Nuku'alofa, Tonga
23rd operating temple
Dedicated: 9-11 Aug 1983 By: Russell M. Nelson
Alma 53:1-17
How can we build a "fortified city" to protect us?
*President Henry B. Eyring said: "As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient will not be enough. And whatever growth in spiritual strength we once thought was possible, greater growth will be made available to us. Both the need for spiritual strength and the opportunity to acquire it will increase at rates which we underestimate at our peril."
How do we build fortifications?
By keeping our covenants. They are the way to access the power God has promised to send us.
DC 121:21-33
Does God punish later generations for the sins of their parents?
*We are punished for our sins not what our parents do, but sometimes the choices/actions of our parents can cause pain and lead later generations to suffer and be led in the wrong direction. Elder Richard G. Scott said: "Every individual born on earth is given a detecting capability, a divinely appointed gift to distinguish truth from error. We call it our conscience. God calls it the Spirit of Christ. When we properly use the gift, we are naturally drawn to truth and repelled from error."
General Conference
The Power of the Book of Mormon
President Thomas S. Monson
"Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children."
A Sin-Resistant Generation
Sister Joy D. Jones
"Our children don spiritual armor as they establish patterns of personal daily discipleship. Perhaps we underestimate the abilities of children to grasp the concept of daily discipleship. President Henry B. Eyring counseled us to 'start early and be steady.' So a third key to helping children become sin-resistant is to begin at very early ages to lovingly infuse them with basic gospel doctrines and principles - from the scriptures, the Articles of Faith, the For the Strength of Youth booklet, Primary songs, hymns, and our own personal testimonies - that will lead children to the Savior."
We had a pretty amazing sacrament meeting today. Madison Deatherage was the youth speaker. The other speakers were Sister Gillespie, and Brother Miles from the high council. Sister Gillespie's talk was pretty amazing and Brother Miles's was great too.
Sister Gillespie's talk was based on Elder Holland's conference talk, "Songs Sung and Unsung." Here is a quote:
Sister Gillespie's talk was based on Elder Holland's conference talk, "Songs Sung and Unsung." Here is a quote:
"Among the realities we face as children of God living in a fallen world is that some days are difficult, days when our faith and our fortitude are tested. When we can't sing, we need to stand close to the Savior, He will hear the songs we cannot sing."
A quote from Brother Miles's talk:
"We must know God in order to become like Him."
I got to see Trenda and Emery today. They were here to hear Sister Gillespie speak. She is Trenda's aunt. Trenda and Emery live in Flagstaff where he goes to school to become a civil engineer and Trenda is working.
Today my Primary class consisted of: Jace, Colter, Curtis, Gracie, and Liana. Sister Kuffer was here to teach her class. Our lesson today was on Adam-ondi-Ahman, the Second Coming and the Millennium.
Sharing time was about keeping the Sabbath day holy. Sister Husaker asked Bailey if it was okay to shop on Sunday. Bailey said: "Well if you need nail polish or stuff like that you shouldn't shop, but if you are out of eggs, or milk or bread I think it would be ok. Oh dear. We had just talked about not shopping on the Sabbath but evidently more teaching needs to take place.
I had my Panda chicken, noodles and rice for lunch and I shared with James. Afterwards I had a piece of my french vanilla birthday cake.
James and I started a new book today. It's called "Lily of the Manor."
This book is about a wealthy widow who has
adopted 11 orphans and is in need of hiring
a school teacher for them. I think I am going to
really like it.
James said that the Scott's are back but Millie has damaged both of her arms and a foot because of falls. Also, Donna Peeler is still sick.
James had a High Priest Group meeting at the stake center at six this evening. He went with Brother Peeler and our neighbor Chuck. After the High Priest meeting there was a stake priesthood meeting for all Melchizedek priesthood holders, so it was after nine before James got home.
Jared called me this evening and I went out on the front porch to talk to him. I realized right away that there was a herd of elk and I spooked them. They ran around to the side yard. It was so dark, I couldn't really tell where they went after that.
I watched two new Hallmark movies while James was gone, "Eat, Play, Love," and "Home in Mitford." I should have been working on my blog or doing some other Sabbath day activity. Shame on me.
Photos:
Trenda and Emery
I just can't help it.
I love Trenda!
Elk in our yard, but not the ones I saw tonight.
It was too dark to get a picture of them.
Vernon Sunflowers
Lambson Sunflowers
