Sunday, April 19th, 2020

Atlanta, Georgia

21st operating temple

Dedicated: 1-4 June 1983

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Jesus Christ, Judge

Alma 11:44

Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

 Review Mosiah 1-3; Finish BM Study Guide and Sunday journal

April General Conference

"Opening the Heavens for Help"

President Russell M. Nelson

"Let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 

into action"!

"Ensuring a Righteous Judgment"

James R. Rasband

April 2020

Happy Anniversary to Sheri and Ian. I hope it was a good one!

I slept in until after six this morning. I spent time finishing up the "Come Follow Me" lesson in my Book of Mormon study guide and my Sunday journal.

Many people think this pandemic is a ploy by the government to take away our liberties. I am not sure what I think but I think something needs to happen in order for our economy to be restored.

James put Luna in the yard this morning instead of her little cooped up pen. I think she loved it. She was eating grass over by our bedroom until she found the patch of grass outside the dining room window. That's where she ended up staying most of the time.

At one o'clock we met with the Goodman's and the Peeler's at the Goodman's house for the sacrament and a gospel discussion.

We sang "Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning" and then Brother Peeler gave the opening prayer. We then had the sacrament, James blessing the bread and Brother Peeler passing it and then Brother Peeler blessing the water and James passing it. 

When the Sacrament was finished we talked about what to do for our lesson. President Peeler, our stake president, had sent out an email this morning. Today was supposed to be our stake conference. As part of President Peeler's message each member of the stake presidency, President Beeler, President Smithson, and President Alder had made a YouTube video with a gospel message. We used Brother Goodman's phone attached to a bluetooth speaker to listen to the messages.  

We then had lunch. Brother Peeler and Sister Goodman had both made chili and they had combined it. There was frogs eyes salad, the bagged maple bacon bourbon salad I brought, and check cordon blue made at Safeway. There was also cheese for the chili and mini saltine crackers. It was a delicious meal. Afterwards we had orange, cranberry, applesauce bread that Barbara had made. 

As we drove in to the Goodman's we noticed a huge backhoe and big piles of dirt where trenches had been dug. When we asked about it Pierce explained that he was building a greenhouse that would be climate-controlled by underground pipes. He said he watched a YouTube video called "Greenhouse in the Snow." Of course we had to go out and see where this green house was going to be.

17 X 100 greenhouse. It seems as if

Pierce is planning on feeding all of Vernon.

This evening we had our family discussion on forgiveness, led by Jared. Those participating: Jared, Kacey, Stacy, Sheri, Kim, Brian, James and I. I was hoping Darrel and Trina would join us but they didn't.

It was a great discussion. I especially enjoyed Kacey telling about her dad leaving when she was a young girl and how she had done temple work for her dad's family. Everyone participated. It was a good discussion. When we were finished Stacy asked us to pray for her tomorrow since she has a test for he class that is comparable to state boards. 

It was fun seeing Charlie and Scarlett on the Skype call. Charlie had to tell us about watching "Cars." I think she was happy to see James and I on the call.

After our discussion James wrote a letter to Ben and I worked on my blog before going to bed. It was a wonderful Sabbath day.

 Jared rides his horse as James

rides Luna

Sheri and Ollie

Monday, April 13th, 2020

Provo, Utah

15th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Feb 1972

By: Joseph Fielding Smith

Jesus Christ, Judge

DC 19:3

Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done.

Book of Mormon/"Come Follow Me"

Mosiah 1:1-9; Mosiah1-3 "Filled with Love Towards God"

Study with the Peeler's and the Goodman's

April General Conference

"A Good Foundation Against the Time to Come"

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

"During the coming years, may we allow the improvements made to the Salt Lake Temple to move and inspire us."

"Thus Shall My Church Be Called"

Russell M. Nelson

April 1990

Restoration

Church History in the Fulness of Times

Chapter 10 Development of the Church in Ohio

"Because of the Christ on Calvary"

Brad Wilcox

 We had rain, snow and sunshine today depending on the time and the window you happened to look out.

James went to feed the Howard's horses this morning, something he agreed to do while they were in the valley. Before coming home he went to Dollar General to get a birthday card for Alex and something for refreshments tonight for our "Come Follow Me" group. I had already told him I was going to make a Texas sheetcake but I guess he figured we might need backup. I did tell him to get some ice cream, which he did. He also got a no bake cheesecake box, and a box of brownies.

James worked upstairs today. He was going to work on taxes but he ended up scheduling concrete for the job and talking back and forth with Armando. 

While James was working upstairs and I was at my computer working on books, Luna was outside rolling in the mud. 

We are tempted to call her Winnie because whenever James goes out to feed her she "whinnies." If he is too slow she also paws the ground. We got a horse with some personality!

I had planned on making the Texas sheetcake early this afternoon until I got a text from Sister Goodman saying she had a Boston Creme poke cake she would like to bring. Thanks Barbara!

Because I knew we wouldn't be using the ice cream James bought for tonight's meeting I decided I would try it and see if it was any good. It was and it went well with the hot fudge sauce I had on hand.

Because I have been doing re-pricing and getting rid of old books, my IPS on Amazon went up from 405 to 507 points. IPS stands for Index Performance Score. Now if I could only sell more books.

Jared chose the topic of forgiveness for us to study this week. Here are the talks we will be listening to:

"The Healing Power of Forgiveness"

James E. Faust

April 2007 GC

"I Stand All Amazed"

Jeffrey R. Holland

President of Brigham Young University

From an address given to Salt Lake

Temple workers, 24 November 1985

"On Measuring Flour and Forgiveness"

Madison U. Sowell

Chair of the BYU Department of French and Italian

October 22, 1996 * Devotional

I read these talks and they are quite sobering and some of them have some very sad stories in them. One of the most difficult things to do, I think, in this life is to forgive someone who has wronged someone you love. I am still struggling with this. It can only be done over time and with the help of the Holy Ghost.

We had an enjoyable evening with the Goodman's and the Peeler's. We studied the lesson for Mosiah 1-3, had a good discussion, and then somehow James started telling stories about his grandpa Lambson. I had heard them but I guess the Peeler's and the Goodman's had not. Brother Peeler has ties to Ramah through his grandpa and he and Donna had been there recently.

The Boston Creme poke cake was delicious!

As they were leaving Brother Peeler asked if sometime James would tell stories about his crow. I am sure he would love to do that.

After everyone left James and I did the dishes and then watched the latest episode of "When Calls the Heart."

I finally figured out which input the TV needed to be on in order to get the satellite. I even called Brian and he went by Best Buy but they weren't open. He was going to go in and look at a TV like mine so he could tell me what to do. I am grateful for his concern and support. I am also grateful that I was able to figure it out on my own.

Sheri said Ben is still discouraged although his letter didn't really show it. He is having problems with his companion. He wants to talk to the President and see if he can go back to being just a regular missionary. We are all praying of him.

 Elder Manu and Elder Trezise

Kerri brought us these masks that her mom made.

No matter that she got muddy tracks on our driveway.

One for James and one for me

Oh great! Perfect timing!

I know I am late for siblings day but I

thought I would post this gem anyway.

James gave me the sweater for Christmas that year.

I had to add a little humor

 Wow Trina, it looks like something in a

magazine!

Lola grrrl

Now that's a pantry!

Our friends the Wanlass family

 So sweet