have I shown myself unto man in this manner, without my volition, driven solely by the faith of the beholder.' As a rule, prophets are invited into the presence of the Lord, are bidden to enter His presence by Him and only with His sanction.  The brother of Jared, on the other hand, seems to have thrust himself through the veil, not as an unwelcome guest but perhaps technically as an uninvited one.  Said Jehovah: 'Never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger....Never has man believed in me as thou hast.' Obviously the Lord himself was linking unprecedented faith with this unprecedented vision.  If the vision itself was not unique, then it had to be the faith and how the vision was obtained that was unparalleled.  The only way that faith could be so remarkable was its ability to take the prophet, uninvited, where others had been able to go only with God's bidding" (Christ and the New Covenant, 21-23).

GC:   Fourth Floor, Last Door by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

" Just because we can't hear something doesn't mean

there is nothing to hear.  Two people ca listen to the same

message or read the same scripture, and one might

feel the witness of the Spirit while the other doesn't."

I had Denice Hall's Primary class today along with Kacey, Zemira, and Curtis.  Denice's class included: Tana, Madison, Talena, and Carly a girl I have never seen before.

We talked about having faith in Jesus Christ.  We watched part of the video "Finding Faith in Jesus Christ," but because I did not have a speaker we couldn't hear very well.  I also had pictures on the board of different people in the Book of Mormon who had demonstrated faith and we discussed them.  I ask the class how they strengthen their faith and what it means to have faith.  It was a good class.

Curtis had a tablet and he played with it during singing time.  Colter said something to his mom who was leading the music, but I didn't make him stop because at least he was sitting still and keeping quiet.

Seven Falls in Bear Canyon

James and I went home for a short while after the block.  I got online and paid our tithing for November.  We had tithing settlement at 1:30.  I love our bishop.  He is only 32 years old but he is full of wisdom, good counsel and advice.  I had a private chat with him after James went out of the room.  He told me he was grateful for my Christlike example.  I am grateful for his.

After tithing settlement we broke our fast.  James cooked me some pork chops.  They were delicious!

I have some memories on this date that I want to include:

A couple of years ago when they came up for

Christmas.

I think they did a great job!

Ruby Tuesday

Since she didn't get to help with the cookies, Lola

wants to help with the puzzle.

Tonight our family met at Sheri's for the annual gingerbread house

contest.  I think hands down, Kim and Brian won this year.

Kim and Brian's house.

Other houses, I am not sure whose.

This is the house James and I were going to make.

Oh well, maybe next year.

Sheri hung out with Lola while everyone else was working

on their houses.

James and I stayed home and watched the

First Presidency Christmas Devotional.